By Kieran Yap 15/9/26
Above: Aideen Keane celebrating her goal for Avondale Photo: Ashley Perez Photography
Box Hill United Pythagoras and Avondale FC are through to the Grand Final after winning their preliminary finals on the weekend. Box Hill’s 2-0 win over Bulleen Lions gives them the chance to defend their 2025 title, and add a second trophy for this season. Avondale’s late season surge to the decider and 2-1 defeat of Essendon Royals is reward for big ambitions in their first NPLW season.
Friday night saw Bulleen travel out to Wembley Park to face the reigning champions and newly crowned premiers. This was the second time these teams had faced each other in a knockout game this year. The last time was a classic, that ended 3-3 and was decided by penalties in the Nike FC Cup quarter final.
Box Hill had a well earned rest last week after finishing top of the ladder. Bulleen arrived after finishing an emotional rollercoaster of a game against South Melbourne.
But it was Bulleen who looked freshest in the opening half. They attacked early and with energy. Maja Markovski played an excellent through ball into the path of Ash Jordan and the forward brought the best out of Keeley Segavcic in goal. The Box Hill goalkeeper followed up that stop with a second block to deny Markovski’s follow up effort from distance.
Olivia Bomford’s corner was the next to test Segavcic. The in swinging effort almost crept in at the far post, but Segavcic got a fingertip to it at full stretch.
Tiffany Eliadis was everywhere, as she was in the previous week. Her surging run down the left, teed up Markovski for Bulleen’s next chance, but the effort was sent over the bar.
The Bulleen icon thought she had given her side the lead before the break. Eliadis turned cleverly on the edge of the box and sent a left foot rocket into the net. The quality finish was cruelly ruled to be offside with Markosvki judged to be interfering with play as she ducked out of the way.
After the break, Box Hill found their rhythm. Rhianna Pollicina, Sofia Sakalis and Kiara Bercilli began to find the ball more and the champs quickly gained the momentum.
The first goal arrived in the 46th minute. Erin Keyt’s excellent bit of ball control retained possession in Box Hill’s attack. What followed was what has somehow become typical of this side. A slick passing move involving Juri Kawano, Sakalis and Pollicina and ended up with Keyt again on the wing. Her low cross was missed by the sliding Sakalis but met at full pace at the back post by Bercelli.
In full flow, Box Hill look unstoppable. The off the ball movement from their forwards makes them hard for defenders to track and the decisive passing opens up space while the opposition are still reacting to the last ball. Bulleen had defenders excellently in the first half, but in that moment, Box Hill switched gears and there was no stopping them.
Keyt had her second assist in the 60th minute. Her curling left foot pass was sent into the stride of Kawano who took it beyond the defender with one touch and finished with second.
Kawano now has 11 goals and three assists for the year. Nine of those coming in the league. This was her fourth consecutive match on the scoresheet.
Bulleen tried to find a way back into the contest, using the space on the flanks to try and get behind the defence. To their frustration, Box Hill’s back four were as disciplined as the attack is creative and they held their shape to force Bulleen into offside positions repeatedly.
As the game ticked beyond 70 minutes, a comeback began to look unlikely, and Box Hill continued to look dangerous on the counter-attack. The final whistle blew and the best side of this league season was through to a second consecutive Grand Final.
Saturday saw Avondale FC make the trip to play Essendon Royals at Keys Cross Reserve. Like Box Hill, Essendon had a week’s rest but were without Grace Maher or Maggie Jenkins for this game. Both players were unavailable due to impending A-League Women pre-season with Melbourne Victory and Perth Glory.
The contracted Melbourne City players on both sides did take the field. Taylor Ray and Aideen Keane lined up for Avondale, while Media Player of the Season, Golden Boot winner and likely Gold Medallist Kelli McGroarty lead the line for Essendon.
Ava Groba started out wide for the Royals in an effort to exploit Avondale on the counter, but the first half was a tightly contested match, with few good chances on goal.
When the goal did arrive, it was a unique one. Rewatch after rewatch does not really explain what happened. If Keane did it on purpose it was genius, if she did it by accident it was genius improvisation. Either way, it was another special goal from the Avondale winger.
Beattie Goad pushed forward from fullback and sent a low, dangerous ball in behind the Royals defence. Keane ran onto it, but slightly overran the ball and slid to trap it under leg, almost sitting on the ball to control it.
Zara Board in the Essendon goal had moved to the near post, logically anticipating a first time finish, and closed the angle, but when Keane stopped that pass, it stopped time for a second and everybody paused. Before anybody could react, she sprung to her feet and curled the ball into the far post.
It was a special goal, and may have been as good as either of her two net busters in the first final. Keane had her third goal in two games, and Avondale had the upper hand away from home.
Essendon did not wilt after conceding and looked to have gained control of the game when they were hit with a sucker punch on the counter-attack.
Taylor Ray’s long, looping ball away from the defence bounced into the path of Sloane Young and the American winger outpaced her maker to finish calmly and make it 2-0 in the 64th minute.
The result looked sealed, but Essendon gave themselves a lifeline. Mikaela Jurcic’s long ball bounced in favour of McGroarty and her half volley was perfectly hit to evade Brooke Bennet and make it 2-1 with 15 minutes left to play.
Akeisha Sandu and Amy Parkinson both had long range efforts in the closing minutes, but Avondale were able to hold on and are through to the big dance on their first attempt.
In Appreciation of Bulleen Lions and Essendon Royals season’s
Bulleen have high standards and Essendon have big ambitions. although both teams will be disappointed in the immediate aftermath of the preliminary finals, they both had seasons to be proud of.
Essendon are in only their third season of the NPLW and although they reached the finals in their first season, they have sought to improve each season. Under coach Jaiden van her Heijden, 2026 was thier best one yet.
Essendon recruited very strongly. Bella Sewards, Akeisha Sandu, Bronte Peel and Kelli McGroarty were among the new arrivals, and all were among the best players in the league. Sandu’s role as some sort of hybrid marauding playmaker/fullback made her one of the most impressive and improved players of the season. Peel was an ever present menace and Sewards’ guile and finishing meant that her impact was instant and lasting.
In McGroarty, they have the recruit of the season. 34 goals in 26 appearances meant that Essendon had a weapon that no opposition could contain. To this impressive squad, they added Grace Maher and Maggie Jenkins. One of arguably the best midfielder in the A-League Women, the other a New Zealand international.
Essendon were highly watchable, highly effectively and very consistent. In most other seasons they would have finished top, and the vibes at Cross Keys Reserve were always welcoming and fun. You could hear the team song being belted out from the carpark after a win, and it seemed to be a club that people really enjoyed being a part of.
Essendon were a joy to watch this season, it is one they can build on. They are a destination club now. One that can provide the chance of winning multiple trophies and a potential path to the A-League Women.
Bulleen finish the season empty handed, but once again they reached the final four. Under Caitlin Freind, they have always made finals, and although they were knocked out of the semi finals in the league and Nike FC Cup, they were contenders and with a little more luck and a couple fewer injuries, things could have easily fallen their way.
In some ways, this was a different looking Bulleen side. Sarah Cain was joined by Olivia Bomford in midfield, Catherine Renehan excelled in defence and Ash Jordan returned to her junior club.
Maja Markovski was once again spectacular in attack for the Lions. The striker scored 19 goals in 25 matches across the campaign and lead the attack brilliantly. Bomford and Cain formed an energetic and dangerous midfield duo, able to rapidly turn defence into attack with footwork as fast as their decision making.
Compared to the teams that finished above them and previous seasons, Bulleen had fewer A-League Women players. Of the starting lineup in Round One, only Alyssa Dall ‘Oste had played in the professional league the season before. But their standards did not drop, and they stayed within a touching distance on the premiership until the last three games. This is a club with a winning culture, that develops players as effectively as they attract them.
Dall ‘Oste’s performances earned a return to Perth Glory this season. It will not be a surprise if a few more Bulleen players have been noticed by A-League recruiters. This will be looked back on as part of a very strong era in the club’s history.
It was always exciting and intriguing to watch both of these sides this season. It did not and they way that they wanted, and it may not be any consolation, but Essendon Royals and Bulleen Lions both helped make this an unforgettable season of the NPLW.
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