THIS ROUND’S GAMES

WILLIAM BUCK PREMIER WOMEN’S

Caulfield GrammariansvsSt Kevins

Kew FCvsFitzroy FC

Melbourne UniversityvsCoburg

Old ScotchvsWest Brunswick AFC

Old XaveriansvsCollegians

PREMIER B WOMEN’S

BrunswickvsOld Yarra Cobras

Mazenod OCvsRichmond Central

Monash BluesvsAquinas OC

North BrunswickvsHawthorn

Bye: St Bedes/Mentone Tigers

PREMIER C WOMEN’S

Marcellin OCvsHampton Rovers AFC

Old Camberwell GrammariansvsOld Carey

Parkdale VulturesvsOld Ivanhoe Grammarians

PegsvsMazenod OC

Bye: Ormond

DIVISION 1 MEN’S

Glen EiravsKew FC

IvanhoevsWest Brunswick AFC

OakleighvsPrahran

Old PeninsulavsTherry Penola

Preston BullantsvsUhs-Vu AFC

DIVISION 2 MEN’S

Bulleen TemplestowevsMHSOB

Old ParadiansvsBrunswick

Old Yarra CobrasvsAquinas

ParksidevsWhitefriars

St Mary’s SalesianvsSouth Melbourne Districts

DIVISION 3 MEN’S

HawthornvsLa Trobe University

Power HousevsSwinburne University

Richmond CentralvsCanterbury

Wattle ParkvsElsternwick

DIVISION 4 MEN’S

Box Hill NorthvsEley Park

Masala Football ClubvsSt Johns

North BrunswickvsAlbert Park

IvanhoevsNorth Brunswick

MazenodvsHawthorn

Richmond CentralvsParkdale Vultures

St Bedes / Mentone TigersvsBrunswick

DIVISION 1 WOMEN’S

Marcellin OCvsOld Geelong

Old BrightonvsHampton Rovers AFC

Old Camberwell GrammariansvsBeaumaris

Old HaileyburyvsSt Mary’s Salesian

DIVISION 2 WOMEN’S

IvanhoevsOld Trinity

Old MelburniansvsMelbourne Cricket Club FC

Therry PenolavsAlbert Park

Williamstown CYMSvsParkdale Vultures

DIVISION 3 WOMEN’S

Bulleen Templestowe AFCvsUhs-Vu AFC

De La SallevsOakleigh

Glen EiravsAJAX

ParksidevsWhitefriars

DIVISION 4 WOMEN’S

CanterburyvsLa Trobe University

Power HousevsOld Carey

Preston BullantsvsSouth Melbourne Districts

Wattle ParkvsElsternwick

Who’s going to stop the St Kevin’s three-peat?

We are fast approaching the 2023 William Buck Premier Women’s season, with it all set to kick off on April 14 as the Caulfield Grammarians take on St Kevin’s under lights at E.E Gunn Reserve. St Kevin’s will be looking to defend their premiership title, having beat Kew in last year’s Grand Final.

This year, the Coburg Lions are joining the women’s competition and we’ll be treated to five games each weekend, as St Mary’s Salesian drop out. The competition will also be expanding to 18 matches for the first time this season, as per the 2022-2024 Women’s Football Competition Game Plan.

Here’s a look at the ten teams all vying for this year’s Premiership.

Caulfield Grammarians

After a massive loss to St Kevin’s in last year’s preliminary final, 93-14, the Grammarians will be searching for redemption this season. Shanae Carter was last year’s best and fairest winner for Caulfield, earning Team of the Year selection alongside teammate Charlie Anderson They’ll be looking to amend the mistakes they made in the prelim last year under the Friday night lights against St Kevin’s in Round One.

St Kevin’s

Last year’s back-to-back premiers will be hoping to pull off a three-peat this year after a dominant grand final victory against Kew. St Kevin’s will be under new leadership this year for the first time since 2017, with Sophie Straford and Sarah Cameron both stepping down. Bree Doyle capped off her year last year with a third St Kevin’s best and fairest award, she has been announced as the club captain, alongside inaugural player Margaret Gleeson for the 2023 season. Tom Purcell remains the coach, and is excited about the prospect of a new look SKOB side this year.

Kew FC

Apart from St Kevin’s, Kew was the best side in 2022 and were the only side to actually defeat SKOB in the home and away season. Kew has the best player in the competition, Dakota Villiva, who was named in the best players last year 14 out of 17 times- all in her debut season too. Kew only lost twice in last year’s home-andaway season, once to St Kevin’s and to Caulfield, and will be hoping to go one better this year.

Fitzroy

After not competing in the Premier division last year, Fitzroy has moved up to the competition this season and looked promising in their practice match at the start of April, albeit against an undermanned Hawthorn team. They face a tough challenge first up against Kew but will be hoping to give it their best shot.

Old Xaverians

Finished in sixth place last year to miss out on finals, having only won four games for the season, including an impressive win against the fifth place West Brunswick. Gabby Golds and Gab Henderson featured in the team of the year and hopefully will help them to win a few more games this year.

Collegians

The purple army join William Buck Premier Women’s in 2023. Finishing inside the top 4 in Premier B last year, the Lions, will feel at home in the VAFA’s top flight coming up with Fitzroy and Old Scotch. Two sides they had strong battles with last year and were evenly matched as the year unfolded.

Old Scotch

The Cardinals finished last season in Premier B Women’s in fourth spot. A fairytale run through the finals saw them beat Fitzroy to claim the premiership for the second time, having also won it in 2019. Scotch’s coach, Dean Anderson, was the Premier B Team of the Year coach last year, and will be hoping for even more success whilst competing in the premier division.

West Brunswick

West Brunswick managed to finish the season in fifth last season, after recording only six wins for the season, however were knocked out in a close game, 10-4, against Melbourne Uni Women’s in an elimination final. They did record some impressive wins last season, including over fellow finalist Caulfield Grammarians.

Melbourne Uni Women’s

The 2018 Premiers were beaten in the semi-finals last year, falling to Caufield Grammarians and unable to contend for the title any further. Guided by new head coaches, Bronte Ryan and Emily Fox, MUWFC starts their season off against Coburg, in a battle of the oldest vs the competition’s newest club and will be looking to start their season off strongly.

Coburg Lions

The VAFA is welcoming the Coburg Lions this season, after transferring from the South Eastern Women’s Football League. Coburg were strong competitors in their previous league in 2021, finishing in the top five, going on to play finals in a COVID-19 interrupted season. It will be interesting to see how they go up against VAFA’s oldest club, Melbourne Uni, in round one.

In an exciting announcement for William Buck Premier Women’s, KommunityTV has extended their partnership in 2023, meaning nine women’s home & away games plus all finals will be streamed live, with all matches available on demand. Make sure to tune in to round one with live coverage of Melbourne Uni Women’s vs. Coburg, as we look towards what will be an exciting season as women’s football continues to expand.

Round 1 Tips

Caulfield Grammarians v St Kevin’s

Kew FCv Fitzroy

Old Xaverians v Collegians

Old Scotch v West Brunswick

Melb Uni Women’sv Coburg