TIV Division One Qualifying Final Preview
By Evan Tudor
Finals football has hit the WFNL TIV Division One scene for 2026, and this weekend we’ll be covering all the action of Saturday’s Qualifying Final between Yarraville Seddon and Caroline Springs at Hogans Road Reserve.
It’ll be a contest between two finals heavyweights, with the Eagles and Lakers having also met in last year’s qualifying and preliminary finals, both of which Caroline Springs won.
The Lakers continued to prove their stamp of authority over the Eagles this year, running over them by 45 points back on Anzac Day, and then by one solitary point most recently in Round 14.
Yarraville Seddon will be out for revenge and will look to take its first win over Caroline Springs since Round 12, 2025.
In last weekend’s top-of-the-table clash, the Eagles were overwhelmed against a strong Werribee Districts outfit, their hopes of a top-spot finish shattered by 17 points.
The red, yellow, and blue was held to its lowest score for the season of 5.17 (47).
If there’s a time for the Eagles to soar back to their usual heights, this weekend is the time.
Josh Kingston was a flicker of hope for the Eagles last weekend, kicking three goals. And while Issac Kaddour was held goalless, both of his goal-scoring appearances against the Lakers earlier this year should give him some confidence heading into Saturday.
Some of the league’s best defenders and ruckmen are found within the Yarraville Seddon camp, with Darcy Grieves and Akol Deng standouts up back and in the centre respectively.
Both displaying season-best performances when they last faced the Lakers in Round 14, Grieves boasted 11 rebound fifties, while Deng stood tall with 38 hit outs and 21 touches.
Is this the weekend that Yarraville Seddon finally gets over Caroline Springs?
The Lakers will hope not.
Closing out their home and away season last weekend with a 36-point win over Altona, the Lakers have won their past five matches and show no sign of slowing down.
Midfielder Zen Christofi had another season-best outing of 32 touches against the Vikings, while star defender Ben Caluzzi also had 32 in the victory.
Malik Elfakahnai’s year of fine goalkicking form continued with five majors last weekend and has now kicked nine across his past two matches.
Jessee Cavanagh has also been a recent highlight in front of the big sticks, writing his name in the goalsheet in his past four matches.
After heartbreak in last year’s decider, Caroline Springs’ journey towards grand final redemption starts here.
It is shaping up to be a must-watch WFNL TIV Division One Qualifying Final, with the winner set to move one step closer to premiership glory