Senior Women's 2025 Semi Final Weekend Recap

By Ryan Long.

The first weekend of the 2025 Senior Women's Finals Series provided plenty of highlights as six teams cemented their place in the 2025 Grand Final Day. View below for a recap of each finals match this weekend.

Premier Division Semi Final 1: Park Orchards 10.8 68 def. Eastern Devils 6.4 40

A massive statement victory for the Sharks as they returned to the ground of their premiership success 12 months ago, knocking off the Eastern Devils.

A 28-point margin at the final siren, but the Sharks had stretched it out to seven goals halfway through the final term. Jorja Livingstone has had a fantastic year with the Western Bulldogs VFLW side. She was able to return to the Sharks this weekend, kicking four goals in a dominant performance.

Molly Heymanson also finished with three majors in the Sharks' big victory.

Ten goals last weekend, Chloe Hunt still managed three for the Devils, but Park Orchards was able to limit what has been a very strong attacking Eastern Devils outfit.

It’s a truly great story for the Park Orchards Football Club, premiers in Division One, and a year later, they’re playing off in the Premier Division Preliminary Final.

Premier Division Semi Final 2: South Belgrave 8.6 54 def. South Croydon 2.5 17

What a win by the Saints! South Belgrave advanced through to their second Grand Final in three years after defeating the reigning premiers at H.E. Parker by 37 points.

A strong display of Premier Division football was on display as South Belgrave proved that their Home and away form would stack up come finals time. After a strong first half, the margin got out to five goals before Katie Prendergast put through a much-needed one for the Dogs.

South Belgrave were able to stamp out any potential comeback through Georgia Grimmer’s second of the afternoon before Three Quarter Time.

One notable inclusion was Tylah Burn, who played 13 games with the Casey Demons. She returned to the side this weekend, having previously played against South Croydon in Round 13.

The goals were well spread out for the Saints, all 24 players contributing in a memorable victory for the club.

For South Croydon, they’ll be eager to bounce back against a talented Park Orchards side in Saturday’s Preliminary Final.

Division One Semi Final 1: Surrey Park 11.4 70 def. Balwyn 9.4 58

A superb performance from the Panthers as their quick start at Silvan Recreation Reserve played an important part in their success.

Four goals to one in the first quarter set up the game on their terms. Kate Tanner hit the scoreboard early, a fantastic inclusion for the side in recent weeks. Tanner finished with four for the afternoon and was a major reason why Surrey Park was able to get on top early.

Despite being six goals behind at the final change, Balwyn had a spirited fightback in the final quarter, kicking five goals to one. It wasn’t enough to get across the line, but for Balwyn, they impressed many with the way they performed in their first season in the Senior Women’s competition.

Another six goals to Cecilia Baldassarre, the Division One leading goalkicker.

Surrey Park now moves on to the Preliminary Final to face Knox, who unfortunately were forced to forfeit to North Ringwood in the second semi-final.

North Ringwood, straight through to the Grand Final, awaits its opposition.

Division Two Semi Final 1: Montrose 8.8 56 def. Waverley Blues 6.10 46

The broadcasted Match of the Round lived up to its expectations, an incredible back-and-forth battle between the Demons and Blues.

Up until the early stages of the fourth quarter, the Waverley Blues had led, keeping a slender one to two goals across the afternoon. Both sides had chances in front of goal, with the momentum shifting in Montrose’s favour in the third term, Chloe Jones kicking her second to keep the side within a goal.

The game opened up in the final quarter, goal for goal, as the momentum shifted on multiple occasions. Ten points down with less than a minute to play, Elise Hoole ran into an open goal to keep the Waverley Blues alive, the margin back to four points.

Back in the middle, a couple of big stoppages in the middle worked in the Dees' favour to run down the clock, before Charli Dobrigh put the sealer through on the siren from outside the forward 50 arc.

A great contest between two impressive sides, Montrose move through to the Preliminary Final.

Division Two Semi Final 2: Mooroolbark 5.10 40 def. Blackburn 3.4 22

The Mustangs are on the cusp of history, one win away from a three-peat!

Mooroolbark took care of Blackburn for the second consecutive week, this time in the second Semi-Final at Mulgrave Reserve. It’s the Mustangs' seventh win in a row, four of those seven games against finals sides.

Both Sarah and Ruby Haberfield are having a purple patch of form, both listed in the best once again.

They now await the winner of Blackburn and Montrose to see who they’ll face at Quambee Reserve on Grand Final Day.

Division Three Semi Final 1: North Ringwood Red 3.14 32 def. South Croydon Red 2.1 13

The Saints are marching their way to the Preliminary Final after a 19-point win over South Croydon.

The side has now won their last three encounters after looking like they may be in danger of missing the finals. Despite seven more scoring shots and three-quarter time, the game was well and truly still in the balance, especially after the opening goal of the fourth quarter put the Dogs in striking range.

However, North Ringwood were able to kick away in the final term in a

Rhiannon Green, who has had experience in the Saints Division One side, also playing in that Grand Final last year, capped off a big month with a fourth consecutive game in the best.

North Ringwood will enter the Preliminary Final with some confidence after previously beating Coldstream just two weeks ago.

Division Three Semi Final 2: Heathmont 6.8 44 def. Coldstream 1.3 9

They’ve been the best side all season, and Heathmont are now one win away from the ultimate success of a Division Three premiership.

The Jets defeated the Cougars for the third time this season, a 35-point win at Mulgrave Reserve on Sunday. Once again, their defensive game stepped up, keeping a strong Coldstream outfit to just one major. Miranda Marshall has been key for the Jets ever since she came across in 2024, with another best on ground performance.

Five players hit the scoreboard as Heathmont celebrated a terrific finals victory.

Division Four Semi Final 1: Vermont Gold 5.11 41 def. Warrandyte 3.2 20

Vermont Gold are through to a Preliminary Final after their 21-point win over Warrandyte at Silvan Recreation Reserve on Sunday morning.

It was the second week in a row that the two sides had met, and the Eagles' quick start in the first quarter, three goals to one, was the major difference. After quarter time, both sides kicked two goals apiece in a fairly even contest.

An exciting test awaits Vermont Gold next weekend in the Preliminary Final against Bayswater.

For Warrandyte, to make the finals for the first-ever time was a great success for the club. After the game, Jenny Trewella was chaired off the ground after her final game, a true icon of the club.

Division Four Semi Final 2: Wantirna South 6.4 40 def. Bayswater 1.2 8

After being defeated by Bayswater twice during the Home and Away season, Wantirna South came out on top in the side’s Semi Final clash at H.E. Parker Reserve on Saturday.

A terrific performance from the Devils to qualify for the Grand Final after last year’s straight-sets exit in the finals. They broke out to an impressive lead early, and three consecutive goals in the third quarter pushed the margin out to 39 points.

 In just her eighth game, Brianna Hipwell starred for Wantirna South, listed best on ground. Other key contributors included Kamryn Disney, who has been one of not only the club’s best players, but one of the best in the division.

Bayswater will get an opportunity to bounce back next week against Vermont Gold in the Preliminary Final, this weekend’s broadcast game.

Division Five Semi Final 1: Templestowe 5.7 37 def. Upper Ferntree Gully 4.4 28

A feel-good story to see both Templestowe and Upper Ferntree Gully qualify for finals.

Upper Ferntree Gully made the top four after a winless season in 2024, while Templestowe entered the Senior Women’s competition for the first time.

The Dockers came out victorious by nine points, coming from behind after Upper Ferntree Gully jumped out of the blocks in the first term. Jelena Simic, in her first season, was outstanding for the Dockers, listed best on for Templestowe.

The Preliminary Final is now set with Templestowe to meet Heathmont Blue next weekend at Quambee Reserve.

Division Five Semi Final 2: Norwood 21.21 147 def. Heathmont Blue 0.0 0

A dominant Norwood performance in their first-ever final has the club in this year’s Division Five Grand Final.

Norwood has been the benchmark side all season in their first season in the Senior Women’s competition. This however, was their biggest score of the season, 147 points, a season-high. Abbey Chapman had a career-best seven goals, while Eleanor Shea kicked five, and Ruby Gregson kicked three.

For Heathmont Blue, they were unfortunately without a bench across the morning and were down to 15 with an early injury.