Rewards for Claremont’s Women

By Ken Casellas

“It’s incredible and a major breakthrough,” declared Jack Schwarze, when explaining the news that the members of Claremont’s WAFL women’s side will receive match payments for the first time ever, in 2025.

Schwarze, coach of Claremont’s WAFLW side, is rejoicing at the WAFL’s decision to begin paying players from all clubs, starting with instituting a salary cap of a base $20,000 for the Tigers, while some other clubs will receive a little more for competitive balance.

Claremont’s salary cap will increase to $25,000 in 2026 and $30,000 the following year.

Schwarze is currently drawing up contracts for his players. Only players 19 years and over and those turning 19 next year will be eligible to be contracted. All eligible players must receive a payment, with a maximum of $250, for every match in which they play in the WAFLW league competition.

Claremont will have a tier system with scope to adjust some contracts.

Schwarze, who has led the Tigers to the premiership in two of the last three seasons, explained that Claremont would receive $7500 from the WAFL, meaning hat the club would have to find sponsors to make up the balance of the $20,000 salary cap.

“If the funds were there, I would say that our players deserve more,” he said. “Players will be paid purely on appearances in the league side".

“I’m sure that the decision to pay our players will help them with their passion and the feeling of respect. Our players have an off-season program where they are expected to complete four to six sessions per week.

“Once the pre-season starts, they will attend three training sessions a week, as well as three sessions in the gym. The ability to pay senior players is a huge step in recognising their level of commitment.”

Rachel Ortlepp, captain of the Claremont league side for the past three seasons, who kicked the winning goal late in the Grand Final against East Fremantle at Joondalup in July this year, said: “It’s a pinch yourself moment because I never thought we would be paid to play footy.

“It is more symbolic, and I’m sure match payments will have a financial impact with some of our players who are students.”

Jacinta Valentini, who is studying for a Bachelor of Education at ECU Joondalup as well as working part-time in retail, said: “It is good that we’re finally getting recognition, even though I’m not here for the money. I just like playing the sport, and I’m more than happy that I switched from netball to football several years ago.”

Valentini (24) has played 66 WAFLW games since joining the Tigers in 2019. She had an outstanding year in 2024, finishing as runner-up for the fairest-and-best award, representing WA in the match against South Australia and then playing in the premiership side.       

One of Claremont’s star players is 18-year-old Eva O’Donnell, a slightly-built rangy player who impressed with her pace, endurance and all-round skills as a winger and a half-forward.

“The prospect of being paid is amazing,” she said. “It was not a possibility when I started, and it is awesome to get paid to do sport. I like to run away (from my opponents) with the ball, and I like scoring goals.

“I have been playing football since AusKick when I was seven. And at Rosalie Primary school I didn’t know what to do at lunchtime, and the teachers suggested I go out and kick the football. So, they got one of the Year Six boys to teach me, and I got to join their junior football club.

“I have played 21 league games with Claremont over the past two years. I used to play wing before moving forward. In 2023 I fractured my left collarbone in a match at Fremantle Oval. I was tackled and it snapped in half, and this forced me to miss the grand final.

“This year I injured my right ankle in the preliminary final against West Perth and missed another grand final.”

Ortlepp (27) was Claremont’s fairest-and-best player in 2021 and is currently working at the Melalueca Women’s Prison in Canning Vale. Like her teammates she enjoys the professionalism at Claremont, the excellent facilities, and especially the respect shown to all female players at the club.