Latest News
New coach appointed to develop WA female talent
Brisbane Lions premiership player and former assistant coach Beau McDonald has been appointed as head coach of Western Australia’s AFLW State 18s to oversee the development of aspiring female football players and coaches.
McDonald, who will commence in the role of WAFC Coach Coordinator – Female Programs in January, will coach the AFLW 18s, oversee the AFLW 16s program and help to develop and mentor coaches in WA’s under 18s Rogers Cup competition.
McDonald, who played 91 games with the Brisbane Lions including the 2001 and 2002 Premierships and went on to work for the club as an assistant coach for three seasons, said he was looking forward to continuing his career centered around elite sport.
“I really enjoy being part of a team environment where everybody strives to be their best and I want to provide young West Australians the opportunity to achieve their goals and succeed under the high pressures of elite sport,” he said.
“I really enjoyed coaching WA’s North West Academy over the last two years and am looking forward to taking on a new role with WA’s best female football players and coaches.
“I think the development of the coaches in the female talent pathway is just as important as the players to make sure we are providing the best possible development opportunities.”
McDonald will join WAFC Talent Manager Female Programs Clint Degebrodt and Talent Coordinator Elly Lambkin, as well as newly appointed Talent Officer Kate Hartwell, Athlete Development Coordinator Scott Goodin and Wellness and Player Development Coordinator Juliet Williamson in a Female Football Talent team that has been expanded following increased investment from the WAFC and AFL.
WAFC Executive Manager Talent and Football Operations Scott Baker welcomed the new members of staff and said they would help drive WA’s aim of being the best State for talent development.
“It is great news that we have been able to make such high-quality additions to our program that will help us prepare quality players and coaches for both the State League and AFLW Competitions,” he said.
“I look forward to working with all of them to enhance our talent program and offer a best practice approach to female football development.”
NAB AFL WA National Academy: Camp 1
Some of Western Australia’s brightest talents were on display last week during the first NAB AFL WA National Academy Camp at Subiaco Oval.
The expanded NAB AFL Academy Program sees 150 players engaged in high performance camps conducted across five talent regions; Vic Country, Vic Metro, South Australia, Western Australia and Allies (New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania, Queensland and the Northern Territory).
WAFC Commission Election results
The results of the elections for Commissioners of the West Australian Football Commission were endorsed last night, Wednesday 12 December 2018, by the Nominee Members of the WAFC (WA’s AFL and WAFL Clubs) at a meeting of WA Football stakeholders.
Current WAFC Chairman Murray McHenry was reappointed for a term of one year, Commissioner Stuart Love was reappointed for a term of three years, and Wayne Martin was appointed as a new Commissioner for a term of three years.
WA Umpiring partners with XBlades
WAFC’s umpiring department “Umpiring WA” has received a boost approaching the 2019 season, entering an exclusive community umpiring apparel partnership with XBlades for the next three years.
The official community umpiring apparel partnership will give all Umpires in Western Australia online ordering access to their very own on and off field exclusive apparel range.
WAFC State Umpiring Manager David Crute sees the newly formed partnership as a great move forward for umpiring in Western Australia.
“We are excited to add XBlades as our official community umpiring apparel partner for the next three seasons,” Crute said.
“To have a leading exercise apparel company supplying our WA Umpires enhances our professionalism at a community level.”
“The ability to order exclusively online gives our WA Umpires easy access to a range of different clothing options and will also see umpiring benefit through a rebate program.”
XBlades Chief Executive Leighton Richards said XBlades was thrilled to be partnering with Umpiring WA.
“We’re proud to provide all WA based Umpires with an immediate solution for their apparel and we’re looking forward to working closely with the WA umpiring community and their leadership team to develop the high-quality products they need to excel,” said Richards.
"XBlades is all about combining athlete experience with scientific expertise to create durable, high performing apparel for long term success.
“XBlades products and technology will evolve with the game and we will strategically leverage our new networks to challenge the frontiers of innovation.
“We have been working with Umpiring WA over the last few months to bring major product developments across fabrics and design for apparel ready for 2019. The partnership is all based around being Umpire Led, Product Driven.
“To kick off the partnership we have put together a ‘’Before The Bounce” training pack offer. This offer is available to every junior and senior community Umpire in WA at a significantly reduced cost.”
The launch of the XBlades online apparel website will be going ‘’live’’ in coming weeks. Further communication to follow.
WAFL Umpires will continue to wear Burley Sekem as their match-day apparel in 2019.
2018 WAFC Life Members inducted
Four new West Australian Football Commission Life Members were inducted at an official function on Monday, December 10 in recognition of their distinguished service to WA Football.
Induction to the WAFC Life Members’ Association is regarded as the WAFC’s highest level of recognition, distinct from life membership awarded by individual football clubs and associated bodies, and is awarded to individuals who have made an outstanding overall contribution to football in Western Australia.
Subiaco Oval Memorabilia still available
Expressions of interest are now open for football fans to secure their slice of Subiaco Oval history with timber bench seats and plastic chairs available for purchase.
The benches will be available in configurations of between 2-11 seats. Specific plastic seats may be purchased upon request.
To register your interest in the timber benches please fill out the below form. You can view the remaining benches available HERE.
For specific plastic seat requests please email Matt Hansen – MHansen@wafc.com.au
If you are unsure of your reference number please click HERE.
2019 WAFL Premiership Season fixtures
The 2019 WAFL Premiership Season will kick off on Saturday, April 6 with five games including West Coast’s first in the competition against Perth Football Club at Lathlain Park.
With the entry of the West Coast Eagles creating a 10-team competition, the 2019 fixture will see every team play each other twice across 20 Rounds.
CLICK HERE to view the 2019 fixture.
WAFC Executive Manager Talent and Football Operations Scott Baker said the 10-team competition had allowed for a more even fixture, while still accommodating for traditional rivalries and feature rounds.
“All clubs will play each other twice in what is ultimately a fairer fixture for everyone,” he said.
Each team will have two byes and there will also be a general bye for a State Game against the South Australian National Football League on the second weekend of May.
The first week of finals will coincide with the AFL’s end of season break and see the WAFL Grand Final played the weekend prior to the AFL Grand Final.
Other 2019 fixture highlights include Easter Weekend games on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday, a Thursday ANZAC Day game, traditional derbies on WA Day, and NAIDOC Round.
Baker said the fixture also aimed to achieve the best home and away flow possible for each club, while still scheduling traditional rivalry and feature games.
“We have been able to schedule the majority of games on Saturday afternoons, with 77 of the 90 games to be played in this traditional timeslot,” he said.
“Games on Thursday and Friday nights, Sundays and public holidays will also allow us to attract a different audience and hopefully encourage more people to attend games in 2019.
“We believe the final fixture is well balanced for all teams and thank the WAFL clubs and everyone else involved with the process.”
WAFL Pre-Season games will be played on March 23 and 30.
Simply Energy State 16s coach appointed
Experienced development coach Ben Dyer has been appointed as head coach of the Simply Energy WA State 16s Academy for 2019.
Dyer, who has been North Melbourne Football Club’s Development Manager for the past five years, was previously State 16s assistant coach in 2010.
Priddis shares AFL Draft Journey
For much of Matt Priddis’ storied career there were doubters, and after missing out on the draft for a third consecutive year many would have given up, but that wasn’t the Priddis way.
The Brownlow medallist had to wait a long time for a chance at his childhood dream, a journey he believes prepared him for the challenges that lay ahead.
The WA Football Commission invited Priddis to speak to players from WA that unfortunately missed out on selection in the 2018 AFL Draft, with the 33-year-old imparting plenty of wisdom and key messages to the group.
2018 WA Football Media Award winners
The West Australian Football Commission and WA Football Media Guild hosted the annual WA Football Media Awards at Optus Stadium tonight, Tuesday November 27, to recognise the season’s high achievers both on and off the field.
This included awards for online, print, radio and television media, WAFL and AFL players and coaches, as well as special awards for outstanding service.
Awards were judged in each category by members of the WA Football Media Guild, the West Australian Football Commission, and a combination of the following judging panel members: Tom Atkinson, Ben Cameron, Ken Casellas, Sean Cowan, Steve Gordon, Tim Gossage, Graham Mason, John McGrath, Jo McManus, Paul Murray, Craig Nitschke, Michael O'Brien, Glen Quartermain, Brett Sprigg, Michael Thomson, John Townsend, Peter Vlahos, Simon White and Basil Zempilas.
The award winners for the night were:
Recruiting rules finalised for West Coast WAFL team
The West Australian Football Commission, in consultation with the WAFL Clubs and West Coast Eagles, has finalised details regarding Total Player Payments and Players Points allocations for West Coast’s WAFL team in 2019
WAFC Executive Manager Talent and Football Operations Scott Baker said West Coast would be required to adhere to agreed recruiting conditions in building their top-up list with the aim of being competitive without becoming too dominant in the WAFL.
WAFC congratulates AFL Draftees
Congratulations to the 12 Western Australian players added to AFL lists via the 2018 NAB AFL National and Rookie Drafts.
This included first round National Draft pick Jordan Clark from Claremont Football Club and mature-aged recruit Matthew Parker from South Fremantle.
Other National Draft selections included Simply Energy WA State 18s players Ian Hill (Perth), Luke Foley (Subiaco), Jarrod Cameron (Swan Districts), Tom Joyce (East Fremantle), and Luke English (Perth).
Simply Energy Draft Watch: Clark heading to Cats
Claremont Football Club's Jordan Clark was Western Australia's first selection in the 2018 NAB AFL National Draft at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne tonight, Thursday, November 22.
Clark was selected by Geelong at number 15 after starring for the Simply Energy WA State 18s at the NAB AFL National 18s Championships, where he won WA's MVP Award and was named as an All-Australian.
WAFC Executive Manager Talent and Football Operations Scott Baker congratulated Clark and said his performance for Western Australia and at Claremont had paved the way for his first-round selection.
Simply Energy Draft Watch: WA hopefuls set for 2018 AFL Draft
WESTERN Australia's AFL Draft hopefuls are eagerly anticipating the first round of selections from 3.30pm WA time in Melbourne today, Thursday, November 22.
The draft will take place over two days at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, with the first round tonight and the rookie draft and later rounds to follow from 9am WA time on Friday, November 23.
CLICK HERE to visit the NAB AFL Draft Hub or watch it live on Fox Footy.
Subiaco Oval Auction - December 8
Football fans have a chance to secure their own piece of Subiaco Oval history when an auction of timber bench seats and other items of public interest is held at the ground on Saturday, December 8.
The first lot of seats to be auctioned on December 8 will include 322 timber bench seats from the two-tier stand, which was constructed in 1981. These are the oldest remaining seats at the ground.
The benches will be available in configurations of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 seats. Full details of which seats are available in each configuration will be published on the Ross's Auctions website in the lead up to the auction.
