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
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
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
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
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

Tiger News

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to catch every update, from game previews to behind-the-scenes highlights, including partner discounts, exclusive event access and more.