Round 9 of our Premier League season for 2026 is here! The last round of the Home & Away season, there is plenty at stake with several teams vying to lock in their finals spot, as well as a tight contest at the top to lock in a top 2 spot and the bye that comes with it. Good luck to all teams this Pride Round! Quebec Caribou (@FreeKickLiam) vs. Darmstadt Dynamos (@WillH_VI) The Caribou started their premiership defence with a few sputters, copping some unexpected early losses, but the team is well & truly firing now. Despite fielding sub-optimals combinations from their midfield pool, the midfield has been absolutely dominant and is now ably supported by a strong forward line. If young ruck Darcy Davies can maintain her good form, the Caribou will be a tough opponent to face as they chase a third premiership in as many seasons. On the other side of the Free Kick derby is another side familiar with deep finals runs - the Dynamos come off their sixth consecutive win and are raring to lock away a top 2 spot. The return of Alice Edmonds and a powerful defensive core has the team well set up, whilst Marinoff continues her charge towards the league MVP award yet again. Who will take the points in this enticing derby? Stuttgart Storm (@Jono Steven) vs. Lima Llamas (@hoschke118) The Storm have begun to stut-stut-stutter recently, falling off their undefeated perch and losing back to back games. Their hopes for a top two finish this season hang by a thread, but more crucially they need to re-find their magic if they are any chance to make a dent in finals. The return of Ella Heads and drier conditions for the Hawks forwards are a big boon this week, against the Lima Llamas who are dealing with their own problems. A devastating ACL injury to Ally Morphett is a big blow to the line up, the only silver lining being Gorja Davies getting a reprieve at the tribunal. The Llamas need a win to cement their finals spot, so this match has massive implications for the finals match ups. Lagos Royals (@Peter W) vs. Kyoto Kruisers (@FreoDockers) The Lagos Royals have established themselves on top of the ladder with a commanding victory in Round Nine, with McCarthy, Bowers and a powerful forward line piling on the points. Against the struggling Kruisers, they would have thought themselves a certainty to lock up top spot but the Kruisers have had a late season resurgence! The renewed form of Tahlia Hickie, as well as new roles for Ava Usher and Ash Centra have earned the Kruisers back to back victories in recent weeks, despite several key injuries for the squad. Can the Kruisers play spoiler to yet another top team in finals contention, and give the team some much needed confidence heading into the off-season? Adelaide All-Stars (@Corza) vs. Korean Kickers (@Chloe) It's not been the year for either side in this battle, but a final round match up certainly has consequence. Tied on one win apiece, the lose here will unfortunately cop the wooden spoon for 2026. The All-Stars will be banking on the new-found form of Laura Gardiner and Sabrina Frederick to lead them to a confidence boosting end of season win, whilst the Kickers will be hoping their key forwards can perform better this week in dry conditions. Majorca Islanders (@TheTassieHawk) vs. Vancouver Vultures (@Athos123) The Islanders copped a tough loss last week to an in-form side, but will be keen to finish the season strong with a win to cement their finals spot. A healthy points total should see them safe but it is not outside the realms of possibility that they slip beyond the top six in the worst case scenario. Strong scores from an inconsistent midfield group would go a long way, as well as a strong performance by the returning Zarlie Goldsworthy. On the other side of the finals equation is the Vultures, whose strong win last week has given them a fighting shot at stealing a spot in the top 6. They will either need a big win or for other results to go their way, but the form of Maddy Prespakis, Anne Hatchard and Abbie McKay should give them plenty of hope leading into this final round blockbuster! _ _ _ _ _ Make sure to post your teams on this thread by 7:15pm (AEST) Friday before the first game of Round Nine gets underway (Western Bulldogs v Essendon Bombers at Mission Whitten Oval). And good luck to all teams in the final H&A round of the season.
The Islanders lineup for Round 9 against the Vultures @Athos123, subject to change Def - H Cordner, D D’arcy, Gay (V Patterson) Mid - Tyanna Smith, E Roberts, Goldsworthy, O O’Dwyer (L Stone) Fwd - Gould, Riggs, V Wall (Gee) Ruck - L Wales (Rennie) IC - C Fitzgerald, I Lewis (M Quinn) Not selected - Amy Smith (inactive), Sarah Howley (injured), Katie Brennan (injured), Emily Bates (injured), Sophia Hurley (injured), Mischa Barwin (injured)
For Round 9, Stuttgart Storm selects: DEF: Maeve Chaplin (MEL), Rebecca Webster (GEE), Ella Heads (PA) (emg: Jenna Richardson (HAW)) MID: Charlie Rowbottom (GC), Ash Woodland (PA), Mimi Hill (CAR), Eliza West (HAW) (emg: Maria Moloney (PA)) RUC: Jess Good (CAR) (emg: Mackenzie Eardley (HAW)) FWD: Aine McDonagh (HAW), Jacqueline Dupuy (HAW), Lucia Painter (WCE) (emg: Hayley McLaughlin (HAW)) INT: Elisabeth Georgostathis (WBD), Airlie Runnalls (COL) (emg: Lauren Young (PA))
Kickers: DEF: Sarah Lampard, Isabella Grant, Laura Pugh (Nicola Stevens) MID: Jamie Lambert, Grace Egan, Kaitlin Ashmore, Ally Anderson (Emma McDonald) FWD: Dakota Davidson, Kate Shierlaw, Alicia Eva (Mia Austin) RUC: Mim Strom (Eilish O'Dowd) INT: Megan Kauffman, Mikayla Bowen (Ange Stannett)
Well all good things must come to an end.... so here we go!! Def: Emma Swanson, Emily Pease, Jess Rentsch Ruck: Tahlia Hickie Mid: Georgie Prespakis, Monatana Ham, Carly Remmos, Jasmine Fleming (Lily Goss) Fwd: Ash Centra, Ash Richards, Ellie Blackburn (Poppy Scholz) IC: Ava Usher, Jordyn Allen (Mel) (Taylah Gatt)
The Dynamos go into this week as follows: DEF: T.Lucas-Rodd, T.White, G.Seymour (J.Ellenger) MID: E.Marinoff, A.Gaylor, C.Whitfort, M.Fitzsimon (R.Beeson) RUC: A.Edmonds (P.Dunlop) FWD: J.Parry, C.Mullins, H.Harris (I.Rasheed) I/C: S.Conway, E.McKenzie (R.Schleicher)
Lagos Royals: DEF: Serene Watson, Cambridge McCormick, Tamara Smith (Libby Birch) MID: Kiara Bowers, Aisling McCarthy, Isabelle Pritchard, Shineah Goody (Jade Britton) RUC: Matilda Scholz (Georgia Campbell) FWD: Chloe Molloy, Bonnie Toogood, Tahlia Randall (Ella Boag) INT: Britt Bonnici, Jenna Bruton (Georgia Patrikios) Still missing Kate Hore due to an injury so have opted for Jenna Bruton (103/72 last fortnight) over Georgia Patrikios (average but playing Pies) for that last starting spot. Boag the other consideration but only second game back. Hope Hore is back for finals!
Adelaide All Stars DEF- Erika O'Shea, Isabel Bacon Mia Busch (Charlotte Thomas) Mid- Laura Gardiner, Dayna Finn Tess Craven, Chloe Bown (Georgia Nanscawen) Ruck- Sabrina Fredrick (Breed OOP) FWD Taylor Smith, Caitlyn Griesier, Beruldsen (Jesse Wardlaw) INT Poppy Kelly, Jasmine Jansheck (Amy Mcdonald)
Last round of action and huge permutations for both top two and the wooden spoon race with 2v3 the match of the round!
In: Davies, Window Out: Morphett, Davey Def: Lucy Cronin, Molly Brooksby, Emma Murray (Zoe Wakfer) Mid: Liv Purcell, Gabby Newton, Alyce Parker, Sarah Goodwin (Bri Davey) Ruck: Georja Davies (Sierra Grieves OOP) Fwd: Alice O'loughlin, Blaithin Bogue, Grace Kelly (Elaine Grigg) Int: Lucy Single, Piper Window (Kiera Yerbury) Others: Danielle Ponter, Mia King, Ally Morphett, Kalinda Howarth, Evie Cowcher, Emma Juneja Hoping Port's recent ins mean that Window can play in a decent scoring role.
Hopefully @Athos123 can add their team to the thread so that we have a full set for round 9, high stakes for top2, 5th-7th and the wooden spoon is a great way to finish the regular season. Good luck all.
Good luck all! Team for this week below. No major changes but Velardo back in pushing McDonald to the bench. Mid: M Prespakis, A Hatchard, A McKay, M Newman (R Tripodi) Def: Z Fish, C Biddell, A Velardo (M McDonald) Ruc: S Wales (C Murphy) Fwd: T Charlton, T Harris, M Banfield ( E Jones) Inc: I Dawes, K Sherar (A Bushby)