Who to Watch: 2026 A Reserves- C4 Women Grand Finals

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

Saturday, September 5, HIF Insurance Oval, 01:00 PM

Last Time They Met: Second Semi-Final, University 4.4 (28) defeated North Fremantle 3.1 (19)

Head-to-Head this year: University 3; North Fremantle 0

University path to the Grand Final: Finished 1st, defeated North Fremantle to qualify

North Fremantle path to the Grand Final: Finished 3rd, defeated Trinity Aquinas twice to qualify.

Women’s premierships: University 2; North Fremantle 3

It might be the second year running University and North Fremantle will clash in a Women’s A Reserves grand finale, but the teams taking the field will be radically different to what they were 12 months ago.

Runners-up last year, University coach David Gilbert has led a reserves side that has dominated the home-and-away season, finishing minor premiers with a percentage of 711.

With their league side also playing in the 2026 HIF PFL Finals Series, Gilbert said he enjoyed having immense depth at his disposal but also relished fostering newer talent at the club.

“Managing players can be a challenge, but we see the benefits of that when there are some girls who are new to footy get to do something incredible, and when there’s someone available for you to pick that you wouldn’t usually expect they come in and do a job immediately,” he said.

“We have played some excellent footy at times throughout the year, so it would mean a lot to the group to get up on Saturday.”

Dealing with retirements and injuries after last season’s premiership triumph, North Fremantle coach Max Warn said he was grateful his team had taken an unconventional route to the decider.

“It is a newer group this season, the more footy we get to play together, the more the girls get to gel and really connect with each other,” he said.

“I feel like we are playing with house money this year…we are grateful to be in the Grand Final again because they are not easy to make, but we know the brand of footy we bring can match it with the best.”

For the record:

Ones to watch:

Ashlee Hardisty has slotted 68 goals this season for University, combining in a dominant pairing with fellow forward Esther Cooney.

“[University] have got an incredibly dominant aerial game. I have spoken at length to the girls about it; they throw some different stuff at you,” Warn said.

Warn said sister act Jordan and Marian Davis had been valuable inclusions to his new-look Magpies side, describing Jordan as an “electric small forward” and Marian as a lock-down defender.

“The contest is where the game is won or lost in finals, so we will be trying to take advantage of that when we can,” Gilbert said.

Budget Car and Truck Rental B Women- Scarborough v Bullcreek Leeming

Saturday, September 5, HIF Insurance Oval, 03:00 PM

Last Time They Met: Round 11, Scarborough 3.10 (28) defeated Bullcreek Leeming 2.2 (14)

Head-to-Head this year: Scarborough 2; Bullcreek Leeming 0

Scarborough path to the Grand Final: Finished 1st, defeated Kwinana to qualify.

Bullcreek Leeming path to the Grand Final: Finished 4th, defeated Ocean Ridge, Swan Athletic and Kwinana to qualify.

Women’s premierships: Scarborough 1; Bullcreek Leeming 1

Paul Burbridge’s Scarborough team is one win away from an undefeated season.

Their second semi-final win over Kwinana made it two promotions in three years for the minor premiers, rising from fourth spot last season to qualify for this year’s decider.

The former North Beach A Reserves coach, who crossed over this season to take the helm of Scarborough’s senior women’s side, said his team had no weak links.

“We really have strength across the ground, so selection this week will be tricky. I only really knew 2 or 3 players before coming into the club this year, so it has been good to be able to look at everything with fresh eyes.”

“I don’t usually get nervous [before games], so I will back our girls in,” he said.

On the opposite end of the scale, Bullcreek Leeming has run the gauntlet to qualify for the B Grade decider after finishing fourth, winning three consecutive games to face Scarborough.

Bullcreek Leeming coach Sam Whitaker said even a loss on Saturday would not detract from his side’s achievements this year, rising back up to A Grade after last season’s relegation.

“We knew we just needed to start playing some really good footy at the right time. Although it would be great to cap off a pretty crazy run, you can’t let one game change the way you look back on the year,” he said.

Much of the Bombers’ journey has been thanks to high-flying 18-year-old forward Jacinta Stevens, who has kicked a competition record 70 goals this season and has dazzled opponents with her strong pack marking and raking left foot.

Whitaker said he knew Stevens would be targeted on Saturday.

“As a team, we need to help her. Teams do go after her at times, so we need to make sure she is supported,” he said.

Burbridge was confident his side could find ways to contain the mercurial Bombers forward.

“We will have a Plan A and B in place,” he said.

For the record:

Ones to watch:

Whitaker described wunderkind Stevens as an unbelievable player who loved the game.

“You could be mistaken for thinking she’s an ex-AFL player coming back by the way she has dominated this season,” he said.

While Stevens has been dominant in attack for the Bombers, Scarborough have their own threats up forward in Chloe Metcalf and Amy Fortescue, the latter slotting five majors in last fortnight’s win.

Scarborough will also welcome back state representative Kyra Dalman in a crucial inclusion after she missed the victory against the Knights.

“She is a very good mover and positioner and just smart with the footy,” Burbridge said.

Budget Car and Truck Rental C1 Women- Bayswater v Kingsway

Saturday, September 5, Gosnells Oval, 03:00 PM

Last Time They Met: Round 11, Bayswater 4.11 (35) defeated Kingsway 0.3 (3)

Head-to-Head this year: Bayswater 1; Kingsway 1

Bayswater path to the Grand Final: Finished 1st, defeated Ballajura to qualify.

Kingsway path to the Grand Final: Finished 2nd, defeated Ballajura and Cockburn Cobras to qualify.

Women’s premierships: Bayswater 1; Kingsway 0

Another chapter in one of the PFL’s most intriguing developing rivalries will be written on Saturday as Bayswater and Kingsway meet in a decider for the second-year running.

Simon Quayle’s Roos side have a score to settle after losing last year’s C2 Grand Final to Bayswater.

The Roos are the only team who has challenged the minor premiers all season, downing them by a point in Round 3.

The Blues barged their way into another Grand Final following a 61-point win over Ballajura, picking up where they left off from a home-and-away season that saw them finish three games clear on top.

With their C4 women’s team also making a deep run into the 2026 HIF PFL Finals Series, Blues premiership coach Aidan Ridley said the depth of the club’s women’s program spoke to a culture that had developed over several years.

“Going back-to-back would just be a reward for effort, [we see] winning as a consequence of our hard work,” he said.

“We have an unreal spread [of talent], and we even have juniors who are coming through now too.” 

Speaking on their “healthy” rivalry with Kingsway, Ridley said his Blues were ready for any challenges thrown at them despite going into the game as comfortable favourites. 

“There’s always going to be shocks and surprises in finals footy, you just need to be prepared for them,” he said.

For the record:

Ones to watch:

Captain Beth Carey has led a Kingsway team that has followed closely behind the pace-setting Bayswater all season.

Josie Byfield slotted three majors in the 12-point preliminary final win over Ballajura and will be important counterattacking force against a Blues side who know how to pile on big scores.

Chloe Sauvier filled injured forward Sophia Bishop’s boots in Bayswater’s second semi-final win, kicking four goals.

Bishop is set to return for this week’s Grand Final, having already slotted 45 majors for the season in just 12 games.

Budget Car and Truck Rental C2 Women- Canning Vale v Gosnells

Saturday, September 5, HIF Health Insurance Oval, 10:20 AM

Last Time They Met: Second Semi-Final, Canning Vale defeated Gosnells 

Head-to-Head this year: Canning Vale 2; Gosnells 1

Canning Vale path to the Grand Final: Finished 1st, defeated Gosnells to qualify.

Gosnells path to the Grand Final: Finished 3rd, defeated Fremantle C.B.C twice to qualify.

Women’s premierships: Canning Vale 0; Gosnells 0

Two proud south of the river clubs will journey up the freeway to face off in this year’s C2 Grand Final at Joondalup.

Since taking over as Canning Vale coach, Gerard Gibson has led the Cougars into consecutive finals campaigns, but said there was still a further step for his side to take.

After losing a preliminary final last year, the Cougars started the 2026 season 2-2, but have since won their next 12 games.

“At the start of this year it felt like we had some unfinished business,” Gibson said.

“The group really responded to the poor start of the season; they have shown resilience and commitment,” he said.

Gibson said a maiden women’s premiership could be transformative as the club continued to grow its She Can Play program.

“It would be amazing for our club and the community. Some of our players have been here since the start, through good and lean.”

Qualifying after a 2-point win over Fremantle C.B.C, Gosnells playing coach Jessie McDonald said her side’s pace would be the key to claiming the title over Canning Vale. 

McDonald didn’t plan to play this season, but said she was roped in after her team was forced to play without a bench for most of the season.

“I kept saying ‘this is my last game’ but the girls kept telling me to chuck the boots on,” she said.

“It’s awesome to see how far we have come and how we have bonded together in my first year of coaching.”

For the record:

Ones to watch:

McDonald cited teammates Shawnie Pickett, Kyraley Drage and full forward Teleah Crane as being important cogs in the Hawks’ machine as they hope to claim the club’s maiden women’s flag.

Third in last season’s league best and fairest, former basketballer Talisha Hansen has been a key once again for the Cougars in the ruck, combining with captain Montana Campbell in the side’s midfield.

Veteran forward Bianca Austin has been Canning Vale’s focal point in attack with 21 majors and has only been held goalless once this season.

Budget Car and Truck Rental C3 Women- Yanchep v Manning

Saturday, September 5, Gosnells Oval, 01:00 PM

Last Time They Met: Round 16, Yanchep 4.7 (31) defeated Manning 3.3 (21)

Head-to-Head this year: Yanchep 1; Manning 1

Yanchep path to the Grand Final: Finished 1st, defeated Safety Bay to qualify.

Manning path to the Grand Final: Finished 2nd, defeated Safety Bay and Ellenbrook to qualify.

Women’s premierships: Yanchep 0; Manning 1

A coveted Yanchep women’s flag has never been closer than it will be on Saturday.

Yanchep coach Shane Tweed has been involved with the club’s women’s program since its inception in 2021 and has overseen their rise to this year’s minor premiership, the club’s maiden HIF PFL Finals Series campaign. 

Tweed said he was confident ahead of the upcoming challenge from opponents Manning. 

“It has been a long road of ups and downs [as coach], but this year we came up with a good squad after a strong preseason, a mixture of some good recruits and a strong core of 12-14 players who have been there the whole ride,” he said.

Manning coach Sarah Lane said the competition had been “hotter” this season in their quest for back-to-back flags after rising from C4 last season, but that her team’s continued success came from a strong sense of friendship and unity.

“I have a team of girls that all love each other and are good mates, who want to go out there and have fun, so we have just gone about it the same way we did last year”, she said.

“We don’t really go in with the mindset of ‘it’s win or nothing’.”

Lane believed her Rippers side could knock the Red Hawks off again, being the only side to defeat them so far this year.

“If we execute what we have planned, then we should have a good day on the track,” she said.

For the record:

Ones to watch:

The battle in the centre appears to be the key in this matchup.

Lane described her Rippers midfield, led by captain Amber Goodwin-Wissink, as a “powerhouse”. 

Goodwin-Wissink was the C4 League Best-and-Fairest last year.

Also backing in his on-ballers, Tweed said former West Perth midfielders Tayah Nicholson and Bree Porrritt had been vital to his side’s success this season.

“Our midfield group and connection up forward is key because we like to push our defence far up the ground,” he said.

Budget Car and Truck Rental C4 Women- Koongamia v Bayswater

Saturday, September 5, Gosnells Oval, 11:00 AM

Last Time They Met: Second Semi-Final, Bayswater 1.6 (12) defeated by Koongamia 2.6 (18)

Head-to-Head this year: Koongamia 2; Bayswater 1

Koongamia path to the Grand Final: Finished 3rd, defeated Jandakot and Bayswater to qualify.

Bayswater path to the Grand Final: Finished 1st, defeated Jandakot to qualify.

Women’s premierships: Koongamia 1; Bayswater 1

One of the most even competitions in the PFL this season comes to a head on Saturday.

Despite finishing third, Edward Garlett’s Koongamia were the first to qualify for the decider, defeating Grand Final opponents, Bayswater, in a tightly contested semi-final.

Garlett told the Perth Footy Podcast in August he had focused on maintaining professional standards across his side this season.

“We have changed as a team since bringing in new players, so [our season has] all been based around fitness. To come away with a lot of victories has been great,” he said.

After their thrilling one-point win over Jandakot in last week’s preliminary final, Bayswater playing coach Caitlyn Hopkins said kudos needed to be given to everyone involved in the club’s women’s program.

“Having two teams in the grand final is club history already, but if we both get up I think the celebrations will last all night,” she said.

For the record:

Ones to watch:

Hopkins said she did not want to give much away ahead of Saturday’s “do-or-die” game but backed her captain and inside midfielder Maggie Biffin to lead their charge.

“Using our leg speed and run on the big ground at Gosnells Oval [will be important], as it is so much larger than our home ground”, she said.

Koongamia have been led in attack by Kellie Austin and Shannen Anderson, but Garlett said the Crows’ season had been built by developing their squad.

“There’s been major improvement across our players this year, we had one or two players who didn’t know how to kick a footy at the start of the season,” he said.

By Spencer Robertson