News Richmond 2026 VFLW watch.

[TigermanM2]

Thought I'd start a VFLW watch thread to cover our interest in a VFLW team.

The 2025 VFLW Team of The Year squad has just been released.

Includes former Tigers:

Courtney Jones, Collingwood
14 matches this season, 14 goals
Averages 13.4 disposals, 3.6 marks, 1.0 goals

Amelia Peck, Collingwood
13 matches this season, 18 goals
Averages 8.7 disposals, 4.0 marks, 1.4 goals

Stella Reid, North Melbourne-Werribee
13 matches this season, 2 goals
Averages 15.5 disposals, 7.2 intercepts, 4.3 marks

Sarah Sansonetti, Western Bulldogs
14 matches this season, 0 goals
Averages 14.2 disposals, 6.9 intercepts, 4.5 marks

Stella Reid hasn't done a lot wrong this year but might be one of many just caught between VFLW and AFLW levels. Think its becoming less and less likely players getting a second chance given the quality of kids now coming through the Coates Talent League but you never know some may head back to the yellow and black in our VFLW team if it happens.

A bit surprised no one has given Nyakoat Dojiok (Nth) a try in AFLW. Was touted to be drafted a couple of years ago when she played with GWV Rebels. Tall, super athletic and can play both end of the ground. Type of player that can kick a bag. Kicked 38 goals in VFLW this year including a bag of 7. Just thought she is one player that could make it if she had a shot within an elite environment.

 

[TigermanM2]

Four ex Tigers making the 2025 VFLW team of the year.

 

[toenail63]

Four ex Tigers making the 2025 VFLW team of the year.

View attachment 2429131

That's a fair team. Gabby Collingwood was a great junior player at Jindalee Jags, my closest local club, along with Nat Grider, and unfortunately Gabby had rotten luck with injuries, was ahead of others including Nat in the Lions planning but had 3 x knee injuries and missed best part of three years, great to see her healthy and playing good footy again. Dojoik good enough to be on an AFLW list for sure. Also Lily Rose Williamson playing this season now as an injury replacement player at Collingwood and doing very well 2nd time around after being delisted by the Bombers.

Starting up a VFLW team again will be much easier the 2nd time around with the depth of quality in the comp now.

 

[TigermanM2]

That's a fair team. Gabby Collingwood was a great junior player at Jindalee Jags, my closest local club, along with Nat Grider, and unfortunately Gabby had rotten luck with injuries, was ahead of others including Nat in the Lions planning but had 3 x knee injuries and missed best part of three years, great to see her healthy and playing good footy again. Dojoik good enough to be on an AFLW list for sure. Also Lily Rose Williamson playing this season now as an injury replacement player at Collingwood and doing very well 2nd time around after being delisted by the Bombers.

Starting up a VFLW team again will be much easier the 2nd time around with the depth of quality in the comp now.

Could never understand why some team didn't take a punt on Nyakoat Dojoik. Was tipped to get drafted in 2021 as a defender and was in the AFLW academy. The well credentialed Kevin Sheehan had Nyakoat as one of his top prospects. Has been a goalkicking forward in more recent times.

Attacking defender with her speed a real weapon allowing her to break the lines. Strong player in one-on-one contests and tackles aggressively. Born in Ethiopia with South Sudan and Ethiopian parents, she represented Victoria Country with distinction this year and had a most consistent year with the GWV Rebels in the NAB League averaging 18 disposals. Member of the NAB AFL Academy.

She's one that I would have in our VFLW side and who knows what happens from there. Only 22 with some pretty good upside still.

 

[Yze does it]

That's a fair team. Gabby Collingwood was a great junior player at Jindalee Jags, my closest local club, along with Nat Grider, and unfortunately Gabby had rotten luck with injuries, was ahead of others including Nat in the Lions planning but had 3 x knee injuries and missed best part of three years, great to see her healthy and playing good footy again. Dojoik good enough to be on an AFLW list for sure. Also Lily Rose Williamson playing this season now as an injury replacement player at Collingwood and doing very well 2nd time around after being delisted by the Bombers.

Starting up a VFLW team again will be much easier the 2nd time around with the depth of quality in the comp now.

VFLW is now a 12 team comp.
we join and it creates a bye.
is Tassie going to play in the VFLW?.

 

[toenail63]

VFLW is now a 12 team comp.
we join and it creates a bye.
is Tassie going to play in the VFLW?.

I believe they are, the've appointed former Tiger Jeromey Webberley to head coach of their VFL team in 2026 and mentioned that they have a head of VFL and VFLW.

"Devils head of VFL and VFLW Aaron Pidgeon said it was important the club had a Tasmanian in the role".

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1415865...y-webberley-to-coach-tasmania-devils-vfl-team

 

[TigermanM2]

Can't see us not involved in VFLW with this now happening.

Fringe players get a boost as reserves season shifted​

AFLW players will have greater opportunity to push for selection in the reserves next year

By Riley Beveridge
Nov 27, 2025, 12:31 pm

A HOST of AFLW players will be given a greater chance to push for selection through the reserves in 2026, with clubs informed this week that the timing of next season's VFLW competition will be shifted to later in the year to allow for a greater crossover.

It is understood clubs were told this week that the VFLW will run during the first six weeks of next season's AFLW competition, allowing for non-selected AFLW players to vie for selection through the reserves.

Only this season's VFLW finals coincided with the start of the AFLW campaign, meaning non-selected AFLW players were mainly made to compete in unofficial scratch matches organised independently instead of competitive games.

The first round of unofficial scratch matches, played at Braybrook's Skinner Reserve in August, saw 74 players from 15 clubs compete in a round-robin event. There were three teams, with six 15-minute games played across the morning.

AFLW clubs had subsequently pressed their case with League headquarters for the VFLW season to be moved to align with the top-tier competition, and next year's VFLW season is now scheduled to begin on the weekend of May 16-17 having started on April 19-20 this year.

It will mean that clubs with a VFLW alignment will have three weeks of home-and-away games, and a further three weeks of finals if they qualify, to test non-selected players in competitive reserves matches.

North Melbourne, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Geelong, the Western Bulldogs, Melbourne (Casey), Hawthorn (Box Hill) and St Kilda (Sandringham) are the clubs with VFLW alignments heading into next season.

The League is set to trial double-headers featuring VFLW and AFLW sides in next season's fixture as a result of the change. The season shift will also enable the VFLW Grand Final to be played on the same day as the VFL Grand Final.
While there had been an appetite for the VFLW fixture to completely overlap with the AFLW season, operational challenges with venues due to cricket commitments made it almost impossible for the campaign to run through October and November.

The VFLW competition will expand to 13 teams next season due to Tasmania's arrival, with the league set to trial a revamped top-six finals system played across three weeks from next year onwards.

 

[toenail63]

North Melbourne, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Geelong, the Western Bulldogs, Melbourne (Casey), Hawthorn (Box Hill) and St Kilda (Sandringham) are the clubs with VFLW alignments heading into next season.

Would have been quicker and easier to just say "Every club except Richmond"

 

[TigermanM2]

VFLW is now a 12 team comp.
we join and it creates a bye.
is Tassie going to play in the VFLW?.

I think we had 3 byes during our VFL season. I doubt they care if it happens in VFLW.

 

[Yappie dribbles]

We will never have a vflw team again.

 

[toenail63]

Can't see us not involved in VFLW with this now happening.

North Melbourne, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Geelong, the Western Bulldogs, Melbourne (Casey), Hawthorn (Box Hill) and St Kilda (Sandringham) are the clubs with VFLW alignments heading into next season.

Any news on this front? TigermanM2? Also looks like another former VFLW club in trouble in Melbourne University.

Why this 'powerhouse' of women's Aussie Rules is at risk of folding

Melbourne University is the latest women’s Aussie Rules club fighting for survival, but it is hoping intervention from an AFL executive can turn the club’s fortunes around.

www.abc.net.au

"MUWFC previously competed in the VFLW, the tier below AFLW, but gave its licence to the Kangaroos, who it was once formally partnered with, dropping a tier down to the VAFA".

Any synergy with this as a possible option to base a VFLW team?

Qld is a rugby state but have strong university teams in other sporting codes. The top women's league QAFLW has two currently in Queensland University and Bond University, both well supported clubs with QAFL suitable ovals. The VFLW is fast becoming a reserves comp with 6 stand alone's and different I know with many Victorian clubs can form a comp, but it's a bit disheartening to see a proud and historic women's club like MU struggle and on the brink of extinction, it sounds like they've lost their way and need assistance.

 

[Stigmata]

Any news on this front? TigermanM2? Also looks like another former VFLW club in trouble in Melbourne University.

Why this 'powerhouse' of women's Aussie Rules is at risk of folding

Melbourne University is the latest women’s Aussie Rules club fighting for survival, but it is hoping intervention from an AFL executive can turn the club’s fortunes around.

www.abc.net.au

"MUWFC previously competed in the VFLW, the tier below AFLW, but gave its licence to the Kangaroos, who it was once formally partnered with, dropping a tier down to the VAFA".

Any synergy with this as a possible option to base a VFLW team?

Qld is a rugby state but have strong university teams in other sporting codes. The top women's league QAFLW has two currently in Queensland University and Bond University, both well supported clubs with QAFL suitable ovals. The VFLW is fast becoming a reserves comp with 6 stand alone's and different I know with many Victorian clubs can form a comp, but it's a bit disheartening to see a proud and historic women's club like MU struggle and on the brink of extinction, it sounds like they've lost their way and need assistance.

VAFA is a massive drop in standard

Having been involved in vafa last year one of the things I noticed is that you can’t retain good players because they get headhunted by the paid league.

Best option for MU would be to join edfl and start a paid program

 

[Yze does it]

Any news on this front? TigermanM2? Also looks like another former VFLW club in trouble in Melbourne University.

Why this 'powerhouse' of women's Aussie Rules is at risk of folding

Melbourne University is the latest women’s Aussie Rules club fighting for survival, but it is hoping intervention from an AFL executive can turn the club’s fortunes around.

www.abc.net.au

"MUWFC previously competed in the VFLW, the tier below AFLW, but gave its licence to the Kangaroos, who it was once formally partnered with, dropping a tier down to the VAFA".

Any synergy with this as a possible option to base a VFLW team?

Qld is a rugby state but have strong university teams in other sporting codes. The top women's league QAFLW has two currently in Queensland University and Bond University, both well supported clubs with QAFL suitable ovals. The VFLW is fast becoming a reserves comp with 6 stand alone's and different I know with many Victorian clubs can form a comp, but it's a bit disheartening to see a proud and historic women's club like MU struggle and on the brink of extinction, it sounds like they've lost their way and need assistance.

So MUni gave their licence to NM. North have 3 VFL teams playing at Arden st.

Struggling Darebin's VFLW licence could be bought. Looks they play home games Preston.

prefer a fresh re start of our own team.

at punt road

I hope new coach and head of footy push for it.

 

[TigermanM2]

Any news on this front? TigermanM2? Also looks like another former VFLW club in trouble in Melbourne University.

Why this 'powerhouse' of women's Aussie Rules is at risk of folding

Melbourne University is the latest women’s Aussie Rules club fighting for survival, but it is hoping intervention from an AFL executive can turn the club’s fortunes around.

www.abc.net.au

"MUWFC previously competed in the VFLW, the tier below AFLW, but gave its licence to the Kangaroos, who it was once formally partnered with, dropping a tier down to the VAFA".

Any synergy with this as a possible option to base a VFLW team?

Qld is a rugby state but have strong university teams in other sporting codes. The top women's league QAFLW has two currently in Queensland University and Bond University, both well supported clubs with QAFL suitable ovals. The VFLW is fast becoming a reserves comp with 6 stand alone's and different I know with many Victorian clubs can form a comp, but it's a bit disheartening to see a proud and historic women's club like MU struggle and on the brink of extinction, it sounds like they've lost their way and need assistance.

I haven't heard a word. Not surprised though but I think its still a goal of the club.

I don't think we would entertain the thought of partnering with an amateur team but the internal conflicts at MUWFC is another reminder to be careful with who you go to bed with. I am a tad surprised Nth have turned their backs on the club given the strong links between the two clubs in the past. Sounds like a shitfight down at Melb Uni.

It only strengthens my resolve to have our own VFLW side - our own philosophy, our own player development and our own team structures and playing style which align with our AFLW ones.