Mid-Season Wrap Up – Female Football

I wanted to take this opportunity to pen a letter to our members, supports and fans as we complete the half-way mark of the Home and Away season for the WAFLW competition.

Our Rogers Cup program continues to flex its muscles as a developmental factory with the program continuing to showcase competitive success, all the while testing it’s depth with the promotion of several talented youth-age kids playing WAFLW League Football.

Across both programs, we have seen several COD (Change of Direction) or impact injuries which has tested our resilience and asked more of those around to embrace the opportunities before them. Our Rogers Cup program, aided by the Moora Citrus Female Football Pathway – Is developing footballers for WAFLW success as is their expectation to which they (the coaching staff) are meeting their obligation to do so.

Our metrics for Rogers Cup, as a club, and as is with our COLTS program – Are not judged by the outcomes on game day, but rather the process and the elevation of talented individuals who can transition into competitive, resilient and trusting team mates at the highest level.

The Rogers Cup program has seen Rikisha Nannup & Olivia Ferguson both make their debut’s from the Rogers Cup Program in 2025, with Cara Dziegielewski, Jamarah Woods, Lexi Strachan, Leuca Krmpotic & Mia Robis, who are Rogers Cup age-eligible, have cemented their spots as regulars within the League squad and have been listed as such – This is not to forget Chloe Smoker, daughter of club-great Craig Smoker, our clubs’ first father-daughter who debuted in 2022 during our first season, has also performed at WAFLW level in 2025. She also has the privilege, as many others don’t – To get to run out beside her sister, Trista Smoker.

In his 4th season at the helm, Scott couldn’t be happier with the development on display – Given the challenges with injury, opportunities presented at WAFLW level – The resilience of the group to remain competitive and sit atop the HART Sports Rogers Cup ladder is a testament to the character of the group:

“It’s been a thrilling 2025 so far. Other clubs’ level of development has seen us challenged more than ever and we’ve welcomed the learnings that have come from these battles. We have debuted 18 players into our Rogers Cup system so far in 2025 and this has enabled us to drive growth and enjoyment with each new player bringing something new to our program.

I have a great coaching group around me and we look ahead for the remainder of the 2025 season with excitement.”

Our League program, after a sluggish start have started to hit a wave of momentum which has enthused and re-invigorated the group to continue their hunt for silverware. Being significantly tested through injuries – The senior team has seen the emulsification of mature-age, experience heads with talented, live-wire youth which has seen a brand of football that’s hard to play against and exciting to watch.

Our League system remains aligned to our bold premiership model, supported by our list management strategy with a consistent wave of work being completed in the background to ensure the ‘ship’ itself continues to move in the direction that, not only our staff and players can be proud of – But our members and fans too.

It’s also recognisable that our best football is ahead of us, not behind us. We’re in the improvement business, striving for excellence across all facets of our footballing program and we are confident in our ability to embed ourselves high-up the ladder as a competitive force within the WAFLW League competition.

We haven’t yet seen our star recruit, Matilda Bennett dominate the Ruck space as she has done so often as she recovers from a lower leg fracture, with our prize-recruit in Tazma Hutson also battling a serious finger injury putting her on the sidelines too. Excitement machine-recruits in Madison Dodd and Sara Riou have lit-up the competition, re-affirming our belief that they truly are some of the best players within the WAFLW competition and we’re privileged to have them in our colours.

Emily Bennett and Gemma Bailey continue to lead our WAFLW side with maturity and are helping our young-guns grow exponentially.

Currently sitting in 4th, with a 4-3 ledger – Senior Coach Clint Degebrodt recognises we’ve had challenges but is enamoured with the level of response and drive shown by all within the program:

“They’ve been fantastic. Our system is standing up and we certainly feel our best football is ahead of us. These kids or ‘punks’ as we’ve titled them are sponges and are providing layers we haven’t yet had within our program. It’s a testament to their characters that they have come in and developed strong relationships and trust with their older team mates so quickly.

We are by no means a finished product at the half way point. We will continue with our obligation to represent the Falcons in a competitive, robust way to achieve our ultimate goal of silverware.”

As Head of Female Football & Talent Pathways, I have seen large increases in our game-day attendance, elevated streaming numbers and a more engaged public through our social media platforms – This level of engagement is felt by all and I thank the Falcons-faithful for their support.

We hit the mid-way point with momentum with both our Rogers Cup and League programs. We are cognisant of our need to perform for our members and fans and this obligation is what fuels us to continue to be the very best we can be.

Luke Richardson