Collingwood’s 2025 Victorian Wheelchair Football League (VWFL) finals series action begins this weekend.
Collingwood’s 2025 Victorian Wheelchair Football League (VWFL) finals series begins this Sunday 3 August, with a top-of-the-table Qualifying Final clash in the Community Division between Collingwood and Richmond at 1:15pm.
Then, the Championship Division will take on Essendon in a crucial Elimination Final at 2:30pm.
Join us in support of the Wheelchair Magpies by wearing your black and white stripes in attendance at the State Netball & Hockey Centre in Parkville. Entry to both games is FREE.
Community Division – Qualifying Final
Richmond v Collingwood
1:15pm (AEST), Sunday 3 August - Court 9
State Netball & Hockey Centre, Parkville
Free entry
Ladder Positions
Richmond: 1st – (6W, 2L – 228.63%)
Collingwood: 2nd – (6W, 2L – 131.92%)
Previous Encounter
Round 8: Collingwood: 8.5 (53) def Richmond: 7.5 (47) - COLL by 6pts
Averages
The Tigers averaged 75pts a game throughout the season compared to Collingwood’s 51.
Key to victory
The key for Collingwood in this top of the table clash lies in team chemistry.
While Richmond has the higher average score across the season, Collingwood proved in their last encounter that scoreboard pressure alone doesn’t decide the outcome — especially when Michael Telban secured the sealer with a moment of brilliance.
To repeat that result, they’ll need to dig deep. Captain Troy Hawkins and Iain Paech will need to drive clean handball chains and lead the entries inside-50. If the team collectively can hold their structure and apply pressure early, it’ll provide their high-scoring forwards, Jack Elliott, Kaine Sinclair, and Michael Telban, the spark they need where it really counts.
Against a strong opponent like the Tigers, there’s no room for passengers, so it’ll take a full-team effort from the first ball-up to the final siren.
Championship Division - Elimination Final
Collingwood v Essendon
2:30pm (AEST), Sunday 3 August - Court 8
State Netball & Hockey Centre, Parkville
Free entry
Ladder Positions
Collingwood Football Club: 3rd – (4W, 4L – 114.99%)
Essendon Football Club: 4th – (2W, 6L – 69.57%)
Previous Encounter
Round 9: Essendon: 16.6 (102) def Collingwood: 14.6 (90) – ESS by 12pts
Averages
The Pies averaged 100pts a game throughout the season compared to Essendon’s 71.
Key to victory
It’s a battle between two sides who struggled with consistency.
The key to a win for the Pies won’t be who can rack up the highest score — it’ll be who can lock it down in defence. These two teams always produce high-scoring clashes together. Last time they met, captain Ben Jankovski and Anthony Perito combined for 14 goals, showing just how dangerous Collingwood can be when the forward line clicks.
More recently, Collingwood struggled with limited rotations and a lack of options on the bench and have often struggled to maintain intensity across four quarters, having to rely heavily on centre Martyn Ford and Sam Maraldo’s versatility.
That means players like Josh Christian and Brad Axford down back will be crucial. Their ability to intercept, shut down space, and keep the ball out of dangerous areas will be the key to this match.
The firepower is already there for both Collingwood and Essendon, so if the Pies can tighten up behind the ball and win one-on-one, they’ll be able to finish the job.
About VWFL:
The Victorian Wheelchair Football League (VWFL) is comprised of two divisions: Championship Division and Community Division.
These competitions are designed to allow those currently living with a disability to play in a competitive, adaptive version of AFL football.
