Who to Watch: 2026 A Grade Grand Finals

The HIF Finals Series reaches an epic conclusion this weekend with four tantalising matchups.

Here are the players to watch and the important facts to know ahead of the big clashes.

Budget Car and Truck Rental A Grade Men- North Beach v Fremantle C.B.C

Saturday, September 5, HIF Insurance Oval, 02:35 PM

Last Time They Met: Second Semi-Final, North Beach 9.13 (67) defeated Fremantle C.B.C 6.8 (44)

Head-to-Head this year: North Beach 2; Fremantle C.B.C 1

North Beach path to the Grand Final: Finished 1st, defeated Fremantle C.B.C to qualify.

Fremantle C.B.C to the Grand Final: Finished 2nd, defeated Curtin Uni Wesley and Kingsway to qualify.

Form: North Beach WWWWW; Fremantle C.B.C WLWWL

A Grade premierships: North Beach 14; Fremantle C.B.C 3

North Beach are back in the big dance for the second year running and will be hoping to claim back-to-back Sandover Shields for the first time in over a decade when they take on Fremantle C.B.C in Saturday afternoon’s highly anticipated season climax.

The Tigers’ 2025 premiership ended a surprising trophy gap for one of the Perth Football League’s power clubs, their first league flag since 2010.

History says North Beach premierships generally tend to come in stretches.

The club dominated the first decade of the 21st century, winning an unprecedented seven straight premierships between 2003 and 2008 along with back-to-back flags in 2001 and 2002.

The star-studded Tigers will enter the Grand Final clash as warm favourites to once again claim successive titles, finishing the season with the minor premiership and a 16-2 record.

Premiership coach Dylan Eifler said it only felt like yesterday that his side knocked off Curtin Uni Wesley in last season’s Grand Final.

“It is always a good feeling being apart of Grand Final week, they are great occasions, but I think that when you overthink them, that is where things can go wrong, so we will focus on the basics and try keep it simple,” he said.

Liam Anthony’s C.B.C side will be tasked with stopping the star-studded North Beach lineup.

Topping the ladder for much of the season after starting the year with eight straight wins, C.B.C booked their tickets to HIF Health Insurance Oval with a win over Kingsway in last week’s preliminary final.

Their last Budget Car and Truck Rental A Grade premiership was in 2022 over Curtin Uni Wesley, breaking a 22-year drought.

Anthony said his team took belief from its win against North Beach in Round 8 but knew they had fallen short of the contest in their past two meetings with the reigning premiers.

“I told the boys in the preseason, we might be a young team, but when the season hits, age just becomes a number and the expectation from coaches and senior players is that if you’re given a role, you adhere to it,” he said.

“We really believe that our fitness will come to a forefront and put us in a really good position at the back end of the game.”

For the record:

Ones to watch:

It starts in the centre.

The ruck battle between North Beach’s Zac Clarke and Fremantle C.B.C’s Nash Miller will be an important tussle in this grand final matchup after Clarke had the wood over Miller in the second semi-final.

C.B.C Midfielders Matt Ward and Tom Wright stoke the flames of their side’s on-ball brigade as consistent and reliable ball winners.

Ward has averaged 24 disposals a game in the HIF Finals Series so far. 

But the North Beach midfield, led by captain Frank Anderson, provides an imposing challenge.

Teeming with state league experience, Leigh Kitchin, Josh Deluca and Jackson Prior form a lethal combination across the Tigers’ centreline

In attack, young tyro Jake Austin and state representative Dillon O’Reilly are C.B.C.’s tall targets.

A former Fremantle-listed player, O’Reilly has kicked 58 majors this season at full forward and provides an imposing focus in attack for the challengers.

Tigers defender Drew Rhode will look to nullify one of the duo, while also providing his team with a ball-winning option.

We could be in for a shootout if damaging North Beach forward Alex Marklew gets on a roll at the other end.

The imposing attacker is one of the league’s big names, having already won the league goalkicking and finished second in the competition best and fairest this year.

Budget Car and Truck Rental A Grade Women- Trinity Aquinas v University

Saturday, September 5, HIF Insurance Oval, 05:20 PM

Last Time They Met: Qualifying Final, Trinity Aquinas 3.10 (28) defeated University 0.4 (4)

Head-to-Head this year: Trinity Aquinas 2; University 1

Trinity path to the Grand Final: Finished 2nd, defeated University and Curtin Uni Wesley to qualify.

University path to the Grand Final: Finished 3rd, defeated Wembley and Curtin Uni Wesley to qualify.

Senior Women’s premierships: Trinity Aquinas 3; University 2

In the first year that the A Grade Women’s Grand Final takes place on the same day as the men, polar forces will clash.

This year’s decider between Trinity Aquinas and University under lights will centre on attack against defence; prodigious upstarts against league stalwarts.

In one corner, Trinity Aquinas’ rapid ascent to reach the PFL’s apex has been remarkable.

The Boomers are chasing an unprecedented fourth consecutive flag, rising all the way from C2 in 2023.

Climbing into the Budget Car and Truck Rental A Grade this season, state coach Dan Cripps’ Trinity Aquinas have taken the big step up into the top flight like a duck to water.

They have held six teams goalless this season and won by over 50 points on seven occasions on their way to another grand final appearance.

The Boomers seemed destined to finish as the season’s minor premiers but slipped up in the season’s final round against University, falling to second spot.

But they got their revenge the week later, breaking clear of their eventual Grand Final opponents in a second-half onslaught in their most recent encounter.

The skilful Boomers booked their place in a fourth consecutive Grand Final by defeating Curtin Uni Wesley in the Second Semi Final, the first time this season they had beaten the Tigers.

Boomers Captain Nadia Pisano told the Perth Footy Podcast that her team had adjusted well to the extra demands and longer season of A Grade.

“We were so hungry after our first loss to [University], I just think our mindset changed and we were just locked in from the go,” the 2026 Budget Car and Truck Rental A Grade Best and Fairest said.

“We had to remain composed because we knew in our previous games it had always come down to the wire and our decision-making was probably what let us down, so just learning from our previous games.”

Surprisingly, the reigning premiers are the team who have flown under the radar this season, as the only other team to have beaten Trinity Aquinas this season.

University beat Baldivis to claim their first A Grade title since 2018 in last year’s grand final, and are set up to have another chance of backing that up on Saturday.

Coached by Harry Beaton, the Stormers like the contest and don’t mind playing out low scorers, having conceded just six goals in their past five starts.

Having never missed the finals since the start of the PFL’s women’s competition in 2018, University are A Grade stalwarts and also claimed the Reserves title two weeks ago.

For the record:

Ones to watch:

The reigning champs have an enviable engine room, boasting prolific midfield jets like recruit Helen Taylor and state representative Tarnica Stewart, while Talietha Valentine, Caitlin Vallelonga, and Rebecca Tuckey give the Stormers drive from half-back.

No player in the grade has had the footy more than Stewart, who also finished second in the league for ranking points behind Wembley’s Parris Laurie.

University go at 70% by hand, the best in the league.

A Reserves league best and fairest, Ash Hardisty stepped up in last week’s preliminary final, booting all of her side’s majors.

TA’s forward line firepower has been unparalleled.

They are the highest-scoring side the A Grade Women’s comp has ever seen (433% with 950 points for)

Retiring spearhead Jess Schleicher will hope to go out with a bang on Saturday.

Schleicher topped the league’s goalkicking with 43 majors and has been well supported in attack all year by sister Mia Schleicher and half forward Abbey Waddell.

League best and fairest Pisano heads the Boomers midfield alongside fellow onballer McKenna Schultz.

EGT Phil Scott Colts- University v Trinity Aquinas

Saturday, September 5, HIF Insurance Oval, 09:50 AM

Last Time They Met: Second Semi-Final, University 3.17 (35) defeated Trinity Aquinas 3.7 (25)

Head-to-Head this year: University 2; Trinity Aquinas 1

University path to the Grand Final: Finished 1st, defeated Trinity Aquinas to qualify.

Trinity Aquinas path to the Grand Final: Finished 3rd, defeated Curtin Uni Wesley twice to qualify.

Phil Scott Colts premierships: University 10; Trinity Aquinas 4

They say defence wins premierships, but Trinity Aquinas will need to crack the league’s toughest backline for them to claim this year’s Phil Scott Colts flag.

If the Boomers can win on Saturday, it will be their first premiership in the grade since 2012, the final flourish in a hat-trick of consecutive flags for the club.

The last time they had a chance to break that drought, their upcoming opponent, University, blocked their way and claimed the 2022 premiership.

A force in EGT Colts football, Uni have won an unrivalled ten Phil Scott titles since 2003.

When their players run onto HIF Health Insurance Oval, it will be the third consecutive grand final the club has featured in and their fifth in the past six seasons.

A loss in last season’s decider to Fremantle C.B.C spelled the end of their back-to-back dreams after they beat North Beach in 2024.

Minor premiers with a 13-3 record, the Charlie Lennon-coached University claimed their spot in yet another grand final by beating Trinity Aquinas in a bizarre semi-final where both sides struggled to find the major opening.

3.17 (35) proved to be a winning score, as Uni’s miserly backline held Trinity to just 25 points for the match.

Not known for piling on big scores, the perennial contenders have built their season around constricting their opposition.

University have the top-ranked defence, conceding a minuscule average of just 32 points per game this season.

But they have only played two matches in the last five weeks.

Byes in Round 17 and two weeks of the finals mean University have hardly played heading into Saturday’s decider.

Luke Kelly’s Trinity Aquinas will hope to use their momentum to their advantage, entering the grand final after beating Curtin Uni Wesley for the second time in the HIF Finals Series.

For the record:

Ones to watch:

Trinity Aquinas’ composed captain Murphy Allen leads his side’s defence with solid leadership.

Up forward for the Boomers, Finn Dethlefsen and Julian Crognale are the two attacking weapons who will be hoping to break free from Uni’s defensive shackles.

Dethlefsen is a great key forward with strong aerial presence, while Crognale will sit at his feet as an elusive goal sneak with high tackling pressure.

University’s Rory Purser will look to lock down the two on Saturday morning, but will also look to counteract from defence.

Will Norman is Trinity Aquinas’ “heart and soul” midfielder, winning contested ball on the inside.

Inside attacking 50 for University, big-bodied forward George Stone likes to throw his weight around, and will be one of the minor premier’s key pillars in attack. 

Wingman James Taskunas gut runs all day for Uni and will look to give his side territory in the matchup.

Budget Car and Truck Rental A Reserves- University v North Beach

Saturday, September 5, HIF Insurance Oval, 12:10 PM

Last Time They Met: Qualifying Final, North Beach 5.3 (33) defeated by University 14.3 (87)

Head-to-Head this year: University 1; North Beach 2

University path to the Grand Final: Finished 3rd, defeated North Beach and Fremantle C.B.C to qualify.

North Beach path to the Grand Final: Finished 2nd, defeated Mt Lawley and Fremantle C.B.C to qualify.

A Reserves premierships: University 4; North Beach 9

The two recent juggernauts of the PFL A Reserves competition will meet again in a Grand Final prize-fight for the second time in twelve months.

Combatants University and North Beach have brewed a rivalry across multiple years which will culminate in this Saturday’s explosive decider.

Both sides have combined for nine of the last ten premierships in the league’s top reserves competition, including the last two flags.

University will be looking to resolve unfinished business in the matchup after the Tigers denied them back-to-back titles in last season’s decider.

North Beach’s Ryley Stuhldreier was awarded the Miller Medal for Best on Ground in his side’s 26-point premiership win.

University finished the season minor premiers but couldn’t shake the classy North Beach in the HIF Finals Series, also losing a low-scoring second semi-final to the eventual champs.

Coached by former Sandover Medalist Jye Bolton, Uni’s path to redemption in 2026 has been paved with ten straight wins, their last loss coming against their old foes in the Tigers back in Round 10.

But they easily accounted for their recent nemesis in the qualifying final, beating them by nine goals and bullying them at the contest.

North Beach had won four of the past five matches between the sides heading into the final.

The first grand final rematch of the year lived up to its hype back in Round 2, as the Tigers held on to beat Uni by a point.

Fremantle C.B.C may have finished the season as this year’s minor premier, but there was always a sneaking suspicion that the Grand Final would be a 2025 replay.

Anthony Ingham’s North Beach are a familiar fixture in A Reserves Grand Finals across the past decade, having only missed one decider since 2016.

They beat C.B.C by 17 points in last weekend’s preliminary final to book a return bout against Uni.

The Tigers’ 2025 triumph over University was their seventh premiership in the past ten years. 

The dominant stretch included a four-peat from 2017 to 2020 and was bookended by second-place finishes in 2016 and 2021.

Only seven players from last season’s flag will line up again on Saturday, having cycled through 69 players this season.

For the record:

Ones to watch:

Ruckman Patrick Donovan will be hoping to recapture the form which earned him the 2024 Miller Medal as best afield in his side’s premiership win over Curtin Uni Wesley.

The veteran tall with vice-like hands finished second in this season’s league best and fairest, and will match up against former Swan Districts ruck Matt Germs, who will line up for North Beach.

Donovan featured in last season’s Grand Final defeat to North Beach alongside dynamic small forward Sean Trombetta, who topped his side’s goalkicking this season for the second year running.

The electric attacker has proved dangerous inside 50 this season, slotting 25 majors.

University will also be bolstered by returning league players Marco Ghiselli and Jake Just after the club’s senior side were bundled out of the HIF Finals Series in a thrilling elimination final against Kingsway.

Captain Callum Kirk leads University as their defensive general.

Kirk might be charged with targeting North Beach key forward Nic Emes.

The graduating colt with great hands has kicked 41 goals in 2026.

Youth has supercharged the Tigers lineup this year, with colts aged players Sam Parker and Max Brooks offering the side versatility and skilful options in their midfield.

By Spencer Robertson