Women’s & Roger’s Season Review

Subiaco’s WAFLW campaign came to a close on Sunday afternoon with a nail-biting 2-point loss to Swan Districts in the Preliminary Final. The match, held at Sullivan Logistics Stadium, ensured the Lions finish the season in 3rd place, while the Swans advance to the Grand Final against Claremont.

While Subiaco got off to a slow start, trailing by 25 points at quarter time, the Lions dug their heels in and began an hour-long comeback effort that came tantalisingly close to succeeding. The Swans were kept to a single goal in the final 57 minutes of the game, and were dominated in almost all statistics by the end of the match. At the end of the day, Subiaco’s biggest enemy was the clock, and the final siren blew before the Lions could seal the deal.

The side was full of spirited performances on the day. Olivia Crane and Olivia Wolmarans, both recently invited to the AFLW National Draft Combine in Melbourne, were among the standouts, with Crane being indispensable in Subi’s backline as usual and Wolmarans (who was also recently inducted into the 2025 AFLW Under-18s All-Australian list) kicking 2 goals.

Krstel Petrevski shone in the centre, with 9 tackles and 19 disposals, while Tess Lyons dominated the Swans in the ruck contest with 31 hitouts, in addition to laying 9 tackles of her own.

Jorja Schell capped off a fantastic debut WAFLW season with the goal of the day; a fantastic running goal through congestion with feints that left several opponents on the ground.

The Preliminary Final marks the end of a fantastic season for the WAFLW side; undefeated until Round 12 and sitting on top of the ladder for 14 rounds of an 18-round season, Subiaco were a benchmark for other sides to aspire to. Qualifying for their first WAFLW Finals series since 2021, their first under the lead of Coach Baker Denneman, Subiaco showcased unprecedented growth and strength. Compared to their 2024 season, during which Subiaco finished 5th with a record of 6 wins and 8 losses, the Lions finished the 2025 Home & Away season with 12 wins, 3 losses and a draw.

The Rogers Cup program also continues to be a success for the club, with 5 Rogers making their debuts in the WAFLW side this year in Ava Tavolaro, Sian Bosich, Ruby Hobbs, Scarlet Gallo and Marley Kelman.

“There were so many fantastic storylines in the Rogers team this year,” Rogers coach Stewart Horton explained. “Marley Kelman and Caitlin Boss made the State 16s side, with Ebony Antulov as a train-on, which shows how much talent we have flourishing in our program.”

“We also had 22 girls make their Rogers debuts this year, and the connections we’ve built with our country zones, particularly the six or seven girls from Kalgoorlie, have been really special.”

“And we can’t forget the new coaches stepping into the program, forming great relationships and excelling in their roles after transitioning from being former players.”

“One of the best parts of this year was getting to know the younger girls better,” Rogers Captain Jazmine Farnan said. “Once you get to know them more, they’re completely different people.”

“We’re growing stronger connections with the entire coaching staff. Being able to learn from them has allowed me to become a better leader, player and teammate.”

When asked about her favourite moment of the season, Farnan had a definitive answer.

“I definitely can’t go past our last game against Claremont,” she admitted. “Although we didn’t win, the vibes were really high. It was a good game and it felt like we played together really well.”

“But the rain and mud just made it ten times more fun. Even though we lost and our season was over, after the game finished we started throwing and sliding in the mud like it was the best thing ever. It was a great way to end our season.”

“…We may have had a bit too much fun.”

“2026 is shaping up to be a really exciting year for Subiaco,” Horton revealed.

“We had 22 debutants throughout 2025, with so many players not only new to Subiaco but to football in general. To see their natural growth already has been really promising, and with another pre-season under their belts, fans can expect to see some huge steps forward.”

“Our more experienced girls, many who have been part of the club for three or four years, continue to set the standard and pave the way for those coming in. What’s particularly exciting is the level of talent arriving at the club, and the pressure they’re putting on the older players to keep lifting. The football ability, work ethic and attitude of this new group has really reinvigorated the program, and we’re confident they’re going to shine in 2026. This past year has been about laying strong foundations and putting in the hard work to build something sustainable and now we’re in a position to see that begin to pay off in 2026, across both the Rogers Cup and WAFLW.”

The Women’s season isn’t over, however, until the accomplishments of all its players have been properly celebrated. Subiaco’s Awards Night is coming up on Saturday 6^th September, you can grab your tickets here: https://www.intix.com.au/event/sarah-michell-medal-2026/information