2026 Season Wrap-Up: Youth Women

The 2026 season marked an incredible step forward for our Youth Women, finishing the regular season on top of the ladder with an 18-4 record, claiming the minor premiership and earning their way through to a home Grand Final.

The result marked an important step forward for a program that has undergone plenty of rebuilding in recent years. After being relegated from the Youth Championship division, the group spent 2024 and 2025 in the lower half of the Division One ladder, missing finals in both seasons. Rather than looking for a quick turnaround, the program continued to build around its core group, while welcoming new faces and creating opportunities for juniors coming through the Broncos pathway.

That work came together in 2026. The foundations of the group were already in place, with a strong core continuing into 2026 alongside some important new additions and the next wave of juniors coming through the program.

New faces Tilly McNamara, Emilia Marinkovic and Chiara Sultana added further depth to the group, while the connection with our Under 18 Girls program remained strong, with 18.1 players Maddison Crotty, Abigael Staples, Mikayla Findlay and Mackenzie Smyth-Blood all getting their opportunity at the Youth level throughout the season.

Despite being a young group, depth quickly became one of the team's greatest strengths. The Youth Women were tested at different stages through injuries, including ACL injuries to Bianca Jones and Alyssa Rotella as well as an injury to Katarina Kekez, while several players were also called upon to play with the Championship Women. Each time the group was challenged, others were able to step in and contribute, allowing the team to maintain its consistency throughout the season.

Individually, Maddison Crotty produced an outstanding year, leading the entire competition in scoring with 25.05 points per game and earning the team's MVP Award. Alongside her, new recruit Tilly McNamara made an immediate impact in her first season with the Broncos and was recognised by her teammates with the Players' Choice Award. Both established themselves among the competition's standout performers throughout the year, with nominations for the league’s All-Star 5 and MVP awards.

Anastasia Gak was another important part of the group's success. Playing undersized for much of the season, she continued to compete against bigger opposition and led the team in rebounding with 7.57 per game. Her willingness to embrace whatever role the team required earned her the Coaches Award at the end of the season.

Captain Scarlett Robinson provided an important constant throughout it all. Her leadership helped hold the young group together, providing a steady presence both on and off the court.

After securing top spot, the Youth Women welcomed Western Port to Broadmeadows for their Semi Final and put on a masterclass, recording a 38-point victory and earnt the right to host the Grand Final.

Hundreds of supporters then packed Broadmeadows Basketball Stadium for the decider against Bellarine, creating an atmosphere worthy of the season the group had put together. While the result ultimately didn't fall their way, earning the opportunity to play a Grand Final on their home floor represented just how far the group had come.

The season also continued to strengthen the pathway between Youth and Championship basketball. Maddison Crotty, Rachel Stewart, Kaitlyn Bickerton and others were called upon by the Championship Women throughout the year, proving they could contribute at the senior level while gaining valuable experience to bring back to the Youth program.

Behind the group was Head Coach Brad Keighran, alongside Assistant Coaches Adrian Rotella and Stacey Stewart and Team Manager Paula Robinson. Brad's contribution to the Broncos extends well beyond the success of this season. After 28 years of involvement with the club, his continued commitment to the development of female basketball and the opportunities available to young players within our program was recognised with the President's Award at the club’s recent awards night. A prestigious and well-deserved recognition of the impact he continues to have on the Broncos both within the Big V and VJBL space.

For Kaitlyn Bickerton, Bianca Jones and Katarina Kekez, 2026 also marked their final season in the Youth program as they age out of the competition. Their departure comes as another generation continues to emerge, with several members of this young roster still having plenty of Youth basketball ahead of them and juniors already beginning to make their mark.

An 18-4 record, minor premiership and home Grand Final made 2026 a season to remember, but perhaps more importantly, it showed just how far the Youth Women program has come.

From two seasons outside the finals to competing for a championship, the turnaround has been built through the players who remained committed to the program, the new faces who strengthened the group, the juniors coming through the pathway and the coaches and staff who continued to build around them.

Their success has now earned the Broncos an opportunity to compete for a place back in the Youth Championship division, with the group set to take part in the Youth Qualification Series in February 2027.

It presents an exciting next step for a program that has worked its way back into this position, and an opportunity for the next group of Youth Women to continue building on everything achieved in 2026.

There is plenty to be proud of from this season and plenty still ahead.

Gallery - 2026 Youth League One Women Grand Final: Hume City Broncos vs Bellarine Storm - Pinnacle Images