By Ben Ford, Williamstown Media
It is Grand Final time for the Seagulls!
The Club is incredibly proud of the players and the journey they have taken to reach this historic occasion. Here is everything you need to know ahead of the huge matchup.
Road to the Grand Final: Williamstown
The Seagulls have qualified for the VFLW Grand Final for the first time in Club history, overcoming Port Melbourne by two points in a thrilling preliminary final.
Despite earning home-ground advantage, Williamstown was made to fight for its place in the decider. Port Melbourne challenged the Seagulls throughout the contest and reclaimed the lead late, but the Blue and Gold eventually found a way past their bitter rivals.
Mia Zielinski finished with two majors, while Bella Smith led Williamstown with 19 disposals.
The Seagulls have already experienced the pressure of what essentially became the closing stages of a Grand Final. They were challenged, surrendered the lead late and still found a way to win.
Road to the Grand Final: North Melbourne
Like Williamstown, North Melbourne earned direct passage into a preliminary final after finishing inside the top two.
Unlike the Seagulls, however, the Kangaroos cruised into the Grand Final with a dominant 61-point victory over Collingwood at Arden Street.
The performance was made even more impressive by the fact that the previous three meetings between North Melbourne and Collingwood had all been decided by six points or fewer.
The Kangaroos had weapons across the ground. Nyakoat Dojiok and Renee Tierney combined for three goals, while Alana Barba collected 23 disposals and Charlotte Ryan finished with 21.
Williamstown’s Keys to Victory: Make North Melbourne fight for every score
The defining feature of Williamstown’s season has been how difficult the team is to score against.
There was no clearer example than the Seagulls’ Round 12 meeting with North Melbourne. The Kangaroos entered the contest averaging more than 60 points per game, but Williamstown restricted them to just 25.
Earlier in the campaign, the Seagulls also held their opponents scoreless across seven consecutive quarters.
Win the contested ball
Everything begins at the contest for Williamstown, with Emily Eaves averaging 13.1 contested possessions throughout the season.
The Seagulls cannot allow Barba and Ava Seton to dictate how the Grand Final is played. Williamstown must win meaningful clearances and use those possessions to establish territory.
Turn territory into control
Once the Seagulls gain territory, they are comfortable turning the match into a grind.
Williamstown can produce lengthy periods in which its opposition is prevented from playing its preferred style. Its settled backline is capable of intercepting repeated forward entries, as demonstrated by Jazmin Tweddle-O’Donnell’s 12 intercept possessions against Port Melbourne.
However, Williamstown is not simply an intercepting team. Its work outside the defensive 50 will also be crucial.
After forcing a turnover, the Seagulls can quickly transition the ball forward and create scoring opportunities. A Tweddle-O’Donnell intercept can rapidly become a Williamstown inside-50 entry at the other end.
On Sunday, the Seagulls will look to gain territory and control where the game is played—both offensively and defensively. As the preliminary final demonstrated, Williamstown is also more than capable of winning an arm wrestle if required.
North Melbourne’s Keys to Victory: Unleash its midfield depth
North Melbourne enters the contest as the back-to-back premier—and a team that knows how to put opponents away quickly once it establishes control.
Its results this season have included a 74-point victory over Geelong, a 70-point win against Tasmania and a 67-point triumph over Casey.
The Kangaroos love to overwhelm their opponents through their formidable midfield depth. Barba averages 23.9 disposals, while Seton averages 21.9. Four North Melbourne players collected at least 20 disposals in the preliminary-final victory over Collingwood.
Williamstown’s midfield must apply pressure to North Melbourne’s four-headed monster and win enough possession to control territory from the opening bounce.
Apply relentless pressure
North Melbourne’s work without the ball is among the best in the competition.
Seton averages 9.4 tackles per match, while Barba averages 7.3. The Kangaroos do not stop once they lose possession—they immediately hunt their opponents and attempt to win the ball back.
Williamstown must remain composed under that pressure and avoid allowing North to generate repeat opportunities from turnovers.
Connect with its dangerous forwards
The Kangaroos will also want to bring Dojiok and Tierney into the contest.
Dojiok has kicked 17 goals from nine matches, while Tierney provides North Melbourne with another dangerous avenue to goal.
Williamstown must get its defensive matchups right. If Tweddle-O’Donnell can limit the influence of one of North Melbourne’s dangerous forwards, it could have a significant bearing on the result.
Ultimately, the Grand Final could be decided in the middle. Williamstown must consistently compete at the source, preventing North Melbourne’s midfield from establishing control while generating the territory needed to play the game on its terms.
Team News
Williamstown has made two changes to the team that defeated Port Melbourne.
The biggest inclusion is Eliza Straford, who returns from a foot injury. Straford missed the preliminary final but has been declared fit for the Grand Final.
The other change is forced, with Lilly Pearce ruled out due to an ankle injury. Krystal Russell returns to provide ruck support, while Elise Vella is an unfortunate omission.
North Melbourne has made one change to its preliminary-final side.
Abbey Favell has been elevated to the AFLW team, opening the door for Zara Flanigan to play her first VFLW match since Round 4.
The Final Word
It all sets the stage for an enormous Grand Final between the challenger and the champion.
Williamstown will bring its disciplined, territory-based game and willingness to embrace a scrap. North Melbourne will attempt to land an early knockout through its powerful midfield, relentless pressure and dangerous forward line.
Who will establish control—and who will blink first?
We hope to see the Blue and Gold faithful out in force and in full voice at IKON Park on Sunday for this historic occasion!
Go Seagulls! Let’s bring the cup home!
