St Mary’s targeting back-to-back women’s titles in season 2025-26
St Mary’s may be targeting back-to-back titles, but some big recruitments elsewhere has signalled more than a few sides eying this year’s crown. Read how the women’s NTFL sides are shaping up.
St Mary’s young list is in contention for back-to-back NTFL women’s flags, but with the rest of the competition loading up on talent they won’t be the only ones in the hunt.
Saints scraped through against a persistent but inaccurate Nightcliff to claim their first premiership since the 2009-10 season when they finished their three-peat.
Now the side that’s been in consecutive grand finals can prove their credentials with the knowledge they’re now the hunted side.
The young Green Machine outfit has plenty of proven talents growing into their own led by a strong group of leaders including captain Nikita Long, Janet Baird and Billie Byers.
Last year’s Rising Star winner Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn will be another to keep an eye out for after kicking the winning three goals in the grand final as will the versatile Paula Pavic.
Nightcliff will be as hungry as ever after the final slipped away by just a point and with largely the same squad led by Sophie Hatzismalis and Mickalya Ward, there’s plenty of fuel on the fire.
Sally Evans, Christy Landwehr, Eliza Hand, Cassie McWilliam and Tully Vlahovic all make their returns among others while former Waratah captain Kierra Zerafa has joined the side.
“We’ve had some strong numbers across all our women’s sides and after that one point loss we’re ready to go, the job’s not done,” Ward said.
“It always hurts going down in a grand final, let alone by one point so everyone’s back, we’re fresh and ready to start again.”
On the junior side the wait is on for Peggy Rock’s premier league debut after consistent best and fairest wins through age grades, while Nightcliff’s under-18s premiers move into the senior team.
“I’ve been waiting for Peggy to turn 16 for three years now so she will be a massive asset for the premier side when we bring her in,” Ward said.
“Aaliyah Mukhis, Mary Koum, Lucinda Harvey are others who are now beyond the 17.5 bracket that will move into the seniors, it’s great we’ve been able to develop these juniors.”
PINT will still be a side to watch out for winning last year’s minor premiership and three of the past five flags with plenty of their stars still in the side.
Paul Price, who recently coached the Grovedale Tigers in Geelong to a grand final, will take over as coach this season wanting to get the most out of his new Queenants side.
Three-time women’s best and fairest Jasmyn Hewett will return alongside known midfield star Reni Hicks and Riley Huppatz.
AFL Barwon’s best and fairest winning ruck Janessa FitzGerald comes into the side to provide a chop out for Hewett in the middle of the ground.
“We’ve had the opportunity to refresh the group, this club has done an incredible job with three flags and finishing top last year,” Price said.
“We were probably shown up a bit for youth and leg speed last year, which is natural but something we need to address and fix this season with some new playing personnel.
“Jas is a quality player who works incredibly hard in training and after taking on one of the hardest jobs as player-coach last season is always there with input which is great.”
The Palmerston Magpies broke back into finals last season off the back of their incredible junior talent base with Marika Carlton and Ella Ward competition standouts.
Erica Rowe will be a player coach for the upcoming season while Shannon Murphy and Tatyana Perry are other players to keep an eye out for.
Now that they’ve reached finals the goal will be to stay up in the top five against a chasing pack that are only getting better.
The Tiwi Bombers are another side eager to hold their position and better their past couple of results with their pursuit being to win in finals.
Invested footy leaders Leonie Carpenter and Bianca Daniels come in as co-coaches and will build on the women’s success in the Tiwi Islands Football League.
Maria Rioli has been a standout of the side since their inception with Freda Puruntatameri and Arthurina Moreen others to look out for after starring roles in the TIFL final.
The Darwin Buffaloes will be in the fight again and with a focus on fitness are focused on a return to finals for this season.
Coach Chris Atkinson has assembled a group of known performers led by captain Bianca Stokes and her vice-captains two-time best and fairest winner Molly Althouse and Anju Goninon.
Club junior and Collingwood VFLW captain Dom Carbone will return alongside fellow Magpie Amelia Peck, while Roxy Beuzeville and Kiara Henry as fly-ins add plenty of talent to the side.
“We’re very excited to have these inclusions committed to the club and very keen to get our best side on the park, it’s just a matter of when we can get them,” Atkinson said.
“We’ve also got talent in our juniors with Jenara Grant, Anjel Noble-Webster and Alexandra Sliwinski in that younger age bracket that we’re hoping to develop this season.
“Bianca is our captain again, she always leads from the front and is like an aunty to a lot of these girls.
“We’re positive and optimistic for what we can put on the field but we know other clubs are putting in the investment too and I don’t imagine there will be any easy teams anymore.”
Waratah is another side with their glory days not too long ago and it’s there they want to return with new coach Troy Rantanen at the helm.
Madeline Jeans, Britany Daly and Ruby O’Dwyer have been leaders of the club for the past few years and will be features again with Nikki Watts, Lauren Pluker and Isobel Hartog returning.
Sandringham captain Grace Hodder is a big inclusion as is Territory local Steph Williams following her stints on AFLW lists.
Southern Districts are among the sides to have put in the work during the offseason eager to get back to the top as they were in the 2019-20 season.
Their usual performers including Megan Craufurd, Emma Forsyth, Bella Boyd and Erin Luchetti will be topped up by an influx of new players including returning junior Grace Mulvahil.
Grace Whittaker also returns while SANFL Norwood captain Stephanie Simmonds comes in alongside plenty of Territory talent such as Kate Grady, Taylah Easton and Taelah Smith.
Wanderers have made changes of their own with new coach Paul Magher signing on for the next three years with the intent of turning the club around.
The Muk Muks have been on the wrong side of some massive drubbings in recent years, but the players have stuck together, turned up and have shown the want to progress this season.
Tiffany Parriman continues to push the side as a club leader while SANFL standouts Caitlin Manning and Abby Klaebe have been named as two of the side’s big inclusions.
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Originally published as St Mary’s targeting back-to-back women’s titles in season 2025-26
