AFLW NMFC AFLW 2026 | 27 wins/29 unbeaten | B2B premiers 24/25 | Three-peat in 2026?

[muttley45]

Admittedly it is only a very small sample size, but the little highlight's package of Sarah Wall on the club website shows that she is no doubt going to be made for AFLW, a nice don't argue, and the determination to chase down and disposess an opponent with a good headstart, particularly impressive, i know their game doesn't allow tackling, but ( unsurprisingly ) just like Vikki, she looks to really like the physical stuff, a very exciting prospect.

 

[CURVE]

KLWT in for shierlaw for mine

shierlaw as ready made depth in her final year in case any tall gets injured

and expect bresnehan in as she will be fully fit, in our leadership group and rated highly

KLWT couldn't even make the starting 21 for the Dogs who finished outside the 8 and you think she is a better option than a players averaging more than a goal a game since arrive at North? Bizarre.

2026 is a learning year for KLWT, I suspect she will get game time, but she will be an understudy to Randall and Shierlaw, absorb everything she can and then be unleashed fulltime in 2027.

I think Bresnehan has been surpassed and will only get a game through injuries. Also, a chance to be offered to the Tassie Devils when they come knocking.

 

[The Nostradamus]

KLWT couldn't even make the starting 21 for the Dogs who finished outside the 8 and you think she is a better option than a players averaging more than a goal a game since arrive at North? Bizarre.

2026 is a learning year for KLWT, I suspect she will get game time, but she will be an understudy to Randall and Shierlaw, absorb everything she can and then be unleashed fulltime in 2027.

I think Bresnehan has been surpassed and will only get a game through injuries. Also, a chance to be offered to the Tassie Devils when they come knocking.

shierlaw form dropped off and imo lucky to get the extra year

expect KLWT brought in as her replacement

tassie is 2 years away worry about it then. Bres will likely be in til at least then

 

[Teen Wolf]

Something missing from that Bastiani article. Needs a disclaimer along the lines of "I didn't have Bogue anywhere near best 21 when I did this pointless guesswork exercise last year."

Think the first mention of Blaithin in the media was July 24th, which suggested she'd get a shot "at some point".

But sure, we're definitely in the position right now to judge the role and impact Weston-Turner will have this year.

 

[CURVE]

But sure, we're definitely in the position right now to judge the role and impact Weston-Turner will have this year.

Of course we are, everyone of Big Footy is an expert and an AFL or AFLW coach in waiting.

You should have worked that out by now.

 

[Tigerat2020]

Gemma Bastiani has predicted the best 21 for each team in season 2026, and I think she got ours spot on.

Your club's best 21: Who's in, who's out, who's new

Quite frankly, it's hard to see much change happening in North Melbourne's first-choice 21 when fully fit. When both Mia King and Ruby Tripodi are available, Eilish Sheerin likely gets pushed to the half back line once again, leaving both Eliza Shannon and Tessa Boyd out of the side. The forward line is solid as a rock, and the wing rotation of Tess Craven, Amy Smith, and Taylah Gatt only increased in potency in 2025. The spot that could be up for grabs is forward/ruck Emma King's. It took King a long time to break back into the premiership side, but seemed a hair away from dropping back out late in the year. It could offer opportunity for Amy Gavin Mangan, who showed her wares when given the chance in her first season, or for Sarah Wall, younger sister of Vikki to cut her teeth, albeit at the other end of the ground.

B: Libby Birch, Jasmine Ferguson
HB: Emma Kearney, Eilish Sheerin, Erika O'Shea
C: Tess Craven, Mia King, Amy Smith
HF: Jenna Bruton, Tahlia Randall, Blaithin Bogue
F: Kate Shierlaw, Alice O'Loughlin
Foll: Kim Rennie, Jasmine Garner, Ash Riddell
I/C: Taylah Gatt, Emma King, Ruby Tripodi, Bella Eddey, Vikki Wall

Depth: Shauna McElligott, Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner, Nicole Bresnehan, Claire Mahony, Maddison Torpey, Amy Gavin Mangan, Sarah Wall, Eliza Shannon, Tessa Boyd

I think my neice Claire Mahony should get a game or she might look at other clubs.

 

[Luke72]

I think my neice Claire Mahony should get a game or she might look at other clubs.

Hopefully she can play some of the VFLW games, I’m not sure if there’s restrictions. If her form stacks up I’m sure her opportunity will come.

I don’t blame any of the fringe players looking around for more opportunities but you don’t need to look too deeply at the list to see there is few retirements on the horizon and spots likely to open up.

 

[The Nostradamus]

I think my neice Claire Mahony should get a game or she might look at other clubs.

she can start looking then, doubt she gets a game probably furthest away from one

 

[kool kangas]

shierlaw form dropped off and imo lucky to get the extra year

expect KLWT brought in as her replacement

tassie is 2 years away worry about it then. Bres will likely be in til at least then

KLWT will come into the side when they decide to rest Shierlaw or Randall or if one gets injured...otherwise she'll play VFLW..2027 will be her year when Shierlaw retires.

 

[Luke72]

Given there was a fair bit of competition for her I wouldn’t be surprised if KLWT had a bit of guarantee around getting a run. Sure she will have to earn her spot but I wouldn’t be surprised to see her in the first round or two then reassessed.

 

[kool kangas]

Given there was a fair bit of competition for her I wouldn’t be surprised if KLWT had a bit of guarantee around getting a run. Sure she will have to earn her spot but I wouldn’t be surprised to see her in the first round or two then reassessed.

l think a lot will depend on who we are playing. If its the lower clubs they might do it but if its a Melbourne or Hawthorn or Brisbane l dont think they will...We need the streak to continue...

 

[The Nostradamus]

 

[The Nostradamus]

 

[Lomas]

I always wondered what you looked like!

Need to upgrade the ear pods.

 

[The Nostradamus]

I always wondered what you looked like!

lol what jammins brother?

 

[Liam Boy]

I think my neice Claire Mahony should get a game or she might look at other clubs.

I think it was Julius Caesar who said you'd rather play firsts in a village than seconds in the empire...

 

[CURVE]

I wonder who North's breakout star was.

Stepping up: Your club's breakout player of 2025

Stepping up: Your club's breakout player of 2025​

From new stars to established ones who have found another gear, we choose the player from each club that turned heads this season
By Gemma Bastiani and Dylan Bolch
Jan 19, 2026, 6:00 am

Indy Tahau, Blaithin Bogue and Ryleigh Wotherspoon. Pictures: AFL Photos
FROM young guns on the rise to competition stalwarts, plenty of players took their game to the next level this year.

Some earned All-Australian selection and featured prominently in their club's best and fairest counts, while others simply took the next step in their AFLW journey.

AFL.com.au takes a look at your club's breakout player from the 2025 season.


Pretty obvious I would have thought.

BLAITHIN BOGUE

Probably the season's biggest breakout star, Bogue exceeded everyone's expectations in 2025, earning an All-Australian blazer. She was made to bide her time before featuring at the top level but had an instant impact when she was given an opportunity in Darren Crocker's side this year. Bogue kicked an equal all-time competition-high 25 goals, becoming an integral part of the Kangaroos' front half where her speed, goal smarts and power came to the fore. Her form was a big tick to North Melbourne's development program. Despite being the first club to win back-to-back AFLW premierships, the Roos continue to get better and better given the elite, high-performance program they have built.

Blaithin Bogue poses with an Irish flag after North Melbourne's AFLW Grand Final win over Brisbane on November 29, 2025. Picture: Getty Images

 

[ferball]

"Probably..."

 

[CURVE]

"Probably..."

Indy Tahou is another possibility, the league's leading goal scorer despite spending the first two weeks in defense and not playing finals.

 

[ferball]

Indy Tahou is another possibility, the league's leading goal scorer despite spending the first two weeks in defense and not playing finals.

She is a premiership player. Not playing her first season of the game at any level.

BB kicked as many goals. Admittedly she played a few more games this season but she'd never played the game properly before! Its such an effort I don''t think people understand. Tahou played in a Premiership side four or five years ago. Bogue had never played before this season. Its almost inconceivable what she did.

 

[CURVE]

She is a premiership player. Not playing her first season of the game at any level.

BB kicked as many goals. Admittedly she played a few more games this season but she'd never played the game properly before! Its such an effort I don''t think people understand. Tahou played in a Premiership side four or five years ago. Blgue had never played before this season. Its almost inconceivable what she did.

I agree, I think Bogue’s season was extraordinarily, I just think when Gemma wrote the article she was being a little more circumspect in her assessment.

 

[The Nostradamus]

 

[Luke72]

Wombat?!?