I trust that you are well as we move towards March, and the end of the AFLW season.
Our travelling party of 50 (30 players with 20 coaches and support staff – many of whom volunteer in our program) ended up spending 25 days in Melbourne, facing the challenges of strict protocols, changing fixtures and a third of the group being affected by AFL Health and Safety protocols. They returned to Western Australia after the match against St Kilda on February 8, which was our first win of the season, and had us on the edge of our seats until the final siren.
The group then spent seven days in quarantine, in accordance with State Government requirements – which fortunately reduced from 14 days just prior to their return. While a total of 32 days in a very strict bubble was taxing on all involved, the seven-day quarantine reprieve was a welcome relief to those able to return to their other jobs and study a week earlier than expected.
Since returning, we’ve played three matches at our home base of Mineral Resources Park and yesterday marked the conclusion of the 2022 AFLW Indigenous Round. Indigenous recognition rounds, within either the AFL or AFLW competitions, are so important to our club, as we celebrate and recognise the culture of Indigenous communities, and especially their intrinsic links to the game of Australian football.
We began our commemorations in the week leading into the Richmond match, with Noongar elder Vivienne Hansen conducting a traditional smoking ceremony with the AFLW group at Mineral Resources Park on Whadjuk country, to cleanse the ground and encourage the good spirits to keep the team safe and strong. It was a very moving and spiritual experience for all involved.
We also wore a new guernsey for the AFLW Indigenous Round, which was designed by Noongar artist Buffie Corunna, with input from our own Imahra Cameron, and Alicia Janz, former West Coast Eagles player and the AFLW Indigenous Round honouree for 2022. The process was supported by Collene Castle, a member of our RAP Committee.
The design represents First Nations people across both Western Australia and Australia, and cross-cultural connections amongst the team, as well as the club’s strong connection with community. I know that Imahra was so proud to wear the guernsey and to represent herself and her culture in a sport that she loves.
The club was delighted to wear the guernsey in both round seven against Richmond, and round eight (the official AFLW Indigenous Round) against Brisbane, although some of the other match day activities that we would normally undertake were curtailed by the current match day protocols required by the State Government in relation to COVID-19 and visiting clubs.
There is some great content about the team and our Indigenous Round celebrations on our website; I encourage you to take a look if you haven’t done so already.
Unfortunately, neither match yielded the result we’d hoped for. All in all, as I’ve said before, it’s been another interrupted season, and we’re yet to see the very best that our AFLW team has to offer.
Our final match at home for the 2022 NAB AFLW Season will be at Optus Stadium this Saturday against the Western Bulldogs at 6.40pm (AWST), before we head back to Melbourne for the final match of the season against North Melbourne.
I hope that our Eagles family will get behind the team for these last two rounds, be it in person or cheering from home.
We’re all disappointed that we weren’t able to play in Queensland or South Australia this AFLW season; here’s hoping that next season allows us to complete a full fixture and get back to playing in front of our members across the country.
Take care.
Kind regards,
Trevor Nisbett
Chief Executive
