Round 1 of the William Buck Premier Women’s competition delivered a strong opening statement, with established contenders flexing their depth, newly promoted sides proving their competitiveness and several clubs unveiling fresh talent and new systems.
Reigning powerhouse Old Scotch picked up where they left off, defeating Caulfield Grammarians 9.10 (64) to 6.2 (38) in a high-quality Grand Final rematch. Coach Dean Anderson praised his side’s intent, noting there were “zero signs of complacency” despite past success. The Cardinals’ blend of experience and youth was on full display, with several debutants contributing in a polished performance built on potent offence and disciplined defence. While stoppage work and free kicks conceded remain areas for improvement, Anderson made it clear the group’s ambition hasn’t wavered: “We are determined to create a real dynasty.” Ella Crump, Nadia von Bertouch, Jordan Mifsud and Mia Cowan were among the standouts.
The Field’s showed promising signs despite the loss, particularly their ability to generate early scoreboard pressure. Coach Danielle Di Stefano was encouraged by her side’s bravery with ball in hand but acknowledged turnovers and stoppage deficiencies proved costly.
Fitzroy produced the most dominant display of the round, overwhelming Williamstown CYMS 15.19 (109) to 1.3 (9). Fitzroy impressed with their ball movement and cohesion as the match progressed. Coach Nathan Jumeau praised a balanced performance across all lines, with Simone Mooney leading the way in the midfield. Despite the one-sided scoreline, Williamstown CYMS showed resilience, with coach Chris Karakiozakis commending his inexperienced group’s four-quarter effort and commitment to development. Marli Russell’s work rate stood out in a tough outing.
St Kevin’s opened their campaign with a strong 7.6 (48) to 4.6 (30) win over Old Brighton in a competitive contest. Old Brighton, in their first hit-out at Premier level, impressed with their intensity and attacking mindset, particularly through the middle stages. However, a lack of rotations took its toll late, with St Kevin’s capitalising on a fourth-quarter lapse to seal the result. Coach Pat Malone took plenty of positives from the performance, highlighting the side’s ball movement and intent, while noting the need for greater consistency under fatigue. Renee Saulitis, Jasmine Tait, Bridgette Hagan and Caterina O’Brien were key contributors. For St Kevin’s, some familiar names popped up in the best with Bree Doyle, Sarah Cameron and Isabella Stuff all starting off the 2026 season well.
West Brunswick also secured the four points but were left wanting more after a scrappy 2.5 (17) to 1.5 (11) win over newcomers Westbourne Grammarians. Coach Ryan Wandel admitted the performance fell short of expectations, pointing to poor decision-making and wasted opportunities, particularly in the first half. A late lift, led by Taylah Watson, proved decisive, while Claudia Piggott controlled the ruck battle.
For Westbourne, the result marked an encouraging debut at the top level. Coach Chris Grant praised his side’s ability to match it with a well-drilled opponent, highlighting their defensive structure in restricting West Brunswick to just seven scoring shots. With confidence growing, the Grammarians will look to sharpen their ball movement and transition in the coming weeks. Sarah Dickie, Eleni Kikidis and Kayla Koropeckyj were among their best.
Kew rounded out the winners’ list with a hard-fought 3.7 (25) to 2.2 (14) victory over Old Geelong. Built on pressure and defensive discipline, Kew’s performance was underpinned by a remarkable 70 tackles and a strong team-first approach. Coach Manny Di Parsia praised his side’s four-quarter effort and ability to respond after a second-quarter lapse, holding Old Geelong to just one behind in the second half.
Old Geelong showed plenty of promise despite the loss, with eight debutants gaining valuable experience. Coach Jack Crameri noted the game came down to key moments, with missed opportunities inside 50 proving costly. Debutant Sienna Koop impressed at centre half-back, while Brooke McKay was again a dominant presence.
Looking Ahead – Round 2
Round 2 shapes as an early litmus test for several sides. Caulfield Grammarians will look to bounce back when they host Westbourne Grammarians, while St Kevin’s face a significant challenge against a high-flying Fitzroy outfit. Williamstown CYMS take on Kew as both sides look to build continuity and Old Geelong host Old Brighton in what looms as a tightly contested clash. West Brunswick and Old Scotch round out the weekend.
Elsternwick 19.13.127 def North Brunswick 9.10.64 Elsternwick’s fast start set the tone for Round 1, with several sides recording dominant wins across the competition. It was this blistering start that
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