Subiaco Recruit Steane on WAFLW MoveWednesday, May 7, 2025 - 8:49 AM - by Jordan McArdle

Boom Subiaco recruit and recent WAFLW state game medallist Lisa Steane has opened up about her journey to Perth and what she thinks about women’s footy out west.

The 30-year-old moved to WA ahead of the 2025 WAFLW season after 39 AFLW games for GWS Giants (19) and Sydney (20) across four years.

The shift from New South Wales came about after her partner Bella Smith, who’s also a former Swans player, got drafted Fremantle.

“This year I didn’t get a contract but my partner Bella Smith got traded to Fremantle and I thought ‘why not?’,” Steane told the WAFL's official podcast Seven Point Play.

“I’d heard really good things about the WAFL and thought it would be a really good opportunity to still stay in football but also have a new experience and here I am.”

Steane earned best-afield honours for WA in Saturday’s eight-point loss to the SANFLW at Adelaide Oval after a dominant 28-disposal, 12-tackle game.

The tough midfielder said while it was disappointing to go down after kicking an inaccurate 4.9 (33) to SA’s 6.5 (41), the performance showed WA’s improvement and status as “a force to be reckoned with”.

“It was an amazing experience but I think the team that was selected, we were going there to win so obviously there was a fair bit of disappointment that we didn’t,” Steane explained.

“Jack (WA coach Jack Schwarze) was disappointed but expressed how proud he was of our performance and going off last year’s performance, it was a very big improvement and kind of showed that WAFL is a good quality competition and a force to be reckoned with.”

Steane’s Lions are flying so far this season with a perfect 5-0 record and healthy percentage of 256.47.

Subiaco have the bye in Round 6 this weekend before returning to action the following Saturday against Claremont at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on May 17.

She spoke highly of the strength of the WAFLW competition, which she felt was full of AFLW-quality talent.

“Coming from AFLW, I wasn’t really sure what to expect,” Steane said.

“But every week I come up against such quality midfielders and players across the board, these girls could be playing AFLW.

“It’s been a really strong competition and it’s only allowing me to improve my football at the ripe age of 30 which is fantastic.”