Claremont Women Strengthen Great Southern Pathway with Albany & Mt Barker Tour

The Claremont Football Club (CFC) Women’s Program has reaffirmed its commitment to regional athlete development with a successful community tour to Albany and Mt Barker, centered around Pride Round celebrations and grassroots engagement over the weekend.

Head Coach Jack Schwarze travelled with four senior CFCW players; Ella Gilbey and Juliet Kelly, both CFC W Premiership players and WA State representatives, along with 2025 Great Southern Women’s Representatives Maggie Smitt and Kiahn Perry, who have both moved to Perth to play with CFC W in 2026. Maggie and Kiahn are both Albany residents and relocated to Perth under the guidance of Jack Schwarze.

Kiahn and Maggie were given the opportunity to pull on their Albany club color and play in the Pride Round fixtures at Retravision Oval.

The group attended the local Pride Round fixtures in Albany and connecting with aspiring footballers across the community. The visit marked an important step in strengthening the pathway between regional talent and the WAFL Women’s program at Claremont.

The tour featured:

• Attendance and engagement at Pride Round matches in Albany

• The first-ever Claremont Women’s school visits in both Albany and Mt Barker

• A combined juniors and seniors training session with Mt Barker Women’s Football Club

Building the Albany to Tigerland Pathway

The Claremont Women’s program continues to expand its reach beyond metropolitan Perth, ensuring young athletes in regional areas are aware of the opportunities available through the WAFLW system. Head Coach Jack Schwarze said the visit was about more than football. “There is enormous talent and passion for the game in the Great Southern. Our role is to make sure these young athletes understand there is a genuine and supported pathway from regional footy to WAFLW level. This tour was about visibility, connection and belief.”

The Pride Round setting added further meaning to the visit, reinforcing the club’s commitment to inclusion, diversity and safe environments for all participants in Australian Rules Football.

First Time School Engagements

CFC Women delivered their first structured school visits in Albany (Albany Primary) and Mt Barker Community College, speaking with students about high-performance habits, balancing sport and study, resilience, and the realities of elite pathways.

Players shared personal stories about their own journeys into WAFLW, offering practical advice and honest insights into the work required to compete at state league level.

The players engaged with approx 400 students across the day ranging in ages form Y2 – Y6

Hands On with Mt Barker Women’s Football Club

The tour concluded with an on-field development session for both junior and senior women at Mt Barker Women’s Football Club. The session focused on skill execution, decision-making under pressure, leadership, and game craft, providing tangible takeaways for players at every

stage of their development. Local coaches were also engaged in discussions around training standards, athlete development and building sustainable women’s programs in regional communities.

Strengthening Regional Relationships

The Claremont Women’s Program views the Great Southern as an important feeder region and remains committed to ongoing engagement. This visit lays the foundation for continued collaboration, with the goal of ensuring talented regional footballers see Claremont not just as a destination but as a genuine, supported next step in their football journey.