Premier B Women’s 2026 Season Preview

A new-look Premier B Women’s competition arrives in 2026 with one of the most intriguing mixes the section has seen: a relegated powerhouse looking to rebound, a two-time reigning premier on the rise, two grand finalists promoted from Division 2, and several established Premier B clubs looking to make a genuine tilt at the flag.

A common thread runs through every club’s pre-season conversation: speed, pressure and building a strong team identity.

With so many sides backing themselves to feature in September, 2026 is shaping up as one of the more unpredictable and compelling seasons in recent memory.

Let’s take a closer look:

BEAUMARIS

It was a whirlwind 2025 for the Sharks, who tore through the opening month with four dominant wins and an average margin of 57 points before being elevated to the top tier, where they fought valiantly but could only muster a single victory.

Beaumaris now return to Premier B with invaluable experience in the bank, a clearer understanding of the level required for Premier football, and a determination to climb back up to the top in 2027.

There is a new man at the helm, with Damian Farrow stepping up from coaching the Reserves to take on the Senior role. While new to the position, Farrow is no stranger to the community-first values that define the Beaumaris Football Club. 

Asked about his goals for the season, Farrow was clear about the culture he wants his side to embody:

“We would love to be recognised as a team that is easily identified as living its values on a weekly basis – demonstrating resilience, trusting each other and showing a genuine community spirit on and off the field.”

A major off‑field boost comes through the club’s new leadership program, with St Kilda AFLW captain Hannah Priest mentoring the expanded leadership group. Priest’s influence is already helping players such as Claire Weiss and Sienna Tedde take their game to the next level, setting standards and strengthening communication across the group.

With their experience, list retention and strengthened leadership, the Sharks will enter 2026 as one of the early flag favourites.

GLEN EIRA/OLD McKINNON

Stories like that of the Gryphons’ meteoric rise are rare to find. After storming to the Division 2 premiership in 2024, Glen Eira backed it up with an undefeated 2025 campaign in Division 1, securing back‑to‑back flags and a chance to chase a remarkable hat‑trick across three divisions.

There is no denying the jump into Premier B brings a tougher, more seasoned calibre of opposition, but the Gryphons have consistently shown they can rise to higher standards.

Coach Mel Kuys highlighted depth as a key strength of their 2025 campaign, and it remains an asset of theirs heading into 2026. Not only have they retained their premiership core, but they have also attracted enough new talent to field a Reserves side for the first time in club history – a clear sign of the collective buy-in to their vision of Premier success.

The coaching panel has been strengthened with the arrival of Olivia Barton as assistant coach. A former Essendon AFLW player and current Port Melbourne VFLW captain, Barton brings elite‑level experience and a proven leadership pedigree.

On-field, Kuys is focused on continuous improvement and a recognisable game style, with their goals based on getting better every week.

“We want to improve our brand of footy and be competitive in every single game we play,” said Kuys.

“When the game is played on our terms, it will look like us winning the contested footy, linking up, keeping the ball in our forward half with relentless pressure around the ball.”

With stars across every line, a clear belief and momentum behind them, Glen Eira should not be underestimated as newcomers, entering Premier B with a genuine chance to shake up the competition once again.

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY

Another 2025 premiership outfit joins Premier B for the first time, with La Trobe University taking the step up from Divison 2 after defeating Parkside in a Grand Final thriller.

The Trobers saved their best football until last, finishing third on the ladder before launching an impressive finals run that saw them snatch the ultimate victory by just three points.

La Trobe have shown rapid improvement over the last few years, and will need to continue that upward trend to compete at the highly regarded standard of Premier B.

With the squad remaining largely unchanged, valuable contributors like Kate Bond and Steph Castignini will again be relied upon to lead the way.

Coach Sam Greene expects the jump to be tough but believes the club’s strengthened framework and growing confidence will keep them competitive. If they can translate last year’s spirited finals effort to Premier B, La Trobe will be far from a pushover and could quickly establish themselves as a challenger.

OLD MELBURNIANS

After finishing second in 2025 and falling to Old Brighton in the grand final, Old Melburnians enter 2026 with a clear sense of unfinished business.

The Omlettes showed significant improvement throughout the season and were the only side able to defeat the eventual premiers, Old Brighton, claiming wins in both their Round 10 and Semi Final clashes.

Coach Pat di Natale has strengthened the program with the addition of former AFLW player Jess Trend, who joins as a playing assistant coach – a major inclusion whose leadership and experience will be invaluable to a young and developing group.

With the youthful list now hardened by the finals exposure, Old Melburnians look poised to take another step forward and loom as a strong contender in 2026.

OLD XAVERIANS

It was a challenging 2025 for Old Xaverians (4 wins, 10 losses and 1 draw), but coach Doug Greenough believes the foundations laid last year – particularly around standards and education – will pay dividends.

The club has recruited heavily from Genazzano FCJ College, adding a wave of young talent including Poppy Lawrance, Hannah Deane, Nikita Balic, Georgie Kerr and Maddie Stewart.

Greenough also expects to see improvement come from emerging players like Annabelle Gangi, Molly and Tess McCarthy, and Amelie Menegola, who will all be better with another season under their belt.

Targeting speed and conditioning in the off-season, the Xavs will look to play a fast game with pressure as a key indicator.

While Greenough did not shy away from stating the goal is to play finals, he also reiterated the importance of effort and enjoyment.

“As long as we control the controllables, give our best each week, and just enjoy having a kick with your mates each week, then we have achieved our season goal,” he said.

With a strong foundation, an injection of youth and valuable Premier experience, don’t be surprised if Old Xavs are one of the competition’s biggest improvers.

OLD YARRA COBRAS

After being regraded down from Premier A in 2025, Old Yarra Cobras endured a tough start but found their stride late in the season, winning four of their last five matches to finish sixth.

Coach Michael Talbot has seen significant list turnover, including the departures of stars Erin Woodford and Mia Giannopoulos to St Kevin’s, but also an influx of quality young players.

Talbot wants his side to continue building on their pressure, speed, and the courage to take the game on.

Players to watch include Belinda Wriedt, who has backed up her inclusion in the leadership group with a standout pre-season, and Lara Moussa, whose rapid improvement was recognised in 2025.

Talbot spoke to the unpredictability of Premier B football.

“It is such an even competition this year with all the teams in Prem B that it is hard to have expectations based on wins and losses,” he said.

“Our goal is to continue to provide the opportunity for our players to enjoy playing football and show off their superpowers.”

If their late-season form of last year continues, the Cobras are certainly one to watch in 2026 and could quickly climb the ladder if they hit the ground running.

PARKSIDE

Parkside are one of the biggest stories of the off-season, having jumped two divisions – runners up in Division 2 rising straight into Premier B.

Coach Anthony Romano admits the promotion was a surprise, but the club is fully embracing the challenge.

“As a team we are honoured to go up a few grades and see how we compete,” he said.

Parkside have recruited strongly, with key ins including Laura Mayne, Samantha Baisas, Madison Katerelos, and will be significantly bolstered by the return of their inaugural captain Emily Rayment from VFLW. Fielding a Reserves side for the first time, their improved depth will serve them well.

Similar to their competition, Parkside have placed a focus on forward entries and running in numbers.

After losing their grand final by a heartbreaking three points, it’s clear there is a fire in their belly.

“We are not here to make numbers, we are here to go three points better than last season so we will do our best and see what happens,” said Romano.

Parkside are one of the big unknowns this year, but their hunger and depth make them a threat no side should overlook.

PORT MELBOURNE CHARGERS

The Chargers impressed in their inaugural 2025 season, finishing third with 10 wins before falling narrowly to Westbourne in the semi-final.

Coach Harriet Cooper has identified consistency as a key theme for 2026.

“We proved we can compete with the best, but our focus now is on maintaining that level of intensity for all four quarters,” she said.

Another team looking to build their game plan off pressure and quick ball movement, the Chargers will look to generate effective handball chains from stoppage to launch their attacks.

In terms of the squad, Cooper said:
“We’ve had a healthy mix of continuity and fresh energy. While we’ve said goodbye to a few stalwarts, the addition of some young, athletic talent has added a new layer of speed to our midfield and half-back line.”

The arrival of former GWS AFLW player Pepa Randall will help with skill development, and if she takes the field, expect her to make a big impact.

With their sights clearly set on another finals appearance, Cooper said, “Our primary goal is to play a brand of football that reflects our team identity every week. If we get the process right and stick to our structures, the results will take care of themselves.”

With a strong first season behind them and a clear identity emerging, the Chargers appear well placed to go deep in 2026, with many expecting them to feature prominently when finals arrive.

ROUND 1 will provide an immediate litmus test of where each team sits in this new-look competition.

To kick things off, 2025 grand finalists Old Melburnians will host the newly promoted Glen Eira/McKinnon, with both sides coming off successful campaigns in 2025.

At JL Murphy Reserve, an early heavyweight clash awaits between Port Melbourne Chargers and Beaumaris, with the two pressure‑driven outfits eager to assert themselves from the outset.

La Trobe University face an instant test when they travel to Doncaster Reserve to take on the Old Yarra Cobras, while Parkside round out the opening weekend by hosting Old Xaverians at Pitcher Park.