Melbourne have advanced to an AFLW preliminary final after overcoming a 28-point deficit to defeat Geelong by four points at Ikon Park. Paxy Paxman kicked the go-ahead goal before Geelong forward Chloe Scheer missed a late set shot, sealing the Demons' 8.8 (56) to 8.4 (52) victory. Melbourne earn a week off, while Geelong will host a semi-final next weekend.
North Melbourne have secured a preliminary final berth with a 36-point qualifying final win over Carlton, 7.7 (49) to 1.7 (13), at Ikon Park on Saturday. After being held scoreless in the opening term, the Kangaroos kicked seven straight goals before the Blues managed their only major in the final quarter. The victory was soured by a late knee injury to forward Alice O'Loughlin.
The Sydney Swans have engaged external advisers to review the club's culture following recent off-field incidents. The move follows an August hotel incident that resulted in five player suspensions, as well as Tom Papley allegedly testing positive for methylamphetamine during a roadside test on Monday. Chief executive Matthew Pavlich and chairman Andrew Pridham apologised unreservedly to members in a statement on Thursday.
West Coast midfielder Ella Roberts has won her third consecutive AFLW Club Champion award, becoming the first three-time winner in the club's history. The 21-year-old polled 93 votes on Friday night to finish ahead of co-captain Charlie Thomas on 82 and midfielder Jaide Britton on 77. Roberts also received the Players' Trademark Award and was voted Fans' MVP.
Former AFL premiership players Steven May and Dion Prestia are being sued over an alleged fight outside a Sorrento hotel on Boxing Day in 2024. The Supreme Court heard on Friday that the alleged victim is suing the pair alongside two other men. Criminal charges against May and Prestia were dropped earlier this year, and both have denied involvement.
Adelaide has delisted four AFLW players, informing Kiera Mueller, Brooke Smith, Hannah Ewings and Georgia McKee that their contracts will not be renewed for the 2027 season. Mueller played 37 games for the Crows, while 2022 Rising Star winner Ewings made three appearances after crossing from Port Adelaide. Both Smith and the uncapped McKee missed the 2026 season due to ACL injuries.
Sydney AFLW coach Colin O'Riordan says his side will not be distracted by Tom Papley's alleged positive roadside drug test ahead of Sunday's elimination final against the Western Bulldogs. O'Riordan praised the maturity of the playing group, noting their focus remains entirely on their first home final at Henson Park despite the club's off-field controversies.
St Kilda has delisted Darcy Guttridge and Rene Caris ahead of the 2027 AFLW season. Guttridge, an inaugural Saint, played 67 matches for the club after starting her career with Collingwood. Caris made 20 appearances for St Kilda following previous stints with Geelong and Greater Western Sydney.
Finn Maginness says conversations with coach Luke Beveridge convinced him to leave Hawthorn for the Western Bulldogs. The 25-year-old utility, who played 64 games as a father-son recruit for the Hawks, sought greater opportunity after making only six senior appearances this year. Maginness added that watching the Bulldogs' Wildcard Round win sold him on the move before his trade went through.
The Western Bulldogs have made four changes for Sunday's AFLW elimination final against the Sydney Swans at Henson Park. Ellie Blackburn, Isabelle Pritchard, Ellie Gavalas and Analea McKee come into the side. Co-captain De Berry, Lou Stephenson, Sarah Poustie and Brooke Barwick have been omitted.
Port Adelaide's Alberton Oval opened as the Queen and Albert Oval, with a game between a touring Tasmanian cricket team and a local eleven.
The Western Australian government announced that Perth Stadium would officially be known as Optus Stadium, under a 10-year naming rights deal.
Christian Moraes born
Port Adelaide, 26 games (2025-2026)
# | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | % | Pt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Top 4 | 1 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 789 | 320 | 246.6 | 44 | |
| 2 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 871 | 484 | 180.0 | 44 | ||
| 3 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 715 | 405 | 176.5 | 40 | ||
| 4 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 554 | 416 | 133.2 | 36 | ||
Top 8 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 609 | 458 | 133.0 | 36 | |
| 6 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 606 | 527 | 115.0 | 36 | ||
| 7 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 495 | 448 | 110.5 | 32 | ||
| 8 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 580 | 513 | 113.1 | 28 | ||
Bottom 10 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 422 | 454 | 93.0 | 24 | |
| 10 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 477 | 489 | 97.5 | 20 | ||
| 11 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 528 | 544 | 97.1 | 20 | ||
| 12 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 504 | 502 | 100.4 | 16 | ||
| 13 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 459 | 656 | 70.0 | 16 | ||
| 14 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 468 | 714 | 65.5 | 16 | ||
| 15 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 479 | 691 | 69.3 | 8 | ||
| 16 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 386 | 646 | 59.8 | 8 | ||
| 17 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 350 | 646 | 54.2 | 4 | ||
| 18 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 332 | 711 | 46.7 | 4 |
BRL get R3 (WCE) - Pick 45, F2 (MEL)
MEL get Will McLachlan (1-year deal to 2027), F2 (BRL)Slightly favours Brisbane
ADE get R2 (CAR) - Pick 32, F4 (RCH)
PAD get Luke Pedlar (2-year deal to 2028), R2 (ADE) - Pick 34An even trade
HAW get R6 (MEL) - Pick 107MEL get Bodie Ryan (1-year deal to 2027)An even trade
HAW get Josh Goater (1-year deal to 2027)
NTH get F3 (PAD)An even trade
BRL get R2 (ESS) - Pick 21, R2 (GWS) - Pick 27
ESS get Keidean Coleman (4-year deal to 2030), R2 (NTH) - Pick 25Favours Brisbane
Rivers and Viney to West Coast
MEL get R3 (WCE) - Pick 45, F2 (WCE), F4 (WCE), FF2 (WCE)
WCE get Jack Viney (2-year deal to 2028), Trent Rivers (5-year deal to 2031), FF2 (MEL)Slightly favours West Coast
Brisbane and Western Bulldogs pick swap
BRL get F2 (WBD)
WBD get R2 (BRL) - Pick 42, R3 (MEL) - Pick 53Lopsided towards Western Bulldogs
BRL get R2 (NTH) - Pick 25, R2 (GWS) - Pick 28
GWS get R1 (BRL) - Pick 20, R3 (SYD) - Pick 59Slightly favours Brisbane
NTH+1.8Nick Blakey in, traded from SydneyHAW+1.5Zach Merrett in, traded from Essendon
GEE+0.8Rowan Marshall in, traded from St KildaWCE+0.4Trent Rivers in, traded from MelbourneADE-1.3Taylor Walker out, retired
SYD-1.6Nick Blakey out, traded to North MelbourneMEL-2.2Steven May out, retiredGWS-3.8Lachie Whitfield out, traded to CarltonMelbourne have advanced to an AFLW preliminary final after overcoming a 28-point deficit to defeat Geelong by four points at Ikon Park. Paxy Paxman kicked the go-ahead goal before Geelong forward Chloe Scheer missed a late set shot, sealing the Demons' 8.8 (56) to 8.4 (52) victory. Melbourne earn a week off, while Geelong will host a semi-final next weekend.
North Melbourne have secured a preliminary final berth with a 36-point qualifying final win over Carlton, 7.7 (49) to 1.7 (13), at Ikon Park on Saturday. After being held scoreless in the opening term, the Kangaroos kicked seven straight goals before the Blues managed their only major in the final quarter. The victory was soured by a late knee injury to forward Alice O'Loughlin.
The Sydney Swans have engaged external advisers to review the club's culture following recent off-field incidents. The move follows an August hotel incident that resulted in five player suspensions, as well as Tom Papley allegedly testing positive for methylamphetamine during a roadside test on Monday. Chief executive Matthew Pavlich and chairman Andrew Pridham apologised unreservedly to members in a statement on Thursday.
West Coast midfielder Ella Roberts has won her third consecutive AFLW Club Champion award, becoming the first three-time winner in the club's history. The 21-year-old polled 93 votes on Friday night to finish ahead of co-captain Charlie Thomas on 82 and midfielder Jaide Britton on 77. Roberts also received the Players' Trademark Award and was voted Fans' MVP.
Former AFL premiership players Steven May and Dion Prestia are being sued over an alleged fight outside a Sorrento hotel on Boxing Day in 2024. The Supreme Court heard on Friday that the alleged victim is suing the pair alongside two other men. Criminal charges against May and Prestia were dropped earlier this year, and both have denied involvement.
Adelaide has delisted four AFLW players, informing Kiera Mueller, Brooke Smith, Hannah Ewings and Georgia McKee that their contracts will not be renewed for the 2027 season. Mueller played 37 games for the Crows, while 2022 Rising Star winner Ewings made three appearances after crossing from Port Adelaide. Both Smith and the uncapped McKee missed the 2026 season due to ACL injuries.
Sydney AFLW coach Colin O'Riordan says his side will not be distracted by Tom Papley's alleged positive roadside drug test ahead of Sunday's elimination final against the Western Bulldogs. O'Riordan praised the maturity of the playing group, noting their focus remains entirely on their first home final at Henson Park despite the club's off-field controversies.
St Kilda has delisted Darcy Guttridge and Rene Caris ahead of the 2027 AFLW season. Guttridge, an inaugural Saint, played 67 matches for the club after starting her career with Collingwood. Caris made 20 appearances for St Kilda following previous stints with Geelong and Greater Western Sydney.
Finn Maginness says conversations with coach Luke Beveridge convinced him to leave Hawthorn for the Western Bulldogs. The 25-year-old utility, who played 64 games as a father-son recruit for the Hawks, sought greater opportunity after making only six senior appearances this year. Maginness added that watching the Bulldogs' Wildcard Round win sold him on the move before his trade went through.
The Western Bulldogs have made four changes for Sunday's AFLW elimination final against the Sydney Swans at Henson Park. Ellie Blackburn, Isabelle Pritchard, Ellie Gavalas and Analea McKee come into the side. Co-captain De Berry, Lou Stephenson, Sarah Poustie and Brooke Barwick have been omitted.
# | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | % | Pt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Top 4 | 1 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 789 | 320 | 246.6 | 44 | |
| 2 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 871 | 484 | 180.0 | 44 | ||
| 3 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 715 | 405 | 176.5 | 40 | ||
| 4 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 554 | 416 | 133.2 | 36 | ||
Top 8 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 609 | 458 | 133.0 | 36 | |
| 6 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 606 | 527 | 115.0 | 36 | ||
| 7 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 495 | 448 | 110.5 | 32 | ||
| 8 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 580 | 513 | 113.1 | 28 | ||
Bottom 10 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 422 | 454 | 93.0 | 24 | |
| 10 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 477 | 489 | 97.5 | 20 | ||
| 11 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 528 | 544 | 97.1 | 20 | ||
| 12 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 504 | 502 | 100.4 | 16 | ||
| 13 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 459 | 656 | 70.0 | 16 | ||
| 14 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 468 | 714 | 65.5 | 16 | ||
| 15 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 479 | 691 | 69.3 | 8 | ||
| 16 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 386 | 646 | 59.8 | 8 | ||
| 17 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 350 | 646 | 54.2 | 4 | ||
| 18 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 332 | 711 | 46.7 | 4 |
Port Adelaide's Alberton Oval opened as the Queen and Albert Oval, with a game between a touring Tasmanian cricket team and a local eleven.
The Western Australian government announced that Perth Stadium would officially be known as Optus Stadium, under a 10-year naming rights deal.
Christian Moraes born
Port Adelaide, 26 games (2025-2026)
BRL get R3 (WCE) - Pick 45, F2 (MEL)MEL get Will McLachlan (1-year deal to 2027), F2 (BRL)Slightly favours Brisbane
ADE get R2 (CAR) - Pick 32, F4 (RCH)PAD get Luke Pedlar (2-year deal to 2028), R2 (ADE) - Pick 34An even trade
HAW get R6 (MEL) - Pick 107MEL get Bodie Ryan (1-year deal to 2027)An even trade
HAW get Josh Goater (1-year deal to 2027)NTH get F3 (PAD)An even trade
BRL get R2 (ESS) - Pick 21, R2 (GWS) - Pick 27ESS get Keidean Coleman (4-year deal to 2030), R2 (NTH) - Pick 25Favours Brisbane
Rivers and Viney to West Coast
MEL get R3 (WCE) - Pick 45, F2 (WCE), F4 (WCE), FF2 (WCE)WCE get Jack Viney (2-year deal to 2028), Trent Rivers (5-year deal to 2031), FF2 (MEL)Slightly favours West Coast
Brisbane and Western Bulldogs pick swap
BRL get F2 (WBD)WBD get R2 (BRL) - Pick 42, R3 (MEL) - Pick 53Lopsided towards Western Bulldogs
BRL get R2 (NTH) - Pick 25, R2 (GWS) - Pick 28GWS get R1 (BRL) - Pick 20, R3 (SYD) - Pick 59Slightly favours Brisbane
NTH+1.8Nick Blakey in, traded from SydneyHAW+1.5Zach Merrett in, traded from EssendonGEE+0.8Rowan Marshall in, traded from St KildaWCE+0.4Trent Rivers in, traded from MelbourneADE-1.3Taylor Walker out, retiredSYD-1.6Nick Blakey out, traded to North MelbourneMEL-2.2Steven May out, retiredGWS-3.8Lachie Whitfield out, traded to Carlton
CAR
RCH
GCS
STK
COL
FRE
