The Perth Football Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Russell Clark, a former Perth player as its new General Manager.

Russell Clark (51) is an accomplished Chief Executive with extensive experience in operations, marketing and financial management in both sporting and business industries.

Over the past ten years he has spent five years as the Chief Executive Officer of Peel Thunder Football Club (WAFL) and subsequently another five years as Chief Executive Officer of the Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.

He currently is the CEO of Softball WA Inc.

Perth Football Club President Bob Shields said “we had 80 applicants, and an external panel of four prominent business leaders presented Russell as one of three final selections to the PFC Directors.”

“We Directors then went through our own rigorous due diligence process, and Russell won through.”

“We face a major rebuild of our PFC premises over the next few years, and Russell had management oversight of the construction and business implementation plan for the $10.3M Bendigo Bank Stadium at Rushton Park, Mandurah in his time at Peel.”
 

Perth has been announced as the host city for the largest AFL Carnival event in Australia – the 2020 AFL Masters National Carnival from September 26 to October 4 this year. 

It will be the first time since 2003 that Western Australia hosts the event, which is expected to attract more than 1200 male and female players representing more than 35 teams from across Australia. 

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From September 1 to November 1, the 2020 Early Registration Campaign was in full swing. 

The first 400 children registered won either a ball or a double pass to the movies. For clubs, they had the chance to win $5,000 cash, an AFL game day experience valued at $2,000 or one of three $1,000 Burley Vouchers. The prizes were given to the top 5 performing clubs which was measured by the amount of re-registrations measured against club members, meaning smaller clubs weren’t disadvantaged.

The top performing club this year was Rockingham Junior Football Club, who re-registered 43% of their members. President, Michael Holland, said the success was a credit to the work their registrar had put in, emailing parents weekly reminders to register their kids. 

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Get your calendars out! These are the 9 games you simply can’t miss during the 2020 Optus WAFL season. 

Round 1: 

Perth v West Coast Eagles, Mineral Resources Park: Friday April 3 

The 2020 Optus WAFL season is set to start with a bang seeing a Friday night blockbuster open the season. The battle of Mineral Resources Park sees Perth & West Coast face off with Premiership Eagle Chris Masten set to battle his old mates. Perth narrowly missed out on finals and will be desperate to start their season strongly at home under lights. 

Round 2: 

Subiaco v East Perth, Leederville Oval: Friday April 10

Good Friday footy is back for another season and what a clash this is expected to be. East Perth are on their way up after an excellent off-season which saw homegrown ruckman Scott Jones return, while Carlton half-back Angus Schumacher joins with plenty of promise. While the Premiers will look to do what the Premiers do best, take all four points.

Round 2: 

West Coast Eagles v South Fremantle, Mineral Resources Park: Saturday April 11

History will be made on the Easter Weekend when West Coast play their first-ever home game in the WAFL. With the transition into a second year of existence, the Eagles will play a number of games at their base in Lathlain. South Fremantle may have finished runners-up last season but with the acquisition of Zac Clarke the Dogs will certainly be a force to be reckoned with in season 2020. 

Round 4 

Perth v East Perth, Mineral Resources Park: Saturday April 25 

Anzac Day will again be highlighted by the Perth & East Perth Derby, featuring as the only game on Saturday April 25. The standalone fixture sees a powerful service pre-game before the rivalry reignites. Who could forget Kyle Anderson’s goal after the siren in 2018? This game always promises to deliver. 

State Game 

SANFL v WAFL, Adelaide Oval, Saturday: May 9

You may not be able to attend the momentous SANFL v WAFL State Game, but this is definitely a fixture to keep an eye on. The best of the best from both competitions represent their state in an exciting clash. WA will be looking to atone for a tight loss in 2019, with the added bonus of being on show ahead of the AFL Mid-Season Draft. Deluca, Knoll and Noble were all drafted after representing the state, can we add more to that list?

Round 8

South Fremantle v East Fremantle, Fremantle Community Bank Oval: Monday June 1 

South Fremantle v East Fremantle, the game doesn’t need much of an introduction. The biggest of rivals battling it out on WA Day. This game has traditionally drawn big crowds and plenty of excitement, 2020 won’t be any different. The Sharks nearly snatched victory in the corresponding clash last season and will be desperate to take down their neighbours. 

Round 13 

South Fremantle v Claremont, Fremantle Community Bank Oval: Saturday July 4

NAIDOC Round is a fantastic initiative celebrating Aboriginal culture in WA Football. South Fremantle and Claremont continue their role as the feature match of the round, with special NAIDOC gurneys worn throughout all five games. Expect these two teams to be there deep in September with these clashes acting as an “eight-point” fixture. 

Round 15 

Peel Thunder v West Coast Eagles, David Grays Arena: Sunday July 19

The WAFL’s equivalent to the Western Derby will take centre stage when West Coast and Peel clash in Round 15. With the Eagles joining the competition for a second season, many players from both sides will be pushing their case for an AFL berth. No love is lost during these two, and wins could be crucial in the back-half of the season. 

Round 20

East Perth v West Perth, Leederville Oval: Saturday 22 August 

The Polly Farmer Shield is up for grabs once again, and so might be a finals spot in the last round of the season. West Perth currently hold the Shield after a nail-biting six-point victory in 2019. The Falcons went out in the first-round of finals and will be desperate to reach the lofty heights of a 2018 Grand Final.   

 

CLICK HERE for the full 2020 Optus WAFL Premiership season fixutres. 

The 2020 Optus WAFL Premiership Season will kick off under lights on Friday, April 3 in a blockbuster night match between Perth and West Coast at Mineral Resources Park. 

The 20-round home-and-away season will be followed by a four-week finals series, with the WAFL Grand Final scheduled to be played on the weekend of September 19 & 20 at Optus Stadium.  

CLICK HERE  to view the 2020 fixture. 

The fixture includes traditional clashes and feature rounds, with all 10 teams playing each other twice throughout the season. 

Following post-season equalisation measures across the WAFL, the endeavour is to create a highly competitive and exciting season for the State League competition in 2020. 

West Coast are set to play four games at Mineral Resources Park including their two clashes against Perth, as well as home fixtures against South Fremantle and East Perth. 

WAFC Executive Manager WAFL & Football Operations Scott Baker said the fixture includes many highlights with the season opener on a Friday night set to bring plenty of excitement to fans across WA.  

“Clubs will have the opportunity to play each other twice throughout the 2020 season, with everyone to play each other once in the first 10 rounds.” Baker said.

“Beginning the season on a Friday night will create a great buzz for the competition and hopefully build fantastic momentum heading into another exciting campaign of WAFL football.”

The other 2020 fixture highlights include Easter Weekend games, ANZAC Day games, Derbies on WA Day and NAIDOC Round. 

Baker said while the traditional timeslot of Saturday afternoon will be prominent, the addition of alternative match days allows the competition to build its family fanbase. 

“Games on Fridays, Sundays and public holidays gives flexibility for the WAFL to continue to attract a ‘family friendly’ audience during the 2020 season,” he said.

“Exciting game day activations and fan engagement activities will provide the perfect platform for families to enjoy the WAFL match day experience.”

WAFL pre-season games will be played on March 21 and 29.

The Optus WAFLW Season fixture is in the final stages of being completed and will be announced in early 2020. 

All game times and broadcast details will be confirmed early in 2020.

In a community more than 1700km north of Perth lies a WA Football heartland. A place where football takes precedence over everyday life. 

Nookanbah sits on the Fitzroy River between Camballin and Fitzroy Crossing with a total population of around 600 people. The football oval covered in red dirt becomes a haven for children and adults to play, it’s a way of life. 

Every weekend a men’s and women’s side will travel to play opposing sides, but this isn’t your average road trip. 

The entire team is picked up on a flatbed truck and travel 80km across loose gravel roads just to get to the highway. Once they reach the highway, the team waits patiently for a bus to transport them to the ground, sometimes this is a further two hours. Typically, this trip is repeated twice, with each team travelling on separate days.

However, in the face of adversity both sides managed to claim their respective Premierships in the Central Kimberley Football League. 

This story is one of many challenges that the Kimberley region must go through to play the game we all love, a notion that the AFL and the West Australian Football Commission is looking to change. 

Over the past week, the WAFC, AFL, Fremantle Dockers and key Kimberley football stakeholders have visited Broome and Fitzroy Crossing to collaboratively plan a Kimberley Football Strategy. This will allow the Commission to better deliver football and the many community benefits associated with our game in the region. 

The basics discussed throughout trip, which included a visit from AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan and Head of Game Development Andrew Dillon, included safe transport to games, suitable facilities for all participants and a collaborative approach for servicing and supporting the region. 

“We were really impressed with the level of engagement and collaboration from all stakeholders,” WAFC CEO Gavin Taylor said.

“We look forward to building on this very positive initial workshop having heard about the challenges and opportunities that face football in the Kimberley.”

“But more importantly, how football plays such a positive role in connecting and enhancing communities across the region.”

“We will now turn our collective efforts to the development of a Football Plan to support the development and growth of Kimberley football in the coming years through consultation with stakeholders in the region”.

The talent that Kimberley region possesses is undisputed. The next wave of AFL talent such as Liam Henry, Sam Petrovoski-Seton, Joel Hamling and Francis Watson all originate from that area. 

And while great players have come from the region, the main goal still remains that football has solid foundations in the Kimberley and continues to play its role in supporting active and healthy communities.

A goal that the WAFC believes is continually attainable. 

WAFC Life Members to be inducted

SIX new West Australian Football Commission Life Members will be inducted at an official function on Monday, December 9 in recognition of their distinguished service to WA Football. 

Induction to the WAFC Life Members’ Association is regarded as the WAFC’s highest level of recognition, distinct from life membership awarded by individual football clubs and associated bodies, and is awarded to individuals who have made an outstanding overall contribution to football in Western Australia.

The 2019 inductees include Don Baker, Mal Brown, Terry House, Stephen Michael, Charmaine Rogers and Allan Stiles.

WAFC Chairman Murray McHenry congratulated each of the inductees on being announced to receive the honour and thanked them for their significant contribution to WA Football.

“I am delighted to congratulate this year’s WAFC Life Membership recipients for their excellent service and commitment to WA Football,” he said.

“They are all highly deserving of this honour and recognition and I hope it is received with great pride.”

DON BAKER

Wembley Football Club

1961 – 50 A-Grade games. B Grade Team Manager

1970-74 – Club Secretary

1978-79 – Club President

WA Amateur Football League

1986-90 – Junior Vice President

1986-1995 - WAAFL Delegate to AAFC

1991 – Vice President

1992-95 – President

1987-99 – Reinstatement Sub-Committee

2010-14 – WAAFL Hall of Champions Selection Sub-Committee

State Football

1974 - WA State Team Selector

1975-79 - WA State Team Manager & Selector

1980 - WAAFL Liaison Of?cer to visiting Victorian and SA teams

1982 – Perth Carnival Co-ordinator

1983-86 - Chairman— WAAFL State Team Sub Committee

1985-86 - WA State Team Manager

1988 - AAFC Team Of?cial NFL Bi-Centennial Carnival Adelaide

1991 - Perth Carnival Coordinator

 

MAL BROWN

East Perth Football Club

1965-1973 - 166 games, 254 goals

1972 – Club’s leading goalkicker 51 goals

1969, 1970, 1972 – Fairest and Best

1970-1973 – Captain / Coach

1972 – Premiership Captain Coach

1966, 67, 68, 71 and 72 Grand Finals

1969 – Sandover Medallist

1972 – Sandover Medal Runner-up

Life Member

State Football

Represented State 16 times including Australian Carnivals 1966, 1969 and 1972

All Australian selection: 1972 (Captain)

Chairman State selection 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991

Richmond Football Club

1974 - 14 games

Claremont Football Club

1975 -76 - 12 games

South Fremantle Football Club

1977 - 10 games

Coaching

WA coach 1973, 1981,1982 and 1988

East Perth 1970 – 1973. Won 62 Lost 30

Claremont 1975 -1976. Won 11 Lost 30

South Fremantle 1978-1984. Won 103 Lost 54 Drawn 1

Perth 1985-1987. Won 25 Lost 39 Drawn 1

South Fremantle 1992. Won 15 Lost 8

Life Member: South Fremantle

WAFL Life Member

WAFC

Commissioner 1988-1989

WA Football Hall of Fame

 

TERRY HOUSE

WA Country Football League

WACFL Executive in 1999-2017

WACFL Junior Vice President 2003-2006

WACFL Senior Vice President 2007

WACFL President 2008-2017

Vice President, Australian Country Football Councll

Football Experience

Playing Career spanned 17 years.

Played and coached league football for approximately 700 games, 150 of which were with South

Bunbury Fc.

Two times winner of Hayward Medal, Fairest & Best, South West Football League.

Wesfarmers Fairest 8: Best Award (Landmark Country Football Championships).

Coaching Career

Five times Premiership Coach South West FL.

Coached SWFL to ?ve Wesfarmers/Landmark Country Football Championship premierships (71-72-73, 78, 96).

Administration

WACFL State Selector for four years

All Australian selector 2002-2010 National Carnivals

South Bunbury Football Club board member

Chaired organising committee for 2004 National Carnival held in Bunbury

 

STEPHEN MICHAEL

Player: 1975-85

Games: 260: South Fremantle 243; WA 17

Goals: 246 (South Fremantle 231, WA 15)

1980 & 81 – Sandover Medallist

1980 – South Fremantle Premiership player

1977-79, 81, 83 – South Fremantle fairest and best

1983 – Simpson Medal

1983 – Tassie Medal 1983

1983 – All Australian Captain

1995 – South Fremantle Football Club Hall of legends

1999 – AFL Hall of Fame

2000 – Fremantle Sporting Wall of Fame

2004 – WA Football Hall of Fame inductee

2019 – WA Football Hall of Fame Legend elevation

 

CHARMAINE ROGERS

WA Women's Football League

Lynette Smith Volunteer of the Year recipient - 2015

Recognition of 15 years of service to WAWFL - 2015

U18’s competition renamed Rogers Cup - 2015

2013 - 2016 General Board Member

2009 - 2010 Vice President

2005 - 2008 General Board Member

2000 - 2001 President

1998 - 1999 Secretary

1996 - 1997 Competition Coordinator

Innaloo / CIaremont WFC

2017 - Assistant Coach

2014 - 2016 Head Coach

2013 - Club President

2011 - 2012 Committee Member

2011 - Coach, Rogers Cup 20/20

2010 - 2013 Assistant Coach

2010 - Coach, All Girls Auskick - lnnaloo Junior Football Club

2006 - CWFC Life Member

1999 - 2001 Coach

1996 - 1998 Captain

1996 - 1997 Club President

1994 - Member Inaugural WA State Team

1993 - 1998 Player

Warwick Greenwood Junior Football Club

2018 - 2019 Coach, Youth Girls

2013 - 2016 - Coach, Junior Girls

WA Football Commission

2011 - Present Female Football Representative on Claremont DFDC

1998 - 2010 WAWFL Delegate to Metropolitan Football Leagues Council & Community

Football Council

1998 - 2002 WAFC Schoolgirls Committee

Essendon Football Network

2017 Winner of the VicheaIth Community Award

 

ALLAN STILES

Perth Football Club

150 League Games – 1966-75

3 State Games

Simpson Medal 1970 (WA v SA)

Prendergast Medal (Reserves Competition Fairest & Best) – 1968

Reserves Fairest & Best – 1968

Colts Fairest & Best – 1965

Life Member – 1975

Coach – Reserves / League Assistant – 1982-84

Coach – Colts – 1985

Chairman of Selectors – Colts – 1999-2000

Club Legend – 2009

Member – Perth Nominations Committee – 2010 - present

Chairman – Perth FC Hall of Fame Committee – 2011 – present

South Perth Junior Football Club

Player – 1955-64

Patron – 2016-present

Willetton Junior Football Club

Coach – early 1970s

Great Northern Football League

Committee – 1991-93

Umpires & Country Carnivals Manager

WA Football Hall of Fame

Selection Committee – 2017 – present

WA Football Media Guild

Member – 1980-present

President – 1997-98

Vice President – 1995-96

Treasurer – 2006-19

Life Member – 2006

 

A total of 25 West Australians made their way onto an AFL list in 2019 culminating in a successful year for the WA Talent Pathways programs.

Fourteen Sandgropers went in the National Draft, three went as Rookies, two were signed up as Category B Rookies, four were selected in the mid-season draft and two as SSP signings. 

It culminates in 186 West Australians being drafted this decade.

On the back of a successful NAB AFL U18s National Championships campaign that saw WA win the Championships, 16 Simply Energy WA State U18s Academy members were selected.

Similarly, 23 was the number of West Australians who were drafted onto a list in 2009, when WA last won the AFL U18s Championships.

In that year, Peel Thunder’s Anthony Morabito (pick #4 – Fremantle), East Fremantle’s Brad Sheppard (pick #7 – West Coast Eagles) and Kane Lucas (pick #12 – Carlton), and Swan Districts’ Lewis Jetta (pick #14 – Sydney Swans) were all selected within the first round.

The likes of Claremont’s Nathan Fyfe (pick #20 – Fremantle), and East Perth’s Mitch Duncan (pick #28 – Geelong) and Ben Stratton (pick #46 – Hawthorn) went on to become great players at the AFL level despite being taken later in the draft.

In 2019, WA produced three first round picks in East Fremantle’s Luke Jackson (pick #3 – Melbourne), Claremont’s Liam Henry (pick #9 – Fremantle) and Subiaco’s Mitchell Georgiades (pick #18 – Port Adelaide).

In the second round of the National Draft, six Sandgropers made their way onto a list – Claremont’s Ronin O’Connor (pick #42 – Adelaide), East Fremantle’s Jeremy Sharp (pick #27 – Gold Coast), Trent Rivers (pick #32 – Melbourne) and Chad Warner (pick #39 – Sydney), and Perth’s Deven Robertson (pick #22 – Brisbane) and Elijah Taylor (pick #36 – Sydney).

Claremont’s Callum Jamieson was the sole West Australian to be drafted in the third round when the West Coast Eagles selected him with pick #49.

However, in the fourth round, four Sandgropers found new AFL homes with East Fremantle’s Trey Ruscoe (pick #55 – Collingwood), West Perth duo Ben Johnson (pick #58 – West Coast) and Jaxon Prior (pick #59 – Brisbane), and Swan Districts’ Riley Garcia (pick #62 – Western Bulldogs) all having their names called out.

Three West Australians were selected in the Rookie Draft – Peel Thunder’s Jarvis Pina (pick #6 – Fremantle), Swan Districts’ Jake Pasini (pick #8 – Port Adelaide) and Claremont’s Anthony Treacy (pick #11 – West Coast Eagles).

While Claremont duo Isaiah Butters and Leno Thomas were selected as Category B Rookies to the Fremantle Dockers as members of their Next-Generation Academy.

Anthony Treacy was the only mature aged prospect from Western Australia to be selected in the recent drafts, but the Optus WAFL League is still considered to be one of the strongest state leagues in the country.

In the mid-season draft, four West Australians were drafted including AFL Grand Final hero Marlion Pickett.

With a draft pool to this extent it is clear that the WA Talent pathway is producing exciting and talented players for the AFL.

WEST AUSTRALIAN DRAFTEES 2019

 

 

The West Australian Football Commission congratulates the 19 WAFL players added to AFL lists via the 2019 NAB AFL National and Rookie Drafts.

This included 14 in the National Draft, three in the Rookie Draft and two as Category-B Rookies.

This was in addition to the six players added to AFL lists since the 2018 AFL Draft as pre-season supplemental selections or in the AFL Mid-Season Draft.

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Western Australia produced three first round AFL draftees at the NAB AFL National Draft on Wednesday, November 27.

East Fremantle’s Luke Jackson (pick 3 – Melbourne), Claremont’s Liam Henry (pick 9 – Carlton/Fremantle), and Subiaco’s Mitchell Georgiades (pick 18 – Port Adelaide) were all selected within the first round of the Draft.

It now means that the Simply Energy Western Australia pathway has produced twenty-eight first round draftees this decade.

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The West Australian Football Commission congratulates first round 2019 NAB AFL National Draft selections from the West Australian Football League, Luke Jackson, Liam Henry and Mitchell Georgiades.

Luke Jackson, from East Fremantle Football Club, was selected at number 3 by Melbourne. Liam Henry, from Claremont Football Club, was selected at number 9 by Fremantle, and Mitchell Georgiades, from Subiaco Football Club, was selected at number 18 by Port Adelaide.

WAFC Chief Executive Officer Gavin Taylor congratulated each of the players on being drafted as a great reward for their dedication and commitment to football.

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The election results for Commissioners of the West Australian Football Commission were endorsed last night, Monday 25 November 2019, at a meeting of WA Football stakeholders.

Commissioner HON. Cheryl Edwardes AM was reappointed for three years and has been endorsed by the WAFC Board to serve as Vice Chairman from 1 January 2020.

Commissioner Neil Randall was reappointed for one year, extending his overall term on the WAFC Board to nine years.

Worley Global Strategy Director, Amber Banfield, was appointed for her first term of three years after being elected to the Board position vacated by retiring Chairman Murray McHenry.

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The WA Football Media Guild and West Australian Football Commission hosted the annual WA Football Media Awards at Optus Stadium last night, Tuesday November 19, to recognise the season’s high achievers both on and off the field.

This included awards for online, print, radio and television media, WAFL and AFL players and coaches, as well as special awards for outstanding service.

Awards were judged in each category by members of the WA Football Media Guild, the West Australian Football Commission, and an appointed judging panel.

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Western Australia has an excellent history of producing Indigenous Australian footballers who have excelled at the highest levels.=

West Australians such as Barry Cable, Bill Dempsey, Graham “Polly” Farmer, Syd Jackson, Jim Krakouer, Chris Lewis, Peter Matera, Stephen Michael, Maurice Rioli, and Nicky Winmar are considered to be some of the greatest players to ever play the game.

Since 2000, Western Australia has produced over seventy Indigenous footballers who have been drafted onto an AFL list. Many of these players are considered to be amongst the best players to be playing in the current AFL environment.

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Since 2010, over 1000 prospects have been drafted to an AFL Club, with over 150 players coming from Western Australia.

It makes for a successful decade for the West Australian Talent Pathways programs, especially given the number of players who have really flourished at the highest level.

Below are the five best players from WA to be drafted this decade (in alphabetical order).

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