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History

Women’s History

A Brief History of the Claremont Women’s Football Club

Starting out as the Innaloo Piranhas, CWFC were one of the four inaugural teams in the WA Women’s Football League competition that began in 1988.

Originally all teams in the competition were affiliated with amateur men’s football clubs. This arrangement continued for a few years until the women’s team decided to go it alone.

In the early 90’s a move was made and the Club’s name changed to Northern Suburbs. By 1992 the team changed its name back to Innaloo and operated from Yuluma Park. 1995 was an unsettled year for the Club; the team didn’t have a home ground and used a number of grounds before finding some availability at a park in Marangaroo.
Tragedy also struck the club in 1995 when the Piranhas lost one of their best and brightest players, Dhara Kerr, to a long battle with depression. Always a strong advocate for mental health, the Club has since dedicated an annual match to her memory, known as the Dhara Kerr Memorial Cup. The match is the first game played each season between CWFC and Swan Districts (formerly called Carlisle, Vic Park, Canning, Belmont, then Southern Thunder), a fantastic way to uphold the spirit of the game and camaraderie of the two Clubs.

In 1996, the Club returned to Innaloo and found a new home at Birralee Reserve, where the Club remained until 2005. Unfortunately the Club could not play out of Birralee in 2005 and so made the move to Woodlands Reserve. This was far from ideal as the Club did not have full access to the facilities available on the grounds and lacked the use of any club rooms.

In 2006 moves were made to affiliate with the Claremont Football Club. This bought about the renaming of the Club to Claremont and a change in Club colours from red and white to navy and gold.
2009 was the first time CWFC nominated a club for second division. In 2012 the Claremont Tigers submitted one team in the reserves division and won the Reserves premiership. From 2013 the Tigers experienced upheaval fluctuating from one team in 2012, to two teams in reserves and league in 2013 and 2014. In 2015 the Tigers played as one team in the reserves team winning the 2015 reserves premiership. Through this period the Tigers maintained resilience, strength and courage often with multiple players playing two games (8 quarters) on a Sunday.

2017 formally put to rest the feisty Piranhas logo which has been held for 29 years, in the WAWFL leagues and Claremont Tigers 30th year of celebration. For the first time, Claremont Women’s Football Club played as the Claremont Tigers, ensuring a strong future affiliated with the Claremont Football Club and it’s fantastic history.

In 2017 the Club was officially aligned with the Claremont Football Club as the Claremont Tigers, culminating in a brand new set of Tiger uniforms for the 2017 season in time for the move back to the newly built Claremont Oval facilities.

The Club is extremely happy to be affiliated with a WAFL Club that is so rich in history, working together with the Club and the Claremont District to create pathways for Women’s football in WA and across Australia.

CFCW Club Legends

Over the decades, the Claremont Women’s Football Club (previously Innaloo Pirahnas) have been lucky enough to have the support of some outstanding volunteers, leaders and players. These are our Club Legends.
  • Tiffany Harken
    Tiffany Harken

    Life Member – Inducted 2006


    Tiff was the first ever Life Member Inductee for the CWFC in 2006 and dedicated her time to the club for over 15 years. She was a strong player for the club representing WA on multiple occasions as well as taking on captain and coaching roles. Throughout her involvement with the club, Tiff held various positions on the committee including Secretary. Toward the end of her football career, coaching became a focus with her heading up CWFC teams as well as holding assistant coaching roles with the state team.In 2013, Tiff packed up the magnets and hung up her boots for good after seeing the club through some of its hardest and most rewarding times.
  • Charmaine Rogers

    WAFL Life Member – inducted 2019

    Life Member – Inducted 2006

    Hall of Fame – Inducted 2012


    “Charmie” has been a stalwart of the club for over 20 years. She started her career with the club as a player, moved on to work on the committee in various roles including Club President and continues to maintain her involvement as a senior coach. Over the years Charmie has dedicated countless hours to the club to ensure it remains strong and successful. Charmie is also a Life Member of the WAWFL and has the Rogers Cup named after her in recognition of her service to female football in WA.
  • Kim Besser
    Kim Besser

    Hall of Fame – Inducted 2009


    “Besser” as she’s affectionately known around the club started playing for the club in 1992. She holds the club games record with over 250 outings for the IWFC and CWFC. Throughout her two and half decades at the club, Bess has played in 6 premierships and continuously gained the respect from her team mates and coaches with a handful of other club awards. As well as her on field success, Besser has also contributed her time to the club off field through fundraising, recruitment and promotional events.
  • Brietta Harken
    Brietta Harken

    Hall of Fame – Inducted 2016


    Brie played her first game for the club in 1998 and was immediately hooked. Throughout the following twelve years she would go on to fill various Club and League roles. A ten year tenure on the committee saw her taking on several important roles including Secretary, Treasurer and Team Manager. She was also the first Coach and Captain of the first ever CWFC Reserves side. Brie still remains a fierce supporter of the Club and of female football.
  • Aimee Barber
    Aimee Barber

    Hall of Fame – Inducted 2016


    Starting out as team manager in 2005 and selling beer from an esky on game days, Aimee’s involvement in the club was instrumental in shaping who we are today. Aimee was the key to the club affiliating with the Claremont Tigers and negotiating the use of the facilities. Throughout Aimee’s tenure as President she updated policies and streamlined practices to ensure the Club had strong organisational governance. She also assisted other WAWFL clubs to update and implement policies to strengthen their organisational governance. Aimee is also a Life Member of the WAWFL in recognition of her contributions to female football in WA.
Womens League Best and Fairest
  • 2021 Rachel Ortlepp
  • 2020 Sasha Goranova
  • 2019 Emily Bonser
  • 2018 Jasmin Stewart
  • 2017 Jasmin Stewart
  • 2016 Chloe Colegate
  • 2014 Lara Filocamo
  • 2013 Belinda Smith
  • 2012 Chloe Colegate
  • 2011 Leanne Campbell
  • 2010 Rachel Paterson
  • 2009 Rachel Paterson
  • 2008 Rachel Paterson
  • 2007 Rachel Paterson
  • 2006 Deanne Coates
  • 2005 Danielle Fagents
  • 2004 Danielle Fagents
  • 2003 Catherine Mason
  • 2002 Deanne Coates
  • 2000 Hailey Merrick
  • 1999 Vanessa Crisp
  • 1998 Jane Humphreys
  • 1997 Cindy Farinosi
  • 1996 Vanessa Crisp
  • 1995 Dhara Kerr
  • 1994 Dhara Kerr
  • 1993 Dhara Kerr
  • 1992 Dhara Kerr
  • 1991 Julie Burnett
  • 1990 April Hames
  • 1989 Kara Graham
  • 1988 Kara Graham
Rookie of the Year
  • 2021 Kelsey Lang
  • 2020 Taylor Evans
  • 2019 Jessica Low
  • 2018 Jasmina Andros
  • 2017 Ellen D’Cruz
  • 2016 Jasmin Stewart
  • 2015 Jenna Websdale
  • 2014 Zoe Palandri
  • 2013 Lara Filocamo
  • 2012 Angel Hayward
  • 2011 Belinda Smith
  • 2010 Corbie Harden
  • 2009 Grace Dempster
  • 2008 Amanda Robertson
  • 2007 Rachael Patterson
  • 2006 Ashley Atkinson
  • 2004 Monica Jacobs
  • 2002 Louise Andersen
  • 2001 Sharon Squire
  • 2000 Karen Cowley
  • 1999 Karola Englert
  • 1998 Hailey Merrick
  • 1997 Natalie Steele
President’s Award
  • 2021 Aisling Pawlowski
  • 2020 Jessie Barker
  • 2019 Andrea Gilmore
  • 2018 Brigitte Shenton
  • 2017 Angel Hayward
  • 2016 Louise Carey
  • 2015 Alana Barbato
  • 2014 Eleanor Grinceri
  • 2013 Eleanor Grinceri
  • 2012 Rebecca Boladeras
  • 2011 Jorja Jones
  • 2010 Charmaine Rogers
  • 2009 Alana Barbato
  • 2008 Brietta Harkin
  • 2007 Tiffany Harkin
  • 2006 Hayley Sadler
  • 2002 Deanne Coates
  • 2001 Danielle Fagents
  • 2000 Leonie Stephenson
  • 1999 Monique Boucher
  • 1998 Tiffany Harken
  • 1997 Charmaine Rogers,
  • Mick Rogers

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