2023 VFL Women's season

The 2023 VFL Women's season was the seventh season of the VFL Women's (VFLW). The season commenced on 25 March and concluded with the grand final on 30 July.^[1]

2023 premiership season
Teams	12
Premiers	Port Melbourne 1st premiership
Minor premiers	Collingwood 3rd minor premiership
Best and fairest	Jordan Mifsud (Box Hill) Akayla Peterson (Box Hill) Charlotte Simpson (Geelong Cats)
Leading goalkicker	Sarah Cameron Williamstown (18 goals)
← 2022 2024 →

Port Melbourne won the club's first VFLW premiership defeating Collingwood in the grand final, a week after eliminating defending premiers Essendon in the preliminary final.

Clubs

There was one change to the competition, with the Hawthorn Football Club transferring their VFL Women's license to Box Hill during the off-season, replicating the club's men's team reserves arrangement in the Australian Football League and Victorian Football League.^[2]

Due to ongoing construction work at the Whitten Oval, Western Bulldogs played their home matches at Port Melbourne's ETU Stadium.^[3]

Club	Home ground(s)	Coach	Captain(s)
Box Hill	Box Hill City Oval	Cherie O’Neill^[4]^[5]	Nicole Garner^[6]
Carlton	Ikon Park	Tom Stafford^[7]	Christina Bernardi^[8]
Casey	Casey Fields	Peter Mercoulia^[9]^[10]	Ally Kirkwood^[11]
Collingwood	Victoria Park AIA Centre	Chloe McMillan^[12]	Caitlin Bunker^[13]
Darebin	La Trobe University, Bundoora Preston City Oval	Kate Tyndall^[14]^[15]	Steph Simpson^[15]
Essendon	NEC Hangar	Travis Cloke^[16]	Mia-Rae Clifford Courtney Ugle^[17]
Geelong Cats	Deakin University, Waurn Ponds	Elise Coventry^[18]	Chloe Leonard^[19]
North Melbourne	Arden Street Oval	Steph Binder^[17]	Jess Jones^[20]
Port Melbourne	ETU Stadium	Sean Buncle^[21]	Claire Dyett^[22]
Southern Saints	Trevor Barker Beach Oval RSEA Park	Michelle Densley^[23]	Tayla Kearns Ali Hynes^[24]
Western Bulldogs	ETU Stadium	Rhys Cahir^[25]	Mary Sandral^[26]
Williamstown	DSV Stadium	Liam Cavanagh^[27]	Erin Meade^[28]^[29]

Ladder

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	PP	Pts	Qualification
1	Collingwood	14	9	5	0	522	377	138.5	36	Finals series
2	Port Melbourne	14	9	5	0	450	351	128.2	36
3	Williamstown	14	9	5	0	471	368	128.0	36
4	Box Hill	14	8	4	2	444	358	124.0	36
5	Essendon	14	8	5	1	404	387	104.4	34
6	Carlton	14	8	6	0	526	349	150.7	32
7	Southern Saints	14	8	6	0	365	334	109.3	32
8	Geelong Cats	14	7	6	1	402	344	116.9	30
9	North Melbourne	14	7	7	0	410	427	96.0	28
10	Casey	14	6	8	0	505	473	106.8	24
11	Western Bulldogs	14	3	11	0	414	488	84.8	12
12	Darebin	14	0	14	0	188	845	22.2	0

Source: AFL.com.au
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.

Finals series

Match-ups set using the second McIntyre final six system.

	Qualifying final					Semi-finals					Preliminary final					Grand final
	9 July, Victoria Park
	1	Collingwood	7.6 (48)
	2	Port Melbourne	3.4 (22)			15 July, Victoria Park										30 July, ETU Stadium
						Collingwood		3.4 (22)								Collingwood		3.5 (23)
	Elimination finals					Essendon		2.6 (18)			23 July, ETU Stadium					Port Melbourne		5.5 (35)
	9 July, DSV Stadium										Essendon		1.5 (11)
	3	Williamstown	2.6 (18)			16 July, ETU Stadium					Port Melbourne		6.5 (41)
	6	Carlton	3.4 (22)			Port Melbourne		5.7 (37)
	8 July, Box Hill City Oval					Carlton		5.6 (36)
	4	Box Hill	3.3 (21)
	5	Essendon	4.7 (31)

Qualifying and elimination finals

	Qualifying final
Sunday, 9 July (11:00 am)	Collingwood 7.6 (48)	def.	Port Melbourne 3.4 (22)	Victoria Park	Report

	Elimination finals
Saturday, 8 July (11:00 am)	Box Hill 3.3 (21)	def. by	Essendon 4.7 (31)	Box Hill City Oval	Report
Sunday, 9 July (4:30 pm)	Williamstown 2.6 (18)	def. by	Carlton 3.4 (22)	DSV Stadium	Report

Semi finals

	Semi finals
Saturday, 15 July (1:00pm)	Collingwood 3.4 (22)	def.	Essendon 2.6 (18)	Victoria Park	Report
Sunday, 16 July (12:00pm)	Port Melbourne 5.7 (37)	def.	Carlton 5.6 (36)	ETU Stadium	Report

Preliminary final

	Preliminary final
Sunday, 23 July (2:00pm)	Essendon 1.5 (11)	def. by	Port Melbourne 6.5 (41)	ETU Stadium	Report

Grand Final

	2023 VFLW Grand Final
Sunday, 30 July (12:10pm)	Collingwood	def. by	Port Melbourne	ETU Stadium	Report
	1.0 (6) 2.4 (16) 3.4 (22)  3.5 (23)	Q1 Q2 Q3  Final	2.2 (14) 3.2 (20) 4.2 (26)  5.5 (35)	Lisa Hardeman Medal: Lauren Caruso (Port Melbourne) Television broadcast: Seven Network
Nikolitsis 2, Sargent		Goals	Wilson, Frew, Bromage, Borg, Alomes
Bates, Nikolitsis, Zander, Busch, Hales, Caris, Ricardo		Best	Caruso, McKellar, Whitehead, Harley, Stutt, Williams, Borg, Hartog, Bromage

Awards

• Lambert-Pearce Medal (Best and Fairest): Jordan Mifsud (Box Hill), Akayla Peterson (Box Hill), Charlotte Simpson (Geelong Cats)^[30]
• Rohenna Young Medal (Leading Goal kicker): Sarah Cameron (Williamstown) – 18 goals
• Debbie Lee Medal (Rising Star): Charlotte Simpson (Geelong Cats)^[30]
• Coaches MVP: Jessica Bates (Collingwood)
• Coach of the Year: Sean Buncle (Port Melbourne)^[30]
• Lisa Hardeman Medal (Best on ground VFL Women's Grand Final): Lauren Caruso (Port Melbourne)

2023 VFL Women's Team of the Year^[30]

B:	Emily Eaves (Williamstown	Sophie Molan (Essendon)
HB:	Lauren Caruso (Port Melbourne)	Tessa Boyd (Southern Saints)	Ciara Fitzgerald (North Melbourne)
C:	Winnie Laing (Southern Saints)	Charlotte Simpson (Geelong Cats)	Audrey Rhodes (North Melbourne)
HF:	Dominique Carbone (Western Bulldogs)	Nyakoat Dojiok (Collingwood)	Jordan Mifsud (Box Hill)
F:	Maddie Boyd (Box Hill)	Sarah Cameron (Williamstown)
Foll:	Jorja Borg (Western Bulldogs)	Jessica Bates (c) (Collingwood)	Madeleine Di Cosmo (Carlton)
Int:	Shannon Danckert (Casey)	Kaitlyn O'Keefe (Port Melbourne)	Akayla Peterson (Box Hill)
	Ashlee Thorneycroft (Carlton)	Sharnie Whiting (Williamstown)
Coach:	Sean Buncle (Port Melbourne)

Club best and fairest winners

Club	Best & Fairest	Ref
Box Hill	Jordan Mifsud	^[31]
Carlton	Maddie Di Cosmo	^[32]
	Ashlee Thorneycroft
Casey	Shree Fairchild	^[33]
Collingwood	Jessica Bates	^[34]
Darebin	Angelica Gogos	^[35]
Essendon	Sophie Molan	^[36]
Geelong Cats	Charlotte Simpson	^[37]
North Melbourne	Audrey Rhodes	^[38]
Port Melbourne	Lauren Caruso	^[39]
Southern Saints	Winnie Laing	^[40]
Western Bulldogs	Dominique Carbone	^[41]
	Jorja Borg
Williamstown	Emily Eaves	^[42]

References

1. "2023 Smithy's VFL and rebel VFLW fixtures released". 9 February 2023.
2. "Hawks' VFLW licence transferred to Box Hill". afl.com.au. 24 November 2022.
3. Gabelich, Josh (8 November 2022). "Short-term pain, long-term gain: Dogs' HQ to be transformed". afl.com.au. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
4. "Staff & Volunteers". boxhillhawks.com.au. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
5. "Cherie O'Neill". 2 June 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
6. "New era for Hawks with Garner appointed VFLW captain". 7 March 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
7. "Carlton appoints new VFLW coach". carltonfc.com.au. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
8. "Bernardi to skipper Carlton VFLW". carltonfc.com.au. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
9. "Casey Demons VFLW Squad". melbournefc.com.au. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
10. Nobes, Caitlin (13 November 2020). "Mercoulia to coach Casey VFLW in 2021". melbournefc.com.au. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
11. "Kirkwood and White to lead the Casey Demons in 2023". melbournefc.com.au. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
12. "Pies lock in VFLW coaching panel for 2023". collingwoodfc.com.au. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
13. "Bunker to lead VFLW Magpies in 2023". collingwoodfc.com.au. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
14. "Darebin Falcons appoints Kate Tyndall as VFLW coach". Herald Sun. 19 August 2021.
15. Collett, Alyce (27 February 2023). "Stalwart skipper Simpson has still got the spark". Rookie Me.
16. "VFLW Coaching Staff 2023". essendonfc.com.au. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
17. Rhodes, Brendan (16 March 2003). "rebel VFLW Off-Season Update". afl.com.au. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
18. Giese, Susie (5 December 2022). "Coventry Excited by VFLW Challenge". Geelong Football Club. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
19. Giese, Susie (22 March 2023). "New Leader for VFLW Cats". Geelong Football Club. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
20. Macquire, Luke (22 February 2023). "Ex-Blue returns to skipper Roos as VFLW leadership group revealed". nmfc.com.au. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
21. "Sean Buncle to coach VFLW side in 2022". portmelbournefc.com.au. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
22. "HOOPS AND DYETT APPOINTED BOROUGH CAPTAINS". portmelbournefc.com.au. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
23. "Densley appointed VFLW head coach for 2023". sandringhamfc.com.au. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
24. "Seven is Heaven - meet the Southern Saints Leadership Group". sandringhamfc.com.au. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
25. "Cahir to coach VFLW Bulldogs in 2023". westernbulldogs.com.au. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
26. "VFLW leadership group: Sandral appointed captain". westernbulldogs.com.au. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
27. Farley, Paddy (21 October 2022). "Cavanagh appointed VFLW senior coach". williamstownfc.com.au. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
28. Farley, Paddy (7 December 2022). "Five things to look forward to in 2023". williamstownfc.com.au. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
29. Farley, Paddy (23 February 2023). "VFL AND VFLW LEADERSHIP GROUP ANNOUNCED". williamstownfc.com.au. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
30. "2023 VFL and VFLW Awards: Lyons wins Liston; three-way tie for Lambert-Pearce". afl.com.au. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
31. "Mifsud wins back-to-back VFLW Club Champion awards". boxhillhawks.com.au. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
32. Ross, Angelique (29 July 2023). "Di Cosmo and Thorneycroft share the highest honour in the VFLW Best and Fairest". carltonfc.com.au. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
33. "Smith and Fairchild take out Top Award". melbournefc.com.au. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
34. "2023 VFLW Best and Fairest winner crowned". collingwoodfc.com.au. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
35. Rhodes, Brendan (25 October 2023). "2023 rebel VFLW Review - Darebin Falcons". Australian Football League. Telstra.
36. "VFLW: Molan claims 2023 best & fairest". essendonfc.com.au. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
37. Giese, Susie (21 July 2023). "Simpson Crowned Cats' VFLW Best and Fairest". Geelong Football Club. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
38. Macquire, Luke (30 July 2023). "Rhodes claims Roos' VFLW B&F award". North Melbourne Football Club. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
39. "The 2023 VFLW Best & Fairest Winner and 2023 VFL Jack McFarlane Medalist (Back to Back). Congratulations to Lauren Carsuo & Harvey Hooper !!". Port Melbourne. 18 September 2023 – via Facebook.
40. Williams, Chloe (24 July 2023). "Recap: Saints stars shine at Best & Fairest night". sandringhamfc.com.au. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
41. "Carbone, Borg tie for 2023 VFLW Best and Fairest". westernbulldogs.com.au. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
42. "A changing of the guard🎖 Marty and Emily received Williamstown's highest honours for their stellar 2023 seasons". Williamstown. 24 September 2023 – via Facebook.

External links

• Official website