VAFA Women’s Competition: Welcome to the Finals

Leading into the opening weekend of finals for the VAFA Women’s Competition, VAFA Media is giving you an overview on what to expect in each of the Divisions heading into the first bounce this Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday 19th August	Semi-Final 1	Preston Bullants (3rd)	Wattle Park (4th)	9:20 AM	Ruthven Reserve
Saturday 19th August	Semi-Final 2	UHS-VU (1st)	Old Carey (2nd)	9:20 AM	Brens Oval

Old Carey has returned to the VAFA Women’s Competition with a bang. Despite being held scoreless in Round 1, the Panthers turned Division 4 Women’s on its head from there and worked their way into a top two finish, consolidated on the back of a 57 point win over Elsternwick last weekend.

UHS-VU was the dominant force in 2023, finishing with the minor premiership, three games clear of Old Carey. They’ve been the Panthers bogey side throughout the home and away season winning both encounters with relative ease. 

The winner of this contest books the first spot in this year’s Grand Final. Old Carey can draw on history from the past, having made the 2017 Grand Final. Whilst UHS-VU are out to avenge last year’s semi-final exit at the hands of Parkside. 

The rise of Wattle Park is nothing short of sensational. Experiencing a winless 2022, the Animals finish in fourth spot with eight wins for the season having won their last three matches. 

This weekend against the Preston Bullants, they’ll be back at WR Ruthven Reserve. The same venue they attended on the weekend in Round 16 to leave the Bullants with plenty of question marks. 

A stellar season from Preston saw them held to one point for the first three quarters. Did the Animals play all their cards ahead of the return bout this Saturday? 

There’s no tomorrow for the loser of this contest. The winner will face the loser of UHS-VU and Old Carey in the Preliminary Final. 

Saturday 19th August	Semi-Final 1	Oakleigh (3rd)	AJAX (4th)	11:40 AM	Scammel Reserve
Saturday 19th August	Semi-Final 2	Power House (1st)	Glen Eira (2nd)	9:20 AM	Ross Gregory Oval

Power House started 2023 in Division 4 Women’s with a bang. Such was the force of the bang, they were promoted into Division 3. 

The ladies of Ross Gregory Oval have had little problems with the climb up the grades finishing with the minor premiership and losing only two games for the season. 

Like the men’s side, the Glen Eira Gryphons have been just as impressive in the Women’s program. Finishing second with Hannah Konstanty (17 goals), Rosie Bureta (14 goals) and Clare Konstanty (12 goals) all finishing inside the top five sharpshooters for the competition. 

The head-to-head battle is split at 1-1 in 2023, the Gryphons claiming the most recent bragging rights with a 2-point victory. 

Both of these sides didn’t feature in the finals last year so will be out to make every moment count in 2023. 

There is a tomorrow for the loser of this contest, and they will face off against the winner of Oakleigh and Ajax in the Preliminary Final. 

Oakleigh and Ajax have been evenly matched when it comes to the overall wins and losses for the season. In the head-to-head battle, it falls in favour of the Krushers 2-1. 

Despite a mid-year slump at Oakleigh where they were forced to forfeit in back-to-back games, they’ve managed to pull the team together and finish the season in third. 

Seven days ago Ajax produced their biggest and best win of the season, against Oakleigh. A 60 point drubbing at Lindsay Hassett Oval. This time around it’s at Scammell Reserve, the home of Oakleigh. A venue they’ve gone 6-1 at in 2023. 

Saturday 19th August	Semi-Final 1	Parkdale Vultures (3rd)	Old Trinity (4th)	11:40 AM	Gerry Green Reserve
Saturday 19th August	Semi-Final 2	Williamstown CYMS (1st)	Albert Park (2nd)	11:40 AM	Fearon Reserve

Arguably this is the #1 ranked final of them all. Williamstown CYMS against the Albert Park Falcons on Saturday morning at Fearon Reserve. 

Albert Park nearly stole last year’s title. Heartbreak against the Hampton Rovers. Williamstown were the sweethearts of Division 2 in 2023 having gone through the season undefeated. 

Three times these sides met this year, three times Williamstown reigned supreme. They are the only three losses the Falcons have experienced this year. 

Can the Falcons stop Alessia Acquaro? 46 goals from her 15 games. They can shoot the lights out in the front half, and their defence is watertight. 

How will the Falcons curtail the influence of Johannah Griffin? A 2x competition best and fairest who is known to have the ball on a string. 

While a spot in the Grand Final awaits, perhaps we’ll then see these sides match up again in a fortnight’s time. Although Parkdale and Old Trinity may have something to say about that with their own semi-final match up at Gerry Green Reserve. 

The Vultures will be spurred on by their own Grand Final heartbreak, losing Premier C Women’s to St Bede’s in 2022. They’ll have to go the long way around if they want to reach the promised land in 2023. 

Old Trinity slumped to second last in 2022, but have risen to fourth this year. The T’s formline prior to the weekend has been strong, having beaten the Vultures in the lead up, but a 1-point loss to Ivanhoe AFC on the weekend may be the sting they needed to sharpen their focus.

Parkdale enters the contest coming off a 119 point win last weekend and stacked full of confidence. Earlier in the year when these sides met at Gerry Green Reserve it was the Vultures who held the T’s goalless in Round 7.  

Sunday 20th August	Semi-Final 1	Old Brighton (3rd)	Marcellin (4th)	10:00 AM	Whitefriars College
Sunday 20th August	Semi-Final 2	Beaumaris (1st)	Old Melburnians (2nd)	12:15 PM	Whitefriars College

The knock-out semi-final headlines Division 1 Women’s on Sunday morning at Whitefriars College. 

Old Brighton and Marcellin, two sides who have tasted premiership success in the VAFA Women’s Competition. 

This year they go into this battle having split the head-to-head battle at 1-1 throughout the home and away season. India Tait is going to be the one Marcellin is going to have to put a clamp on if they’re to prove successful. Tait has featured in the best 14 times from 15 games this year. 

Should the Tonners want the opportunity to fight for a spot in the Grand Final, curbing the influence of sharpshooter Zoe Glascott is a must, Glascott averages 2 goals a game in 2023. Big V representative Annie Xanthos is another who they can’t afford to let get off the chain. 

Old Brighton were on a four game winning streak before Beaumaris beat them last weekend. Marcellin on a three game winning streak before Old Xaverians forfeited the final round which has allowed a pre-finals bye. Will the fresh legs account for more than we have bargained for?

The staggering run of wins has continued through another home and away season for Beaumaris. 38 in a row. 

They were in the Grand Final in 2021 before the season was abandoned. They won the 2022 Premiership in the perfect season, and this year, they’re two wins away from doing so again. 

Simone Marinelli leads all-comers with 27 goals for the year, whilst there’s girls in this Sharks line up that have never experienced a loss and will be hellbent on keeping it that way. 

Old Melburnians cemented second spot with a win over Old Camberwell in the final round. The Omlettes have been consistently strong throughout the season. Sophie Fraser in front of goal has been dangerous, Sally Peers has been one to watch. 

Have they got the firepower and the midfield nous to defeat the Sharks for the first time since midway through 2021? 

All will be revealed this Sunday afternoon at Whitefriars College.

Also this weekend, it’s the first season-decider for 2023, with the Thirds Women’s Grand Final as Kew takes on West Brunswick at Whitefriars College on Sunday at 2:30pm. View the full fixture and pre-purchase tickets on the VAFA Finals Hub – click the banner above.