Bennett hopes to create more Falcons historyFriday, June 28, 2024 - 4:54 PM - by Chris Pike

KAT Bennett is already a WAFLW premiership player but now being back at West Perth and to be part of building history is something she is enormously proud about and especially to be doing it alongside younger sister Emily.

Bennett might still be only 24 years of age but she has jammed a lot into her football career already that started back with West Perth, but that was prior to the Falcons having a team in the WAFLW competition.

Chasing that dream of playing in the WAFLW, Bennett made the move to Claremont as of 2021 and by 2022 she became a premiership player at the Tigers but with the Falcons now established in the competition, she wanted to return.

Bennett returned to West Perth as a co-captain to start the 2023 season and was an important piece in a vastly improved year and now that has gone another level with history made all throughout 2024.

West Perth has been able to beat Claremont, South Fremantle and Swan Districts for the first time in the WAFLW in 2024 on the way to making the finals for the first time, and then making more history last Sunday.

West Perth won its first ever final with the 44-point victory against Swan Districts at Pentanet Stadium to now be one step away from a Grand Final berth.

Bennett will again be a key component in the Falcons team that takes on her old Claremont team on her former home ground in Saturday's preliminary final with the right to take on East Fremantle in the Grand Final on the line.

Returning to West Perth

While Bennett will always cherish the time she spent at Claremont and especially winning a WAFLW premiership, West Perth was always where her heart was and she always wanted to return once they were established in the competition.

To now not only be part of West Perth again and playing a role in the success on the field, but seeing how much the club wants to grow the female program and treat the players how they deserve means she know she made the right decision.

"West Perth was the first club that I played a full season with. Having old friends that I wanted to play with again but also hearing the direction West Perth wants to take the women’s program made it that little bit easier to move back," Bennett said.

"I am so proud to be playing at West Perth. To hear the plans and seeing the actions the entire club is putting into place for us makes every player feel important and respected as athletes.

"None of this would’ve happened without our Head of Football Luke Richardson, the support of the CEO and board members as well as passionate past players such as Trish Medwin and the current players we have today. I think West Perth is setting the tone that all other clubs will need to adapt."

Doing it alongside younger sister

While the Bennett sisters were together at Claremont, it's been at West Perth where they have fully got to embrace playing in the WAFLW team together and it's something they will forever cherish.

The emotions between the two did spill over after Sunday's historic finals victory against Swan Districts. It's quite the special feeling to be able to experience all this alongside your sister for Kat.

"I really enjoy playing with my sister. I think once I knew I was coming back to West Perth I was constantly checking to make sure she was on the same page," Bennett said.

"Emily is such a talented player who has so much to showcase and a great young leader. So being able to play alongside someone who is so talented is comforting but at the end of the day she is my sister so I would never tell her that."

Historic first Falcons final

It was a standout achievement for West Perth just to make the finals in the club's third season in the WAFLW competition.

Having come from a team struggling just to score upon entering in 2022 to then being significantly more competitive in 2023 and now only narrowly missing a top two spot and reaching a preliminary final is quite the accomplishment.

For Bennett to be out there and part of that first semi-final win against Swan Districts on Sunday is something that meant the world to her.

"It was definitely very special to be a part of West Perth's first ever final appearance in the WAFLW competition," Bennett said.

"To then get the win and play our brand of footy in front of our loved ones and supporters was amazing. There were mixed feelings after the game. A few happy tears, lots of laughter but overall just excitement and a sense of pride as we just proved to the competition, that we are a force."

One win away from Grand Final

To consider that this time two years ago West Perth was struggling to kick a goal against their WAFLW rivals and now all of a sudden they are one game away from a Grand Final, and it's an amazing achievement.

Then for Bennett to be playing her 50th WAFLW match on Saturday as well and for it to be at Revo Fitness Stadium which she used to call home and against the Claremont team she won a premiership with, and it's quite the day to look forward to.

Bennett is excited at how far West Perth has come so quickly, but not surprised by it and that's why there's no reason to not be shooting to win on Saturday and make a Grand Final.

"From the beginning of the season, all we wanted to do was make the finals. Our coach Clint or Deggers always said that we do not have a roof over us so anything is possible," Bennett said.

"So going into the finals we’ve already achieved what was initially set out for us and now we get to play the sport we love with the girls we love and coaches we respect; and see what happens. I think our mindset is that anything is possible and we have nothing to lose so let’s put it all out there."

Potential home Grand Final

Not that just reaching a Grand Final isn’t already motivation enough, the great bonus for West Perth will be that should they reach it, the decider will take place next weekend at Joondalup's Pentanet Stadium.

While Bennett isn’t getting too ahead of herself to think about what it would be like to play a home Grand Final because of how tough she knows Claremont will be to overcome in the preliminary final, it will be quite the added bonus.

"When we first found out that the grand final was gonna be at our home ground the initial excitement was there but at the end of the day we knew we had a big challenge," Bennett said.

"But yes, definitely a little extra motivation knowing that we should hopefully get all the West Perth supporters down to make it a big show."

Life outside of football

Juggling a life outside of football during the season can be a challenge and Bennett is finding that more and more the older she gets with needing to give her work everything but also dedicating herself to football, and finding time for family and friends.

"Funnily enough, it feels like there isn’t much to my life outside footy, especially when it’s in season. I do work full-time as an occupational therapist in Joondalup," Bennett said.

"I started this new job halfway through the season intentionally picking somewhere close to training to make balancing footy and work easier.

"I’m also close with family and friends so in a spare moment I have I try to catch up with them and get away. But it is difficult juggling everything while remembering to take time for ourselves."