The two grand finalists to emerge from the most even rebel VFLW season in the competition’s history have two very different stories to tell.

Will Collingwood join Darebin as a two-time VFLW premier, with the Magpies already boasting a scarcely believable winning percentage of 76 per cent across its history?

Or will it the competition's sixth premiership cup be the first one to slide into a trophy cabinet at ETU Stadium alongside the record 17 VFA/VFL titles won by the famous blue and red vertical stripes in just their third year of VFLW football?

We can’t wait to find out!

GRAND FINAL

COLLINGWOOD vs PORT MELBOURNE

Sunday July 30, 12:10pm, ETU Stadium
Head-to-head: Collingwood 4-1. At ETU Stadium: Collingwood 2-1. Streak: Collingwood 1

THIS SEASON

Qualifying Final at Victoria Park
COLLINGWOOD 2.2, 5.4, 5.4, 7.6 (48)
PORT MELBOURNE 0.0, 1.0, 3.3, 3.4 (22)

BEST
Collingwood: J. Bates, G. Ricardo, E. Jackson, N. Dojiok, T. Hurst, C. van der Vlies
Port Melbourne: E. Harley, L. Caruso, K. O’Keefe, I. Hartog, L. Wright, E. Morrison

GOALS 
Collingwood: M. DeMatteo 2, J. Bates, N. Dojiok, G. Ricardo, C. Sargent, C. van der Vlies
Port Melbourne: A. Campbell, F. Frew, B. Wilson

DISPOSALS
Collingwood: J. Bates 28, J. Tweddle-O’Donnell 16, E. Jackson, E. Nikolitsis 15, N. Dojiok 13
Port Melbourne: E. Harley 15, L. Caruso, K. O’Keefe 14, O. Barton, I. Hartog 13

REVIEW (published July 10)
COLLINGWOOD moved one game away from its third Grand Final in four seasons after breezing past Port Melbourne by 26 points in the Qualifying Final at Victoria Park on Sunday.

After a desperate start which saw neither team score in the first eight minutes, Charlotte van der Vlies got the Magpies going and they added 2.2 in four minutes before never looking back, blowing the margin out to 28 points by half-time.

Fed Frew kicked an early one in the third quarter as the Borough rallied to get back within 13 points at the last change but they were never a serious threat and Collingwood steadied to record its highest score and biggest win over Port at Victoria Park on the back of a pressure-packed 109 tackles to 64.

Magpie ball magnet Jess Bates was once again a standout, with her 28 disposals, 11 clearances, one goal and stunning 16 tackles going down as one of the best individual performances of the year.

Teammate Jazmin Tweddle-O’Donnell was the second most prolific player on the ground with 16 touches and five tackles. Evangelia Nikolitsis had 15 disposals and six tackles and Elizabeth Jackson 15 disposals, while Caitlin Bunker had 12 disposals and laid 15 tackles and Monique DeMatteo booted two goals.

Port Melbourne was best served by Kaitlyn O’Keefe (14 disposals, six clearances, seven tackles), Emily Harley (15 disposals, five tackles) and Lauren Caruso (14 disposals, six tackles), with Beth Wilson having 31 hitouts and kicking a goal.

1:22:48

VFLW Match Replay, FW1: Collingwood v Port Melbourne

The Saints and Bombers clash in finals week one of the 2023 Rebel VFLW Season

Round 2 at ETU Stadium
PORT MELBOURNE 2.0, 4.2, 6.2, 9.3 (57)
COLLINGWOOD 0.2, 0.3, 1.8. 2.8 (20)

BEST
Port Melbourne: E. Morrison, L. Davie, K. Adams, C. Dyett, S. Reid, I. Stutt
Collingwood: J. Bates, C. Bunker, M. Zander, N. Dojiok, J. Tweddle O'Donnell, E. Jackson

GOALS
Port Melbourne: F. Frew, A. Peck, B. Stutt, L. Wright 2, J. Williams
Collingwood: M. DeMatteo, N. Dojiok

DISPOSALS
Port Melbourne: E. Morrison 22, C. Dyett 17, L. Davie, K. O’Keefe 13, K. Adams, O. Barton, A. Campbell 12
Collingwood: J. Bates 31, C. Bunker 19, I. Evans, M. Zander 16, C. van der Vlies 14

COACHES VOTES
Port Melbourne: C. Dyett 6, E. Morrison, A. Peck 4, S. Reid, B. Stutt 1
Collingwood: J. Bates 10, C. Bunker, N. Dojiok 2

REVIEW (published April 1)
PORT MELBOURNE made a statement of its intent to climb back up the rebel VFLW ladder this year with a remarkable 37-point dismissal of 2022 finalist Collingwood at ETU Stadium on Saturday night.

The Borough got off to a flyer, booting four unanswered goals in the first half and taking their domination through to the final siren with another five goals to two after the main break.

Port did most of its damage off half-back, winning easily despite losing clearances 37-21, trailing the inside-50 count 41-22 and having 19 fewer disposals, with Bulldogs recruit Eliza Morrison (22 disposals) leading an even team contribution that saw 13 players in double figures for disposals.

That included Stella Reid, who laid a remarkable 16 tackles to go with 12 touches, while 2022 Rohenna Young medallist Federica Frew kicked two goals in her first game since crossing from Essendon, a figure matched by Bella Stutt, Amelia Peck and Laura Wright.

Jess Bates took her own footy to the game for Collingwood, winning 31 possessions, nine tackles, 11 clearances and seven inside-50s, with support coming from captain Caitlin Bunker (19 possessions, seven tackles, five clearances, five entries) and Matilda Zander (16 disposals, six clearances).

1:23:20

VFLW Match Replay, R2: Port Melbourne v Collingwood

The Borough and Magpies clash in round two of the 2023 Rebel VFLW Season

PREVIOUS HEAD-TO-HEAD

May 21, 2022: Collingwood 6.5 (41) def Port Melbourne 5.2 (32) at ETU Stadium
March 12, 2022: Collingwood 5.12 (42) def Port Melbourne 3.3 (21) at Victoria Park
May 15, 2021: Collingwood 8.4 (52) def Port Melbourne 1.4 (10) at ETU Stadium

Collingwood, Port Melbourne to meet in 2023 rebel VFLW Grand Final

SEASON 2023 - COLLINGWOOD

SF2: 3.4 22 def Essendon 2.6 18 (Victoria Park)
QF: 7.6 48 def Port Melbourne 3.4 22 (Victoria Park)
R14: 8.8 56 def North Melbourne 3.5 23 (Arden Street Oval)
R13: 5.13 43 def Geelong 0.3 3 (AIA Centre)
R12: 4.2 26 lost to Carlton 5.4 34 (AIA Centre)
R11: 11.6 72 def Darebin 2.1 13 (Genis Steel Oval)
R10: 3.6 24 lost to Western Bulldogs 6.4 40 (ETU Stadium)
R9: 1.7 13 lost to Southern Saints 2.6 18 (Victoria Park)
R8: 7.7 49 def North Melbourne 6.3 39 (AIA Centre)
R7: 4.6 30 def Geelong 4.3 27 (Deakin University)
R6: 8.11 59 def Darebin 5.3 33 (Victoria Park)
R5: 2.3 15 lost to Essendon 4.7 31 (Victoria Park)
R4: 7.3 45 def Box Hill Hawks 3.3 21 (Box Hill City Oval)
R3: 6.6 42 def Casey Demons 3.7 25 (Casey Fields)
R2: 2.8 20 lost to Port Melbourne 9.3 57 (ETU Stadium)
R1: 3.10 28 def Williamstown 2.1 13 (Victoria Park)

SEASON 2023 - PORT MELBOURNE

PF: 6.5 41 def Essendon 1.5 11 (ETU Stadium)
1SF: 5.7 37 def Carlton 5.6 36 (ETU Stadium)
QF: 3.4 22 lost to Collingwood 7.6 48 (Victoria Park)
R14: 4.2 26 lost to Casey Demons 5.6 36 (Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval)
R13: 3.4 22 def Essendon 3.1 19 (ETU Stadium)
R12: 8.10 58 def Darebin 2.5 17 (La Trobe University)
R11: 5.6 36 def Western Bulldogs 5.2 32 (ETU Stadium)
R10: 5.2 32 def Geelong 3.7 25 (Deakin University)
R9: 5.2 32 lost to Williamstown 5.6 36 (ETU Stadium)
R8: 3.4 22 lost to Southern Saints 3.7 25 (Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval)
R7: 0.4 4 lost to North Melbourne 0.6 6 (ETU Stadium)
R6: 3.5 23 def Carlton 0.8 8 (ETU Stadium)
R5: 9.2 56 def Box Hill Hawks 4.6 30 (ETU Stadium)
R4: 5.6 36 def Western Bulldogs 4.9 33 (ETU Stadium)
R3: 3.8 26 def Williamstown 3.2 20 (DSV Stadium)
R2: 9.3 57 def Collingwood 2.8 20 (ETU Stadium)
R1: 2.8 20 lost to Carlton 6.8 44 (Ikon Park)

SUMMARY

The powerhouse versus the newcomers. The Magpies are seeking their second rebel VFLW premiership after thrashing Western Bulldogs in the 2019 decider and having the Grand Final abandoned in 2021 due to COVID lockdowns when they would have started strong favourites against Geelong. The Borough is the VFA/VFL’s most successful club with 17 premierships and it has taken just three years to find themselves in the big dance - a remarkable achievement given they finished 10th last year with only three wins and had not won a final until a fortnight ago.

Collingwood boasts a remarkable VFLW record of 61-19-1 and would feel unfulfilled if it can’t claim a second flag to reflect that dominance, while Port has recovered after its debut season was boosted by Richmond AFLW players, with this season’s run coming largely without that assistance.

The two matches this season suggest the result could go either way. The Borough smacked the Magpies on this ground under lights in Round 2 and Collingwood returned the favour in the qualifying final three weeks ago.

Collingwood has arguably the best player in the competition in Jess Bates, two dangerous goal kickers in Monique De Matteo and Nyakoat Dojiok, who came second and third on the goal kicking table, an inspirational skipper in tackling machine Caitlin Bunker and a star ruck in Sarah King.

Port Melbourne’s team will feature last year’s two leading goal kickers in Fed Frew and Jessie Williams, prolific midfielder Lauren Caruso, aerial specialists Maggie McKellar and Kaitlyn O’Keefe and the second-highest hitout exponent in Kate Dudley.

If the Borough can start well and heap the pressure on early, this premiership is winnable, but the experience the Magpies have all over the field ensures they will start favourites.

EARLY PREDICTION

Collingwood by 10