Everything you need to know about the Life Without Barriers Integrated Finals

Finals action in the Perth Football League starts this weekend, as the first balls are bounced and tackles laid in the Life Without Barriers Integrated Finals Series.

Since its first season in 2009, Integrated Football has provided an inclusive space for PFL players with intellectual disabilities to play both safely and competitively.

14 clubs across both A and B Division are dreaming of bringing home a premiership in this season’s epic finale, set to be played across the next four weeks.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of the first round of elimination finals on Saturday.

The Finals Format

Like last year, the seven clubs from each of the PFL’s two Integrated divisions will feature in the finals series, seeded based on the points they accumulated across the 12-game regular season and their resulting ladder position.

Each game in the first week is in an elimination format, with the winner advancing through to the next stage and the losing team’s season concluding.

First place earns a bye in round one of the finals, leaving second to play off against seventh, third against sixth and fourth against fifth.

The highest-seeded winner will then face the minor premiers in the second semi-final, with the winning side earning the first spot in the grand final.

The remaining two elimination final winners play off in the other semi-final, with the victor playing the second semi-final loser in the preliminary final and the other defeated side eliminated.

The preliminary final winner and second semi-final winner will then contest for the 2026 premiership in this year’s Grand Final.

A Division

One team has broken away from the pack in this year’s A Division, and it’s the 2025 premiership winners Kingsway.

The Roos finished the home-and-away season four wins ahead of second-placed Kelmscott (8-4) and five in front of Coolbinia (7-5) in third spot.

Fourth through to seventh all proved evenly matched, ending the season with similar ledgers. Willetton and North Beach both finished with four wins, while Curtin Uni Wesley and Fremantle C.B.C won three each just behind them.

Kingsway have been the dominant team in A Division this year (Ann Lord)

The Favourite: Kingsway

The Roos have hardly put a foot wrong in their quest for back-to-back Peter Grosser Cups, sitting top of the ladder and undefeated from their 12 matches this season.

Earning a week’s rest as minor premiers, they are the obvious premiership fancies in A Division, and will be very hard to knock off.

The Challenger: Coolbinia

A club with serious pedigree in the Integrated competition, the Falcons got within two points of toppling the undefeated Kingsway back in round 11.

Seven-time champions of the Integrated A Division, Coolbinia are not to be written off as they look to claim their first premiership since 2023.

The Wildcard: Willetton

The 2024 premiers just beat last year’s runners-up Kelmscott and enter the finals in great form, having won their last three games.

The road to the title will be tricky; they will have to win it from fourth spot, but it has been done before.

B Division

Swan Districts and High Wycombe have set the standards in B Division this year and will be many people’s tips to play out this year’s grand final, finishing equal on points and two games clear of their closest rivals.

University, Warnbro, Wanneroo, Mandurah and Wembley will be out to spoil their party though, in what promises to be a closely contested finals series.

Wanneroo and University will be hoping to challenge in this year’s B Division finals (Ann Lord)

The Favourite: Swan Districts

The minor premiers will rest this week knowing they enter the finals in elite form, having not lost since May and riding high on an eight-game winning run.

Beating second-place High Wycombe by three goals in round 12, Swans know that if they bring their best, the premiership is theirs to lose.

The Challenger: High Wycombe

Agonisingly missing out on top spot by just three percentage points, the Bulldogs and University are the only teams who have beaten the top-ranked Swan Districts this year.

Not having the first week of the finals off could play to their advantage though. They have won three of their last four and their momentum rolls on.

The Wildcard: Wembley

Winning the premiership from seventh, wouldn’t it just be the ultimate fairytale?

The Magpies notched up their first win of the season last week against third-placed University, proving they can beat one of the league’s best.

The players to watch

Matthew Iles and Blake Cooper have been essential players for Kingsway in their undefeated run so far and will be looking to have premiership medals around their necks once again by the end of August.

Multiple-time state representative and premiership player Lydnsy Ashworth has been one of Coolbinia’s best players for the best part of a decade, and he has been critical again for the Falcons this year, heading this year’s A Division goalkicking with 27 goals.

One of his side’s best in last season’s A Division Grand Final defeat to Kingsway, Fraser Kickett will be hoping to take Kelmscott one step further in this year’s finals.

In B Division, Brion Ainsworth of University topped the goalkicking tally with 24 and will be a key in his team’s premiership aspirations.

Who is playing this week?

The Elimination Finals for A Division begin with 3rd-place Coolbinia hosting 6th-place Curtin Uni Wesley, 4th-place Willetton up against 5th-place North Beach, and Kelmscott taking on 2025 B Division champs Fremantle C.B.C.

The B Division finals also kick off with High Wycombe hosting Wembley at Scott Reserve, followed by the 4th and 5th playoff between Warnbro and Wanneroo, and concluded with an elimination battle between 3rd-placed University and the 6th-ranked Mandurah Mustangs.