2025 Women’s Leadership Group

Pictured L-R: Lauren Bilaloski, Krstel Petrevski, Tess Lyons, Clare O’Rourke, Hali Epis and Eva Popovsky.

The Leadership Group for the Women’s squad has been solidified, with three returning leaders and three new inductees. Tess Lyons is set for another season as Captain, with Clare O’Rourke returning as Vice-Captain and Lauren Bilaloski coming back for another stint in the leadership role.

New to the line-up is Hali Epis, Eva Popovsky and Subi’s 2025 winner of the Sarah Michell Medal for Best & Fairest, Krstel Petrevski.

“I’m super excited and very grateful. It’s an honour to represent this club and to come into a leadership group full of women I look up to,” says Eva about the opportunity. “It’s very humbling to be voted into this position by my teammates. The fact that the girls see me as a leader gives me confidence to continue being myself and leading in my own way. The girls mean the world to me so it’s easy to want to step up and go the extra mile for them.”

“I’m thrilled to have Poppy [Eva] join our group,” Captain Tess shares. “She is someone that challenges us as leaders to think about things in a different way. She has wisdom beyond her years but is incredibly down to earth and fun to be around, effortlessly balancing the seriousness of leadership with a sense of humour and relatability. She also shares a real passion for football, which adds an extra layer to her leadership style.”

Tess also had plenty of good to say about the rest of the leadership group.

“Clare is a leader who has a strong sense of self. She’s a clear voice, an advocate for our players and someone who always leads with integrity. Despite some thinking she’s a real tough nut, she is incredibly compassionate and not only a respected leader but also a friend and mentor to many.”

“Lauren is someone who truly understands that each individual brings unique perspectives and strengths. She has an amazing ability in adapting her leadership style to resonate with our youth as well as more experienced players. The connection she has with all our players also puts her in a great position to be a real driver of standards across our group.”

“Krstel is a leader with a presence that immediately lifts the energy in the room. She radiates warmth and positivity; she doesn’t lead with authority but by uplifting others. What sets her apart is her ability to make you feel valued. Her words and actions reflect an understanding of the importance of acknowledging others’ contributions, no matter how big or small.”

“Hali joined our group a couple seasons ago as a quiet kid, probably a little unsure of her place, but she’s quickly grown into an incredible leader, player and individual! Her growth has made her an indispensable member of our team. On the field, she leads by example; I’d be hard pressed to find a more selfless player. She is such a hard working individual that embodies the idea that leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room, but about being someone that consistently shows up for others.”

“You can’t ask for much more in a captain than Tess. The fact that she’s been nominated again speaks for itself,” Eva made sure to point out. “She’s super humble and isn’t afraid to be vulnerable with us. She has so much care for every single one of us and is our biggest advocate, but will also give us a spray when we deserve it.”

“She goes above and beyond for us both on and off the field and the work she does behind the scenes is immense. The women’s program and the club as a whole are truly lucky to have her.”

Tess, however, is adamant on pointing the attention to the group as a whole.

“We are fortunate to have a really high calibre squad, which makes leading our team a really rewarding experience,” she explained. “ We play an important role in supporting the team both on and off the field through setting a positive example in terms of effort, attitude, and professionalism, facilitating open communication between players, coaching staff and the club, as well as building a strong support network for our individual players. With so many talented and motivated individuals, it’s easy to maintain a culture of excellence with a focus on continually improving and it’s a real joy to get the opportunity to lead this team.”

“We have a diverse team of leaders, each bringing unique perspectives and ideas. I believe the addition of some younger voices will strengthen our connections across the entire team and that really excites me!”

Subiaco’s 2025 WAFLW campaign begins this weekend with their Round 1 match against West Perth on Saturday night at Joondalup Arena. Roger’s Cup at 4:25pm and Women’s at 6:30pm.