Women's Footy Update With Tess Lyons

How was the experience at an AFLW Club with the West Coast Eagles - what are some key takeaways and learnings that you’re looking forward to implementing back at Subiaco? 

The experience with the Eagles was awesome—challenging but so rewarding. Being exposed to the standards of AFLW really opened my eyes to the speed, intensity, and competitiveness needed to succeed at that level. 

One key takeaway was seeing how elite athletes and clubs prioritize culture and values. It really reinforced how important a positive and inclusive environment and connected team is for sustained success—something we already do well at Subiaco.

Another significant learning was the emphasis on player development, both on and off the field. The focus on individualised development plans, mental resilience, and well-rounded athlete support is something we are building more into in our Women’s program to elevate our players' growth and well-being.

Finally, the way they approach match prep and reviews showed me just how powerful clear and consistent communication can be help us sharpen our game-day performance and learning cycles.

2025 comes with some excitement after the progressions made last year - what should fans be hoping to see come bounce down next year?

We are looking to build on what we started in 2024 and carry over the end of season form, build on our foundations and continue to strive for success. Now we have played under a new Subi system for 12 months, we can identify the areas of our game that are dangerous and the areas where we can seek improvement. You’ll see a stronger focus on consistency in our performances, with players stepping up after a big preseason of hard work and development. Plus, we’ve got plenty of young talent coming up the ranks, who play exciting, fast and competitive footy and we’re confident they’ll make a real impact alongside our experienced leaders. 

Fans should be looking forward to a team that’s hungry, connected and ready to take things to the next level. 

Preseason is underway, what have been the key areas that the group have spent some time refining, and how has the vibe of the group been? 

Preseason has been off to a great start, with a big focus on refining some key fundamentals of our game and putting stepping stones in place to ensure we are meeting the expectations week-week in the lead up to the season. We’ve been working hard on improving our ball movement to play faster and more dynamic footy, as well as sharpening our defensive structures to stay solid under pressure. Fitness has been a major focus too, making sure we’re ready to maintain intensity for four quarters.

The vibe around the group has been fantastic. Everyone’s brought great energy and a real hunger to build on last year’s progress. There’s a strong sense of connection and excitement as we push each other to get better every session. It’s been a really positive and productive start to the season.