WA Football

While Perth sweltered in unseasonal 37 degree heat on Saturday, an enthusiastic team of footballers from the WA Women’s Football League were heating up the Albany AFL scene.

Invited to participate in the Albany Sportsfest, which is held to encourage women to be physically active, the WAWFL participated in an exhibition game.

Eighteen dedicated players mixed in with girls from the Great Southern to put on a highly skilled display, with participants including WAWFL Rookie of The Year Emilee Chamberlain from South Fremantle and All-Australian Karen Cowley.

A greater emphasis on female football development and enhancing the women’s player pathway will become key objectives following the full-time appointment of the AFL’s first Female Football Development Manager in Western Australia.

In a coup for WA football, WAFC Female Development Manager Jan Cooper has been recruited to the AFL after previously working in a joint WAFC and AFL female development role.

She will relinquish her part-time role with the WAFC to take up the full-time position but will still be based at Subiaco Oval and work alongside WAFC development staff.

EAST Fremantle stalwart Lynette ‘Smitty’ Geaney was honoured recently as the first woman to receive life membership to the club after 20 years of service as a player, president and secretary for the women’s team.

‘Smitty’ was thrilled to receive her medallion, describing it as an overwhelming honour. “I am overwhelmed. I love my footy and this club and that’s why I keep getting involved,” she said.

EAST Fremantle claimed the West Australian Women's Football League Division 1 Premiership with a 14-point win over Coastal Titans in front of an appreciative and vocal crowd of 1000 people at Eftel Oval on the weekend.

In an even first half, defending premiers Coastal Titans started brightly and dominated the first quarter with Amy Cotterell providing great drive through the midfield to give her side a 19-point lead over the Sharks.

On a perfect day for football with cloudless skies, sunshine and a slight breeze, the best youth girls in the metropolitan area and southern regions competed against eachother at Lightning Park in Noranda on Saturday, August 29.

Substantially growing in numbers from three teams in 2008 to eight teams this year, the carnival gave the girls a chance to show why they want to play more than just one day a year.

The football skills of the participants improved as the carnival progressed, with every metropolitan District represented, together with girls travelling from Carnarvon, Northam, Katanning, Albany, Busselton and Bunbury.