With Werribee’s VFL side enjoying the bye this weekend, the Werribee faithful are encouraged to head down to ETU Stadium tomorrow morning to get behind the reigning premiers as the North Melbourne Werribee Kangaroos begin their 2026 VFLW campaign.

The Kangaroos will take on Port Melbourne from 11:35am on Saturday, May 16, in the opening game of a VFL/VFLW double header at ETU Stadium.

Tomorrow’s clash marks the beginning of the second season of the partnership between Werribee Football Club and North Melbourne’s VFLW program, following an unforgettable debut year in 2025.

After leading the Kangaroos to a premiership in the inaugural season of the partnership, coach Brett Gourley departed the club during the off-season for an AFLW opportunity, with AFLW legend Emma Kearney stepping into the role of interim head coach to begin 2026.

An eight-time All-Australian and former North Melbourne captain, Kearney had already been heavily involved within the program as a senior assistant coach, while also previously working within North Melbourne’s AFL program as a development coach.

Earlier this week, the Kangaroos also confirmed their leadership group for the new season, with premiership captain Renee Tierney once again set to lead the side alongside vice-captain Maddie Di Cosmo.

They will be joined in the leadership group by Gen Lawson-Tavan, Alana Barba and Mara McSweeney.

Werribee CEO Mark Penaluna said the club was looking forward to supporting the North Melbourne Werribee Kangaroos throughout the 2026 season.

“The entire Werribee Football Club and broader Wyndham community offer our best wishes to new coach Emma Kearney, captain Renee Tierney and the remainder of the North Melbourne Werribee Kangaroos contingent,” Penaluna said.

“We wish the group all the best for Round 1 and will be following the team with great enthusiasm throughout the 2026 season.”

The inaugural season of the North Melbourne Werribee partnership could hardly have gone any better.

Off the field, the relationship between the two clubs continued to strengthen throughout the year, with the North Melbourne Werribee VFLW side and Werribee’s VFL men’s program coming together for a joint training session at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval during the season.

The clubs also shared two memorable double headers across the year, one at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval and another at ETU Stadium, with both teams forming guard of honours for each other as they ran out onto the ground.

On the field, North Melbourne Werribee capped off a brilliant first season of partnership in the perfect fashion, storming to the 2025 VFLW premiership.

The Kangaroos came from behind in a thrilling Grand Final against Collingwood at ETU Stadium, overturning a two-point three-quarter-time deficit to claim a dramatic 5.4 (34) to 4.4 (28) victory.

Stella Reid became the hero with a late snap to put the Roos in front, while Alana Barba delivered one of the great Grand Final performances with 35 disposals, 11 clearances and 11 tackles to claim the Lisa Hardeman Medal for best on ground.

Nyakoat Dojiok also capped off a dominant campaign by finishing as the competition’s leading goalkicker with 37 goals for the season.

The Kangaroos’ dominance across the year was recognised at the VFLW Awards, with North Melbourne Werribee boasting a league-high seven representatives in the 2025 rebel VFLW Team of the Year.

Captain Maddie Di Cosmo, Stella Reid, Charlotte Ryan and Nyakoat Dojiok were all named in the starting side, while Alana Barba and Renee Tierney earned selection on the bench.

Gourley was also recognised for his incredible campaign, taking out back-to-back VFLW Coach of the Year honours.

Now, a new season begins tomorrow morning at ETU Stadium, as the reigning premiers launch their 2026 premiership defence against Port Melbourne from 11:35am.