With ten home and away rounds down and all teams now having faced one another twice, we take a look at the BFLW Women's competition so far and what the final third of the season might hold.
Darley
Ladder Position: 1st - 9 Wins, 1 Loss
The reigning premiers look well-placed in their pursuit of a three-peat of flags, having gone unbeaten through the first eight rounds of the season.
Their only slip came in Round 9 – a 49-point loss to a young but polished Bacchus Marsh outfit.
It’s a result coach Brett Faulkhead will no doubt dissect closely, using the loss as fuel to tighten structures and adapt moving forward.
Darley’s depth remains one of their key strengths.
Charli Parsons-Jones has continued to turn heads in just her second senior season.
With Coates Talent League exposure and listed with the Western Jets, she’s brought a level of polish and maturity that’s seen her named among the best five times already this year.
Meanwhile, there’s been no slowing down for Lilli Condon.
The reigning League Best and Fairest has picked up right where she left off, consistently driving the Devils forward with clean ball use and inside 50 delivery.
She’s featured in the best in all nine of her appearances so far – a testament to her consistency.
Up forward, Kim Bessell remains as potent as ever with 39 goals to her name – the go-to target for the Devils' attacking entries.
However, Faulkhead will be well aware of the looming challenge Redan presents.
In two recent meetings, the Lions have restricted Bessell to just one goal combined – a feat few other sides have managed.
Expect emerging options like Lusiya Azina to become even more critical in the weeks ahead.
With two games still to come against Redan, the path to a top of the ladder finish is anything but straightforward.
The Devils will likely need to claim at least one of those clashes to lock in the all-important first-week bye – a valuable advantage in what’s shaping as a tight run into finals.
The run home: Redan, Lake Wendouree, Carisbrook, East Point, Lake Wendouree, Redan
Redan
Ladder Position: 2nd - 8 Wins, 2 Losses
Redan have cemented themselves as one of the most consistent outfits in recent BFLW memory – and 2025 has been no different.
But if there’s one obstacle they’ve yet to clear, it’s finding a way past Darley.
Both of the Lions' losses this season have come at the hands of the reigning premiers.
In Round 1, they trailed by just two points at the final change; in Round 6, it was five.
Close contests, but Redan couldn’t land the knockout blow.
That’ll be front of mind for coach Tim Meaney as the Lions gear up for two more critical clashes against the Devils before finals.
As has become a hallmark of Redan, it’s their depth that continues to impress.
Freya Palmer – the 2024 Under 19 League Best and Fairest – has taken the step up to senior level with composure and confidence.
Splitting her time across age groups, Palmer’s athleticism and pace have added an extra layer to Redan’s rotations.
At the pointy end, Jess Bokma is putting together a season to remember.
Leading the league goal kicking, Bokma has hit the scoreboard in every round – including a standout 10-goal haul against Lake Wendouree in Round 9.
Her consistency and accuracy make her one of the most dangerous forwards in the competition.
Adding further firepower has been the return of VFLW-listed Lori Stepnell.
With strong stints at Williamstown under her belt, Stepnell has made four appearances at club level this year, and each time has lifted the Lions with her presence, leadership, and class.
A top of the ladder finish – and a first-week finals bye – remains firmly on the table.
But for that to become reality, Redan will need to rewrite the script against Darley and hold off a surging Bacchus Marsh outfit.
The run home: Darley, East Point, Bacchus Marsh, Lake Wendouree, Carisbrook, Darley
Bacchus Marsh
Ladder Position: 3rd - 7 Wins, 3 Losses
If you were calling it after five rounds, the competition looked like a two-horse race. Darley and Redan were setting the pace and seemingly untouchable.
But fast-forward just a few weeks, and Bacchus Marsh have completely changed the narrative.
In Round 8, they took it right up to Redan, holding a narrow lead into the final quarter before falling by just 13 points.
A week later, they sent a statement to the rest of the competition – dismantling the previously undefeated Darley by 49 points in a four-quarter display of pressure, possession, and polish.
Coach Alan Johnson, working closely with Under 19s coach Leigh Bradbury, has managed the Cobras’ transition from young promise to genuine contender with precision.
The balance between youth and experience is striking – and shaping up nicely ahead of finals.
The Under 19 crop has been particularly influential.
Summer Marchewka, Charli O’Connor and Oliver Dilges have seamlessly stepped into senior roles, showing maturity beyond their years.
And with Coates Talent League players like Ruby Thomas and Jazmine Dalli also in the mix, Bacchus Marsh are blessed with depth and versatility.
Arguably the biggest impact has come from recruit Mel Freeman.
Fresh from Spotswood and bringing VFLW experience with both Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs, Freeman has brought structure, leadership, and composure – all while mentoring the next generation of Cobras.
With one win over the top two already in the bank, Bacchus Marsh are now the wildcard that could reshape the top of the table.
One more big scalp could be the key to a top-two finish.
The run home: East Point, Carisbrook, Redan, Lake Wendouree, Darley, East Point
East Point
Ladder Position: 4th - 4 Wins, 6 Losses
In just their third season back in the BFLW competition, East Point have continued their upward trajectory — showing maturity on-field and a strong club culture off it.
The Dragons have fielded a balanced list of youth and experience, delivering big wins and keeping games competitive even against top-tier opposition.
The off-season posed challenges, with the departures of several key players.
Rebecca Fisher, runner-up Shania Oliver, and full back Simone McNeight were notable omissions from the 2025 squad.
But rather than rebuild, East Point reloaded.
Club mainstays like Cass Nolan and Kirsten Roth have anchored the side again this year, while fresh faces like Jaslyn Skilbeck have provided a new element.
In her first season of football, Skilbeck has taken to the game with confidence and consistency.
Megan O’Beirne has arguably had a career-best year, while Katie McAloon’s experience — including her stint in the VFLW system — has brought poise to the stocks.
Between them, they’ve featured in the side’s best across nearly every round, setting the bar for the red, white and blue.
With six rounds remaining, coach Jezza Jones will be zeroing in on a potential first-week finals clash against Lake Wendouree.
Their performances in second meetings against higher-ranked sides have shown clear improvement — a sign that East Point aren’t just aiming to make finals but are driven to shake them up.
The run home: Bacchus Marsh, Redan, Lake Wendouree, Darley, Carisbrook, Bacchus Marsh
Lake Wendouree
Ladder Position: 5th - 2 Wins, 8 Losses
Lake Wendouree enter the final third of the season with a clear focus: securing fifth spot on the ladder and continuing to chip away at scoreboard margins in their third meetings with opposition sides — just as they’ve done from their first to second encounters.
The Lakers have shown steady improvement, managing to reduce margins and limit opposition scoring in their return fixtures.
Now, as they gear up to face each side for a third time, coach Mark Kinnane will be urging his side to turn those reduced margins into competitive contests – and, ideally, wins.
With an average age of just 23, the Lakers are among the youngest teams in the competition – a fact that bodes well for the club’s long-term trajectory.
Keeley Abbott is a shining example of this youth movement. Having stepped into the senior side early last year, her game has continued to develop with added experience and confidence.
Captains Demi Thompson and Shellby Lonie have been standouts all season.
Thompson’s ability to read the play and apply her netball smarts has made a noticeable impact, while Lonie’s strength and leadership continue to guide the group through key moments.
The Lakers will also be hoping for more game time from Faith McKenzie.
With her athleticism, ability to run out full games, and commanding vertical leap in the ruck, her presence has made a significant difference in her four appearances to date.
With a likely elimination final against East Point on the horizon, these final rounds will serve as crucial.
And with some ladder movement still possible, the Lakers will be quietly eyeing off a potential grab for fourth spot – making their run to finals one to watch.
The run home: Carisbrook, Darley, East Point, Bacchus Marsh, Redan, Carisbrook
Carisbrook
Ladder Position: 6th - 0 Wins, 10 Losses
Whilst they remain winless, the scoreboard margins paint a different picture of the measurable wins Carisbrook are achieving.
While the four points haven’t come yet, the experience being gained by the playing group – particularly the young stock – is vital in the long run.
The Redbacks have shown pockets of competitiveness – strings of play where possession is won, clearances are made and inside 50s are recorded.
Across the backline, turnovers are becoming less frequent, and the side is making better use of their rebound 50s.
The challenge now is converting those passages into full-quarter performances – and eventually, four consistent quarters.
There’s plenty to be excited about when you look at the list.
Olivia Rogers, fresh out of the Under 16 competition, has stepped up and held her own at Senior level.
Emme Johnson and Maddi Smith, both still eligible for the Under 19s, have embraced the challenge of Senior footy, featuring amongst the best on multiple occasions.
Captain Liv Butler is having another consistent season in the red and black – leading from the front and slotting three goals so far.
Coach Simon Booker will no doubt be using the second half of the season to instil belief and reward effort.
Internal wins – like reduced margins, increased pressure acts, and dominating key stat areas – will be crucial measures of progress from here.
The run home: Lake Wendouree, Bacchus Marsh, Darley, Redan, East Point, Lake Wendouree
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