The 2026 season is just around the corner so EDFL Media will be previewing each club heading into Round One. Next, we chat to Hillside coach Chris Daley who provides some insights on their 2026 campaign.
2025: 3rd, Premiers (13W, 3L, 385.77%)
Coach: Chris Daley
PRE-SEASON FOCUS
"After a hugely successful season for the Hillside Football Club in 2025, the challenge to repeat is enormous. The senior women’s program saw us play in both the senior and reserve grand finals, and managing to win the senior women’s premiership.
"Our focus going into 2026 has been around reigniting that desire to commit and compete at the highest level we can reach. I don’t know if we were the best team in 2025, but we were able to win the most important games when they mattered most. So, getting to that level consistently will be our greatest challenge. I’m confident we have the talent, but that will only take you so far!
"What we learned from last season is that any team is capable of beating you if you’re not at your best. The same applies this season as we see quite a few clubs recruiting heavily, the competition will be stronger again!
"If we’re able to play to our strengths, work hard to get support around the ball, and defend hard when we don’t have it, we should be in the mix at seasons end."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
"Our list is in good shape with quality and experience in our more senior girls, and talented, enthusiastic girls, hungry for more success coming through nicely. Players like Kiara Rigg, Annie Gray, Mia Spiteri, Ash Portelli, and Makaylah Brne are all senior premiership players now, and all have considerable improvement still in them, so we’re excited to see how good they might become.
"We’re also excited about getting a player of absolute quality in Krissy Trang across from Burnside Heights. She’s a wonderful player, league Best and Fairest winner, multiple Team of the Year awards, so we’re thrilled to have her on board. Nikita Wright will return from injury as well. Nikita is a high quality player so we’re keen to help her get back to her best, playing each week, and enjoying her footy."
2026 OUTLOOK
"As a coach, you’re always looking for ways to help your players improve and that will be our goal in 2026. If we’re able to get improvements out of 30 girls on our list, that will hold us in good stead and possibly competing in the last few weeks of the season. It’s different now in the sense of, you’re the reigning premier, so you kind of become ‘the hunted’.
"We can’t shy away from that, so we might as well embrace it and look forward to being challenged each week.
"With the senior and reserves men’s team also winning the premiership last year, the whole club goes into Premier Division, so the challenges will be obvious but we’ve worked bloody hard as a club to get here. You can’t win the premiership and then not want to go up!
"It won’t be easy, but, as a club, I think we’re ready."
ON THE RECORD WITH CHRIS DALEY
Biggest pest at the club?
Yara Taylor.
Is there a cult hero at the club?
Hannah Ibrahim.
Which AFLW player would you cherry-pick for your side?
Chloe Molloy.
Shot after the siren to win, who do you want kicking it?
Caitlin Sargent.
What are your favourite qualities in players you coach?
Willingness to work hard and always looking to improve.
In what format should AFLW Origin join the men's showcase?
I’d be happy if at community level we had an interleague match against another league!
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Paula Pavic (Healesville), Jemmika Douglas (Williamstown CYMS), Ella Scalzo (Norwood), Lily McRostie (South Melbourne Districts), Lusiya Azina (Darley), Jodie Willis (Melton), Shontaine Barker (Melton), Abbey McDonald (Riddell), Krissy Trang (Burnside Heights).
Out: Danica Pedersen (Moonee Valley).
EDFL MEDIA SAYS
Hillside broke through for its first senior women's premiership in 2025 in yet another memorable Airport Toyota Premier Division grand final. It's set to be the strongest women's top flight we've seen with the Sharks well placed again after recruiting and retaining very well. We expect natural improvement across the playing list, but Krissy Trang back in Premier Division is incredibly exciting, along with former Geelong Cat Abbey McDonald. Chris Daley will take over from Blaise Ferraro as senior coach having already been involved in last year's premiership team, bringing a raft of experience to the job.
