West Perth women’s football director Tracy Gallagher backs competitive Falcons after WAFLW license granted

Written by Eliza Reilly - The West Australian

West Perth Football Club are confident they have the program in place to achieve
immediate and sustained WAFLW success after being granted a license to join the
competition next season.

The state’s premier women’s football league took one step closer to completion late last provisional license after the club won the 2021 Rogers Cup premiership and finished fifth
in the reserves. But it’s understood the expansion has caused some angst in the female football community, some worried the depth of the league will be tested.

The addition of South Fremantle on the eve of the 2020 season saw the WAFLW expand to
six teams but the Bulldogs are yet to win a game in two seasons despite showing signs of
improvement this year.

West Perth women’s football director Tracy Gallagher is confident the Falcons won’t be
making up the numbers and the club had established the right culture to “sing the song”
for the first time next season.

“We wouldn’t have been granted a license and entry next year if we weren’t going to be
competitive,” Gallagher said.

“Obviously the first years you are developing but we’re quite confident we can win games
and we believe success off the field is as important as it is on the field.

“To have a full pathway now in our district is awesome and we want to thank the support
from our community and now we can all work together next year to sing the song for the
first time.

“We know there’s a lot of hard work in preparation for next season so we know we can be
successful and competitive for years to come.”

West Perth have spent the past two years preparing to enter the league and will now
commence the next stage of their promotion, including consolidating their playing list,
developing their off-field programs and appointing the best available coaching candidate.

And while the club would love to welcome back Rogers Cup graduates Amy Franklin and
Emily Bennett who have just been drafted to Fremantle and West Coast respectively from
Claremont, Gallagher said West Perth’s submission focused on developing talent internally.

The club expects around six Rogers Cup players to play senior football while the club
launched a female academy this year to develop emerging players.

WAFC Executive Manager WAFL & Talent Scott Baker said now was the right time to
welcome West Perth despite conjecture about expansion.

“Female participation continues to be the number one growth area in football within
Western Australia,” Baker said.

“It’s really important that we continue strengthening the talent pathway for those players
who want to pursue the opportunity to play at WAFLW or AFLW level.

“The West Perth women’s program has been outstanding over several years and has
developed talent that is ready for the WAFLW League competition.

“The standard of the competition is growing, and the addition of West Perth will allow
more females to continue their journey on the female pathway."