Hello everyone and welcome to a massive Round 5 of the 2026 Premier League, including a top of the table Free Kick Derby! Darmstadt Dynamos 3-1 (@WillH_VI) vs Kyoto Kruisers 0-4 (@FreoDockers) Fresh off a resounding victory in Round 4, the Dynamos face off against the injury plagued Kruisers still searching for their first win of the season. Kyoto will be hoping that Indi Strom is recalled as a replacement ruck for her potentially injured older sister after they were forced to field an OOP in defence last weekend. The distinct Brisbane Lions flavour to the Darmstadt team, and with the Lions facing an Eagles squad well down on form, gives the German squad a pretty clear edge on paper. Quebec Caribou 3-1 (@FreeKickLiam) vs Stuttgart Storm 4-0 (@Jono Steven) First vs Second. A 2025 preliminary final replay. This match up would be easily one of the season's most important before you sprinkle on the spice that always comes with a Free Kick Derby. The 4-0 Storm were tested in Round 4, winning by only 39 points on the back of an exceptional return to form from Eliza McNamara in the final game of the weekend. Stuttgart will need similar efforts vs the Caribou, whilst hoping that McDonagh, Dupuy, and Woodland can return to form after all 3 drastically underperformed last weekend. Quebec have been rounding into form after their shock Round 1 defeat, with the midfield of Garner, Riddell, Hanks, and Morrison on fire vs the Llamas. All signs point high scoring affair with a close final margin! Lagos Royals 3-1 (@Peter W) vs.Vancouver Vultures 1-3 (@Athos123) The Royals were resounding victors in Round 4, but will need to be wary of underestimating a Vultures squad which pushed Stuffgart to win an inch of their first loss of the season. The returns to form of experienced inside mids Kate Hore (95) and Britt Bonnici (107) was surely welcomed in Lagos, as the midfield looks to cover an injured Aisling McCarthy and the very underwhelming Georgia Patrikios. The Royals will go in as favourites, but will have a tough hit out vs the Premier League’s #1 defender Zippy Fish, and a midfield chock full of players with 100+ point ceilings. Korean Kickers 1-3 (@Chloe) vs Lima Llamas 2-2 (@hoschke118) As the coach of the Llamas so eloquently put in their post R4 presser “a complete midfield thrashing” spoiled the Peruvian squad’s chances of an upset against the Caribou last weekend. This writer does wonder if the Lima’s coaching staff have some similarly choice words for their sole ruck, Ally Morphett, who will be suspended this week vs the Kickers. Alyce Parker and Liv Purcell are a criminally underrated midfield duo, who will represent the Llamas in the mids vs a depleted Korean side mising their superstar Mon Conti, and a potentially injury limited Mim Strom. The Kickers are a dark horse to cause some mayhem now that Mikayla Bowen has emerged as an elite scorer capable of a run of 110-140 scores. Adelaide All-Stars 1-3 (@Corza) vs Majorca Islanders 2-2 (@TheTassieHawk) For a team has been looking to rebuild on the run, and who have only 1 win to their name so far in 2026, the All Stars defence has sneakily emerged as one of the most competent in the Premier League. Erika O’Shea has gone from strength to strength and now sits ensconced among the top-6 scoring defender, Charlie Thomas appears capable of averaging 65 in her sleep, with potentially even higher reaches still to hit, and Mia Busch finally getting time in the midfield saw her as one of the best scoring defenders in Round 4. That defence, and the slightly out of form superstar Laura Gardiner do battle against the Islanders in Round 5, who re-enlivened their finals hopes with a dominant 360 point win last weekend. Lead by Ella Roberts (doing her best Ebony Marinoff impression) & with Lucy Wales sitting pretty as the #1 ruck in the league, this across continent fixture looks set to be an enthralling match. Good luck to all!
For Round 5, Stuttgart Storm selects: IN - Hannah Munyard (ADE) OUT - Lauren Young (PA - managed) DEF: Maeve Chaplin (MEL), Rebecca Webster (GEE), Ella Heads (PA) (emg: Jenna Richardson (HAW)) MID: Charlie Rowbottom (GC), Eliza McNamara (MEL), Mimi Hill (CAR), Eliza West (HAW) (emg: Elisabeth Georgostathis (WBD)) RUC: Jess Good (CAR) (emg: Mackenzie Eardley (HAW)) FWD: Aine McDonagh (HAW), Jacqueline Dupuy (HAW), Lucia Painter (WCE) (emg: Hannah Munyard (ADE)) INT: Ash Woodland (PA), Airlie Runnalls (COL) (emg: Lily Mithen (GC)) Minimal changes this week - mostly line shuffles to reward good form. Backing the squad in against the reigning premiers... Not selected - Bre Harrington (inj), Lauren Young (managed), Clara Fitzpatrick, Eliza Shannon, Lauren Wakfer, Hayley McLaughlin