# 2016 VFL Women's season

The 2016 VFL Women's season was the inaugural season of the VFL Women's (VFLW). The season commenced on 3 April and concluded with the grand final on 18 September 2016. The competition was contested by ten clubs, most of whom were independent clubs that had been transferred from the now-defunct Victorian Women's Football League (VWFL).
Going undefeated through the season, Darebin won the inaugural Grand Final played at Piranha Park by 12 points against Melbourne University, before a crowd of approximately 4,000 people. The win was Darebin's fourth successive premiership after winning the final three seasons of the former VWFL competition.
Many of the players who played in the Grand Final were subsequently drafted by clubs ahead of the 2017 AFL Women's season.

## Clubs

* Darebin Falcons, Diamond Creek, Eastern Devils, Geelong Magpies, Knox
* Melbourne University, Seaford, St Kilda Sharks, Western Spurs, Cranbourne

## Ladder

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Darebin (P) | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 2008 | 439 | 457.4 | 72 | Finals series |
| 2 | St Kilda Sharks | 18 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 1628 | 632 | 257.6 | 58 | Finals series |
| 3 | Melbourne University | 18 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 1546 | 522 | 296.2 | 54 | Finals series |
| 4 | Eastern Devils | 18 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 1584 | 716 | 221.2 | 52 | Finals series |
| 5 | Diamond Creek | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1091 | 1004 | 108.7 | 36 | |
| 6 | Western Spurs | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1123 | 974 | 115.3 | 32 | |
| 7 | Seaford | 18 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 720 | 1371 | 52.5 | 24 | |
| 8 | Cranbourne | 18 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 680 | 1548 | 43.9 | 20 | |
| 9 | Geelong Magpies | 18 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 523 | 1471 | 35.6 | 8 | |
| 10 | Knox | 18 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 227 | 2453 | 9.3 | 4 | |

## Finals series
### Semi-finals

| | First Semi Final | First Semi Final | First Semi Final | |
| Sunday 28 August (12:00 pm) | Melbourne University 6.14 (50) | def. | Eastern Devils 4.2 (26) | Box Hill City Oval |
| | Second Semi Final | Second Semi Final | Second Semi Final | |
| Sunday 28 August (2:30 pm) | Darebin 17.11 (113) | def. | St Kilda Sharks 1.1 (7) | Box Hill City Oval |

### Preliminary final

| | Preliminary Final | Preliminary Final | Preliminary Final | |
| Sunday 11 September (11:50 am) | St Kilda Sharks 4.6 (30) | def. by | Melbourne University 10.10 (70) | ETU Stadium |

### Grand final

| | 2016 VFLW Grand Final | 2016 VFLW Grand Final | 2016 VFLW Grand Final | | |
| Sunday 18 September (2:30 pm) | Darebin | def. | Melbourne University | Coburg City Oval (crowd: 4,000 (approx)) | Teams Reports: |
| | 4.5 (29) 5.8 (38) 8.9 (57) 9.9 (63) | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 1.0 (6) 4.1 (25) 5.1 (31) 8.3 (51) | Lisa Hardeman Medal: Darcy Vescio (Darebin) | Lisa Hardeman Medal: Darcy Vescio (Darebin) |
| D. Vescio, N. Callinan, K. Brennan 2 J. Lange, J. Dal Pos, M. Hickey 1 | D. Vescio, N. Callinan, K. Brennan 2 J. Lange, J. Dal Pos, M. Hickey 1 | Goals | K. Tapner 3 J. Anderson, E. Blackburn 2 K. Ashmore 1 | K. Tapner 3 J. Anderson, E. Blackburn 2 K. Ashmore 1 |
| D. Vescio, K. Paxman, D. Pearce, J. Dal Pos, E. O'Dea, M. Hickey | D. Vescio, K. Paxman, D. Pearce, J. Dal Pos, E. O'Dea, M. Hickey | Best | E. Kearney, E. Blackburn, A. Eva, K. Ashmore, K. Tapner, N. Stevens | E. Kearney, E. Blackburn, A. Eva, K. Ashmore, K. Tapner, N. Stevens |

## Awards

* Lambert–Pearce Medal (Best and Fairest): Daisy Pearce (Darebin)
* Rohenna Young Medal (Leading Goalkicker): Moana Hope (St Kilda Sharks) – 104 goals
* Debbie Lee Medal (Rising Star): Sarah Hosking (Seaford)
* Lisa Hardeman Medal (Best on Ground in Grand Final): Darcy Vescio (Darebin)