2026 Premier B Women’s Team of the Year

Our VAFA Team of the Year series continues with Premier B Women’s, recognising the standout players from across the competition after a season that showcased the depth of talent in women’s football.

Beaumaris were the clear frontrunners all year, returning from William Buck Premier with a mission to put their learnings from the top level into action. The Sharks dropped just one game for the season, a 28-point loss to Port Melbourne Chargers in Round 15. It proved to be the loss they needed, helping to inform their game plan when they met the Chargers again in the Grand Final.

That Round 15 upset launched a charge into September for the Chargers, who reached the Grand Final in just their second year. They eliminated Williamstown CYMS, who made finals on percentage after starting the year in William Buck Premier, by 29 points. They then edged out Old Melburnians by just one point in the Preliminary Final.

For the second-placed Omlettes, it was a rollercoaster season. They won six home & away games by 10 points or less, before bowing out in straight sets, losing the Qualifying Final to Beaumaris by 11 points and the Preliminary Final by one.

That left the Chargers and Sharks to battle it out on the last day in September, where the Sharks’ class saw them outshine the Chargers by 37 points to lift the cup after a thoroughly entertaining season of footy.

Here is the VAFA 2026 Premier B Women’s Team of the Year, as compiled by VAFA Media reporter Lauren Atkinson, with feedback and analysis from coaches and umpires across the home & away season:

It should come as no surprise that Beaumaris leads the way with five representatives, including Coach of the Year, Damian Farrow. In his first season at the helm of the senior women’s side, Farrow guided the Sharks to a 15-1 home & away record, and ultimately the premiership, just a year after the club finished ninth in Premier Women’s.

Premiership co-captain Anna Sutcliffe has been named captain of this team in recognition of her leadership, as well as her ability to lock down the best forwards in the competition. Sutcliffe also earned a spot in the Big V extended squad this year.

2026 VAFA Rising Star Isabel Koster lines up on the half-back flank. Koster polled the most votes in the League Best & Fairest count in her first full year of senior football.

Another premiership Shark, Cassandra Newman, leads the midfield brigade after playing a big role in her side’s success, being named in Beaumaris’s best players 12 times.

Finally, up-and-coming key forward Olivia Smith features at centre half forward. Smith capped off her strong season (18 goals) with the Best on Ground medal in the 2026 Grand Final.

Runners-up Port Melbourne Chargers also have four players in the team. Leading goalkicker Georgia Harris (34 goals) starts at full forward, Tess Maloney is named in the back line, and Maia Sublet, the club’s 2025 B&F winner, is in the ruck. Georgia Smith polled 11 league votes from just eight regular-season games and is named in the midfield.

Old Melburnians have three selected following their run to the Preliminary Final. Stephanie Barnett cemented her reputation as one of the competition’s best defenders with a second consecutive selection in the back line. She is joined by fellow Omlettes Zari Mildenhall (interchange), a consistent presence in the midfield all season, and the versatile Clare Fraser on the wing.

Glen Eira/Old McKinnon also have three players after an impressive first year in Premier B. League Best & Fairest winner Gemma Strangio polled 13 votes in just 10 games and is named in the starting midfield. Irish import Eimear Scally made an immediate impact in her first year of AFL, polling nine votes in eight games and booting nine goals. Eliza Morrison adds versatility and experience on the interchange.

Williamstown CYMS also have three players. Kate Grady and Jess Court shared the club B&F and are named in the half-back line and on the interchange respectively. Spearhead Sharnie Whiting starts in attack after booting 23 goals in just nine games.

Old Xaverians had a number of worthy players in a season that saw them fall just short of finals on percentage. After missing the whole 2025 season through injury, Lia Siniakov slotted back into the forward line seamlessly, kicking 20 goals in 13 games. Club B&F winner Hannah Deane adds midfield class and forward cover off the bench, while Amy Benifer, the club’s Pressure Player of the Year, strengthens the defence.

Parkside had a strong first season in Premier B after jumping two divisions, highlighted by their 66-point win over Williamstown. Wing Madison Katerelos impressed, kicking 22 goals to take third place in the competition goalkicking.

Finally, Old Yarra Cobras are represented by experienced sharpshooter Alannah Murray, who kicked 17 goals and is named at forward pocket.

Congratulations to everyone selected in the line-up!