Ex-AFL gun, Lake’s flag bid: 25 storylines to watch in the WFNL season
What impact will Bachar Houli and Lachie Hunter have, can Brian Lake lead Caroline Springs to a premiership and can the big recruiters make it work? These are 25 WFNL storylines to watch this year.
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The 2025 Western Football Netball League season is quickly approaching.
We’ve broken down 25 of the key storylines to watch this year.
1. Will we get another premiership shock?
It’s probably fair to suggest not even the wildest Hoppers Crossing’s supporters dreams on the eve of the finals would have seen the Warriors lift the cup. But it’s exactly what happened as they rose from fifth, winning four finals, to shock their local rivals in the decider. With the competition looking even once again, what could be in store this year.
2. Can the big name ex-AFL recruits fire?
There’s been some huge names join the competition in the off-season, Bachar Houli to Newport, Lachie Hunter to Spotswood and Emerson Jeka back to Altona to name a few. But what sort of impact can these guys have? Houli’s penetrating left foot could have him cut sides to pieces but he hasn’t played footy in a couple of years. Hunter was one of the hardest running players in the AFL, meaning he’s a match-up nightmare. Jeka provides Travis Varcoe’s side with a focal point up forward and could be in the mix for the leading goalkicker award.
3. Are Districts the team to beat again?
Chris Gilham’s Werribee Districts finished the home-and-away season with a record of 13 wins, one loss and two draws last season before ultimately going down in the grand final. They’ve retained most of their list and welcomed back Daniel Nielson which gives them another forward punch. Dillon Viojo-Rainbow headlines the midfield brigade again and you just have to think they’re going to be right in the mix.
4. Can Wyndhamvale handle the pressure?
The Falcons were the highest finisher of all sides remaining in Division 2 from last season. Now many have them as the red hot premiership favourites. Retention has been strong, a couple of recruits are on board, but much of this season could be played above the shoulders.
5. Can Condon, Parkside lift again?
Tom Condon enjoyed an impressive debut season in black and white for Parkside, kicking 54 goals for in 16 games. With the Magpies again making a splash on the recruiting front, he is going to get more opportunities in front of goal. After their promotion at the end of the 2023 season, winning the Division 2 flag, the Magpies won a respectable four games in season 2024. After another busy off-season they look poised to take a step in their development and will be hopeful of climbing up the ladder.
6. What response do Lake’s men have?
Caroline Springs season ended in disappointing fashion last year, a 44-point preliminary final loss to Hoppers Crossing. They’ve topped up nicely with some impressive recruits, notably out of the EDFL, and should be right in the mix for the flag.
7. What does year two look like for Varcoe’s Vikings?
Travis Varcoe led Altona to a first week finals exit in his inaugural year as coach and it has been a up and down off-season for the Vikings. They’ve lost several key players to rival clubs but have been boosted by a couple of arrivals. Can the club’s younger brigade step up with greater opportunity?
8. What lessons have Spotswood learnt?
Spotswood endured a rough end to the 2024 season, losing their last three games. They missed some players to injury throughout the season and having hit the reset button in the off-season with a coaching change, there’s an opportunity to move towards the top-five again.
9. Can Eagles kids seize their chance?
There’s been several ins and outs of Brad Julier’s side throughout the off-season but the real story is where are the Eagles kids at. They’ve got as talented young guns as any side on this side of the West Gate and if they continue developing at their current rate, a finish high up the ladder isn’t without the question again.
10. Point Cook’s new chapter
Saade Ghazi is in the door as the club’s new coach, replacing Clay Smith, and he has a big job in front of him. The Dogs went from 2023 grand finalists to bottom of the ladder last year. But they were absolutely ravaged by injuries which in turn created fantastic opportunities for the younger brigades. There’s been some senior players walk out of the club this season but Ghazi has a great opportunity to keep building towards the future.
11. The curious case of Point Cook Centrals
It’s been a less than ideal off-season for the Sharks to say the least. They’ve lost a number of key contributors but have brought in some new faces which should help soften the blow a little. They’ll need an answer up forward with Daniel Rosenzweig joining rivals Albion. Mitch Palma went forward at times last season, could he be the answer?
12. Noisy Newport
They’re preparing for their maiden Division 1 season in club history and Newport hasn’t been quiet with its arrival. The Panthers have signed a package of recruits to cover all parts of the ground. Houli is the headline name but don’t sweat on the class of midfielder Nayef Hamad who is back after a quick pit stop at East Keilor. New coach Ali Hamad has plenty to work with and they might just play one of the most exciting brands in the competition.
13. How do Albion and Sunshine handle the step up?
The local rivals met in the Division 2 decider last year with the Roos prevailing. Albion has been arguably the more impressive of the two sides on the recruiting front especially when you account Sunshine has lost centurion goalkicker Nathan Carroll. Sunshine’s kids are coming through and it’s going to be exciting to watch their development.
14. What form can Paech bring?
Caroline Springs big man Alex Paech won the Division 1 league best-and-fairest in just 11 out of a possible 16 games last season. If the dominant force gets a full season under his belt, there’s every opportunity he could claim the award again. After all, umpires seems to love the big fellas.
15. Could we see another 100-goal season?
Sunshine’s Nathan Carroll was the man last season but could it happen again across either division? The second tier is looking a lot more even this season which means we probably won’t see the types of haul we did last year. Triple figures isn’t as common as it once was but could this year be different?
16. How will the unbalanced fixture have a finals say?
Division 2 has arguably the perfect fixture, two games against every opponent. Division 1 is a little different given there are 12 teams. With every side not facing off against one another twice, if some clubs are to play weaker opponents it could have a big say in the finals race. But every coach will tell you if you’re good enough, you’ll beat the sides you have to.
17. Beware the Devils
North Footscray finished eighth last season with a 9-9 record but there’s every suggestions they’ll improve this year. The Devils have welcomed back some former key players and with the fresh faces in their midst will be looking for a rise up the ladder.
18. Revitalised Roosters could surprise a few
West Footscray endured a horror run with injury throughout stages of last season, at one stage losing its core midfield group which meant some shuffling of the magnets. Coach Troy Beamond will be hoping for better luck on that front. Then you add in the exciting talents continuing to come through the under-18s program and there’s every reason to believe West is on the rise.
19. Western Rams seeking further improvement
After joining the competition last season, the Rams won two games and in the process ended the longest losing streak in Victorian local footy. They’ve turned over a new chapter again in the off-season with a new coach and have again bolstered their playing stocks. If these fresh faces can add to what the club already has, there’s no reason the Rams can’t be around the five-win mark.
20. Can the Suns take the next step?
The Suns have never been shy to speak about their goals for the future. They spoke openly about wanting to move into Division 2 as they did last year and now they have an opportunity to emerge as one of the contenders. Roger Hand has stepped into the role of coach, taking over from Dean Cachia, and has brought some Point Cook Centrals players with him. What sort of impact can they have?
21. Will the Dragons breathe fire?
Sunshine Heights has enjoyed arguably the most impressive off-season of any Division 2 club on the recruiting front, welcoming big names including Harley Armstrong-Weston and Jackson Viola from Hoppers Crossing. The Dragons won just five games last year but will the new faces be enough to lift them towards the finals?
22. Albanvale’s new coaching look
Anthony Montrose and Phil Crea have taken on the dual coaching role but can they lead the Cobras to another finals series? It’s somewhat of a homecoming for Montrose who coached the club’s reserves to a 2010 flag. The Cobras have added some fresh faces but is it enough to climb the ladder? They do have a triple figure margin to make up on Wyndhamvale who they lost to in an elimination final.
23. Laverton on the improve or decline
The Magpies took some big steps forward last year after winning six games. They’ve made some big moves again once again in the off-season but will it be enough to take them to another level?
24. Can Braybrook close that narrow gap?
The Brookers missed the finals series by just under three per cent and again look to have improved. They’ve welcomed some fresh faces in recent days and those players give Geoff Maddern’s side a very different look.
25. What do the Titans kids have?
Tarneit looks set to field a very inexperienced side under new senior coach Max De Groot this season and he’ll be keen to see his side remain competitive. The Titans had some heavy losses last season and they’ll be looking for improvement. The experienced heads will be key.
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