2023 a year of celebration as Subiaco moves forward

Subiaco finally operating as one club, new ways to get involved as a member, and the celebration of the 1973 flag are just some of the things fans can look forward to for the 2023 season.

The WAFL competition may have taken a break over the summer, but the Subiaco Football Club has been hard at work behind the scenes to bring better experiences for its players, staff, and in particular members who make the club what it is today.

Since the WAFL Grand Final held at Leederville Oval last year, the club’s staff have been making changes to improve life at the Lions.

The biggest change saw the Subiaco WAFLW side become one with the club, after being joined by name only since the inception of the WAFL women’s competition. 

While Subiaco has been aligned for a number of years with the successful Coastal Titans Football Club, who later became the Lions, never before has the women’s side been afforded the level of coaching, staff, and resources that they have under the new model.

Chief executive Peter Capes said it’s been five years in the making.

“We’ve been meeting with people that were running that brand to outline the things needed to become a one model structure, and that was only achieved in November last year,” he said.

“We’ve taken financial responsibility for all the women’s programs and we’ve appointed the staff so they’re all part of the Subiaco Football Club.

“We’re excited now that we’re able to provide better opportunities for girls within our zones to play footy.”

Under the one club model, the coaches for the WAFLW side have the ability to use resources, including men’s head coach Beau Wardman, to discuss standards and structure.

The women’s side also has access to the club physio, and the strength and conditioning team which will help them on field. 

Meanwhile, wellbeing staff are also on hand, to assist the side off the field.

On top of it, the Lions WAFLW team has been given access to Des Penman Reserve in Nollamara in pre-season along with the Colts, with an aim to get all teams training there in the future.

Capes said the one club model allows the side to establish its own identity.

“The girls are getting much more resources to support them,” he said.

“There’s a lot more people around the place, and there’s a lot more professionalism.

“I know the girls have noticed a difference, which is fantastic.”

Another initiative from the club is the new mantra, ‘where you belong.’

Capes said the idea comes from an annual WAFL survey.

“It found fans were confused about what clubs had to offer and what they were about,” he said.

“We had to make some opportunities for people that come to our club, whether it's for one game or for every game, to feel like they belong and they’re part of an organisation.

“It’s been the catalyst for us to come up with a whole bunch of actions that we hope people will notice when they come along.

“They belong from when they walk into the ground and they feel pride in the Subi Footy Club.”

13 different memberships are available on the club website, ranging from the 1973 Club which offers premium hospitality and VIP seating at all home games, the Subi Lion membership offering tickets to two matches, and the Family Pride package offering season passes for the whole family to support the Lions.

In the year ahead, there are a number of things the club is looking forward to.

The 50 year reunion of the drought-breaking 1973 Premiership is set to be celebrated on Saturday March 11. 

Subiaco went 49 years without premiership glory, and the flag in 1973 began to set the club on the path of success.

The chief executive said the people behind the historic flag are the backbone of the Lions.

“A lot of those guys who celebrated the 1973 Premiership had a lot to do with our club in future years,” Capes said.

“Neil Randall and Peter Metropolis, those sorts of guys have gone on to become President of our club, and have driven our success.”

Round two of the men’s season looms as a large one for the club.

Coinciding with the AFL’s Gather Round in Adelaide, Subiaco will have an abundance of matches at Leederville Oval on Saturday April 15, and Sunday April 16.
All sides will be going up against Leederville co-tenants East Perth, in a huge weekend of action.

The WAFLW side will begin the day in the morning, followed by the WAFL reserves, who are coming off a successful flag-winning season in 2022.

The day will conclude with the senior WAFL side in action, their first match at home for 2023.

Day two will see the Rogers Cup side in action, followed by the futures, and ending with the Colts in action.

Throughout the season, fans will be able to get involved to be a part of their football club.

Capes said all teams will come together every third Thursday to club nights, where the teams will be announced for the weekend, and members can listen in and be a part of it.

Meanwhile down the track, the club is looking to upgrade the floodlights at both Leederville Oval and Des Penman reserve to improve the quality of both grounds.

According to Capes, the lights at Leederville Oval will receive support from the AFL, the WAFL, the two co-tenants, and the local and state government, but plans are still being made.

Meanwhile, he said the City of Stirling is pitching the upgrades to Des Penman to the state government, in order to make the venue a permanent home away from home for the Lions. 

Finally, the club is set to announce the retirement of President Mark Lawrence. 

Since 2012, Mr Lawrence has been at the helm and driving the club towards success.

The club has a succession plan in place, which will see Vice President Russell Smith take over the reigns.