Keep Leading, Keep Coaching: Subiaco’s Female Coaches Driving WAFLW Success

As part of Women in Coaching Month 2026, Subiaco Football Club is proud to celebrate the growing impact of female coaches across its WAFLW program.

For the first time in the club’s history, Subiaco’s League team will feature an all-female assistant coaching panel, while the Rogers Cup program boasts three female assistant coaches among its four line coaches. Working alongside Head Coaches Baker Denneman and Stewart Horton, these women are helping drive the development and success of Subiaco’s female football program both on and off the field.

The League coaching group brings a wealth of elite playing experience to the program. Current West Coast Eagles AFLW Captain Charlie Thomas leads the midfield, while Bella Smith, a current Fremantle Dockers player with more than 40 AFLW games across six seasons, takes charge of the forward line. Former AFLW player Beatrice Devlyn, who represented both Fremantle and West Coast, oversees the backline.

Together, the trio combines extensive playing experience with strong leadership, providing players with valuable insights and a fresh perspective as they continue to build and improve each week.

The strength of female coaching representation extends into the Rogers Cup program. Jaz Hay returns for her second season as backline coach, while Sholai Cantwell leads the forward line. Saira Dalal has stepped into the role of Senior Assistant Coach after serving as an assistant coach across multiple lines for the past three seasons.

Horton highlighted the focus of the rogers program being not just for player development but the coaches as well “The way the girls go about communicating, upholding standard and adapting to differing demands leaves a lasting impact beyond game day.”

The increasing number of women in coaching positions reflects Subiaco’s commitment to developing female leaders and creating meaningful pathways for women within football.

Denneman emphasised the importance of women in the coaching panel, “Representation matters. Having Subiaco at the forefront, provides a great example for our players and those winder within our organisation. We want to bring not only aspiring female coaches but good people who allow for continued growth and evolution of the program” 

Devlyn, who also works for WA Football as the Women and Girls Coaching Coordinator, highlighted the significance of the investment being made by Subiaco and other WAFLW clubs in growing female representation within coaching ranks.

“To see the growth and investment from clubs back into their women’s programs and providing players the opportunity to combine their playing experience with leadership roles, is a significant step forward for our game,” Devlyn said.

As women continue to shape the future of football from the coaches’ box, Subiaco Football Club remains committed to providing opportunities for female leaders to thrive, ensuring the club and the game continue to grow stronger for generations to come.

The theme of this year’s Women in Coaching Month is “Keep Leading, Keep Coaching”.