New strategies to engage and retain more teenage participants at football clubs will be implemented by the West Australian Football Commission based on the 2016 findings of a Youth Football Working Group (YFWG).   The YFWG was formed to develop strategies aimed at engaging and retaining 13 to 17-year-old football participants and researching reasons for youth sport drop-out, which is an increasing national issue.   The YFWG included representatives from the WAFC, WAFL clubs, WA Amateur Football League, WA Country Football League, District Football Development Council and independent consultant Craig Turley, a former West Coast Eagles player who specializes in community and social impact research. Read More ...

The West Australian Football Commission is pleased to announce that Clint Degebrodt has been appointed as the WAFC’s first ever full-time Talent Manager – Female Programs to support the development and advancement of WA players and coaches aspiring to the AFL Women’s competition. Degebrodt, who will move into the role from his current position as Talent Manager at East Perth Football Club, has extensive female football and talent development experience including coaching WA’s State 18 Youth Girls for the past two years. He has also worked as a High Performance Manager with Swan Districts Football Club, coached the Pilbara Talent Academy and was Head Coach of the North West WA AFL 16s Program. Degebrodt said he was excited to commence in the new role at such a significant time for female football. Read More ...

Round 2 of the AFL Women's competition sees the Fremantle Dockers AFL Women's team host the Brisbane Lions at Fremantle Oval on Sunday February 12, in what will be the club's first ever home game. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and avoid the queues after venues around Australia experienced capacity crowds for Round 1 AFLW games last weekend. Read More ...

Fifty Indigenous and Multicultural players from across the country, including 11 WA participants, are currently undertaking a six-day camp focussing on personal and cultural development after being selected for the 2017 Medleys and Woomeras Leadership Program. Currently in its fifth year, the Rio Tinto AFL Woomeras team is the national under 16 female Indigenous development program while the Medleys is the national under 16 female Multicultural development program. Read More ...

Negotiations with State Government representatives regarding a future funding model for WA football will continue this week as scheduled.   West Australian Football Commission CEO Gavin Taylor confirmed the WAFC has been making positive progress and that discussions are ongoing.   “No offers have been accepted or rejected by the WAFC as negotiations are still in progress. Our discussions with the State Government’s representatives continue in good faith and further meetings are planned in the coming week,” Mr Taylor said.   “A future funding agreement is centred on the WAFC being the beneficiary of a revenue model from our two AFL clubs playing at Perth Stadium. This is what we call the ‘football economy’.   “The community is not being asked to unconditionally fund football through the government. Read More ...

Former Claremont and AFL assistant coach Michael Broadbridge has been appointed as WAFL State coach for this year’s Carlton Draught State Game against the Victorian Football League (VFL) at North Port Oval on May 27. Broadbridge, who has previously represented Western Australia as a player and a coach, said he was looking forward to another opportunity to be involved with State football. “I am thrilled to be offered the role of WAFL State Coach for this year's game against Victoria,” he said. “I look back on my previous involvements at State level as highlights in my football career. To take a senior State team across to Victoria represents the ultimate challenge and it is one that I am already looking forward to.” WAFC Executive Manager Football Operations Jon Haines said that securing a State Coach of Broadbridge’s experience was a great outcome for the WAFL as it prepared to take on the VFL. Read More ...

Friendships cemented eight years ago with Nick Winmar, Hayden Busher and Ryan Neates, together with encouragement from TFS Corp MD Frank Wilson (Claremont’s Major Sponsor), played a major role in Anthony Morabito’s decision to join Claremont this year as he prepares to enjoy the next phase of his tumultuous football career blighted by injury. “I’ve always been an admirer of Claremont from a distance and I’m looking forward to getting involved in a club environment, getting my body up and being able to contribute on the field,” the talented 25-year-old utility player said. “I feel like that I’ve got enough knowledge and I’d love to pass that on. Obviously Harro (coach Darren Harris) is receptive to that, which is really good. There are plenty of positives and it is exciting joining Claremont. Read More ...

THE WESTERN Bulldogs kicked off their NAB AFL Women's campaign with a win against fellow premiership contender Fremantle on a blustery Saturday night by 32 points at the Whitten Oval. Played in front of a 10,100-strong crowd that fell just short of the ground's capacity, Emma Kearney racked up 21 disposals to help lead her side to victory. Full match details and stats The hosts were first to hit the scoreboard with Kirsten McLeod booting a sweet running goal. Fremantle levelled the score through Melissa Caulfield but handed the hosts the lead at the first break with a turnover. Read More ...

There are female football competitions for all ages and abilties in Western Australia, starting at Auskick for Pre-Primary participants through to juniors based on primary school year groups, Youth Girls for highschool aged players and senior women's competitions.  Use the club locator to find your closest club at www.play.afl  Read More ...

As female football stars prepare to pull on their boots for the first round of the AFL Women’s competition tomorrow night, West Australian dairy producer Mundella Foods has been announced as the new major partner of female football in Western Australia to support the stars of the future. The partnership includes naming rights to the Mundella WA Women’s Football League (WAWFL) and a range of initiatives linked to the West Australian Football Commission’s (WAFC) Female Talent Pathway, Female Ambassador Program, WA Women’s Round and female participation programs. WAFC CEO Gavin Taylor said it was fantastic to have a West Australian company supporting local participants as female football entered such a significant and exciting year in 2017. Read More ...

The captains of the eight teams in the NAB AFL Women’s competition have given their predictions on the approaching season, with Fremantle one of the teams tipped to set the pace on field. In the lead-up to the NAB AFL Women’s Competition launch on Wednesday February 1 in Melbourne, the eight skippers were anonymously polled on five key questions on how the season will unfold. Read More ...

WA Footy fans champing at the bit for some pre-season AFL action can secure their tickets to the JLT Community Series from today. AFL club members have access to tickets today, ahead of the general public ticket release on Wednesday February 1 at 9am. Read More ...

SEVEN West Australians received the opportunity to participate in the inaugural NAB AFL Women’s National Academy camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra last week. The seven-day camp included combine testing, skill sessions, mentoring, a tour of the Australian Defence Force facilities and match-play. A total of 33 players from around Australia received a NAB AFL Women’s Academy scholarship and will come together for accelerated Australian Football and personal development camps to be held within Australia over a 12-month period. Photo: WA players McKenzie Dowrick, Emily McGuire, Tayla McAuliffe, Sonia Dorizzi - Bottom - Sabreena Duffy, Courtney Hodder, Kate Bartlett NAB AFL Women’s Academy manager Aasta O’Connor said the program is primed to harness and develop talent that in the past, may have been lost to other sports. Read More ...

1983 Brownlow Medallist and inaugural West Coast Eagles Captain Ross Glendinning and Perth-based AFL umpire Dean Margetts have both been honoured with AFL life membership. Having notched 300 games of officiating at the elite level, including 277 premiership and 35 pre-season games, Margetts will be inducted as a life member along with Glendinning and nine others at the 2017 Annual General Meeting in March, after Read More ...

Broome will host 75 Indigenous AFL players from February 1 to 5 when the AFL/AFLPA Indigenous All Stars Camp is held in the Kimberley region. The group will consist of 29 West Australians, including local Kimberley products Francis Watson, Jack Martin, Sam Peterevski-Seton (pictured) and Cedric Cox. Other Indigenous stars from WA that will attend the camp include Lance Franklin, Stephen Hill, Daniel Wells, Michael Walters, Lewis Jetta, Patrick Ryder, Sharrod Wellingham, Jeff Garlett and Harley Bennell. The camp will feature community and cultural sessions, a kids super clinic, training sessions, and a chance for players to meet local elders and visit attractions, while also participating in Indigenous strategy sessions. Read More ...