Women's Football

Women have been playing Australian football for over 100 years with the earliest known competitive women’s game played in Perth in 1915. From then on, there are countless moments where women have overcome significant barriers to be able to play the game they love. The contribution and persistence of each of those pioneering individuals who pushed for women to play football should never be forgotten. It is thanks to each pioneer that today more than 600,000 women and girls participate in Australian Football and where all 18 AFL clubs field an AFLW team.

RANAFA’s vision for women’s footy is to promote equal participation and representation at all levels of footy in Australia from grassroots through to the semi-professional elite level. Guided by the ADF Aussie Rules Women’s Football Strategy, Navy footy provides equal opportunity for women to play, coach, umpire and administer the best game in the world. We have created a participation pathway that best supports the continued development of participants and enables career-long and lifelong participation in the game, regardless of skill or experience.

Senior Assistant Coach - Aaron Wheeler

‘Wheels’ has been involved with footy in the Navy since 2011 through the Cerberus and Navy footy teams. He was the playing Head Coach of Cerberus in 2021, which included mentoring of the women’s team, and was the Senior Assistant Coach of the Navy women’s team in 2023. Wheels played all of his junior and senior footy with the Knox Falcons Football Club before joining the navy. Based in the West, he has played for Warnbro Swans for 8 years and has also coached their youth and colts teams.

Aside from a solid understanding of the game and how to help players improve, Wheels is passionate about women’s footy and returning the Geoff Ledger Cup to Navy.

Assistant Coach - Meg Magnuson

‘Mags’ has played community, Navy and ADF footy for almost ten years and despite retiring in each of the past four years has continued on as a playing coach. In 2021, 22 and 23 she was the backline coach at Ainslie, winning a premiership with them in 2023. That year she also served as the Assistant Coach (backs) for Navy and ADF and will probably play again next year.

Assistant Coach - Heather Flannery

‘H’ has an extensive playing and coaching history both in the Navy and community footy. Her coaching career includes Berwick 2nd Div, Manunda Hawks, Navy Women as an assistant and senior coach, ADF Women and is currently coaching the HMAS Stirling team in WA. Stirling got through to the Grand Final in its first year of existence in the league and H was instrumental in this.

Team Manager - Katie Clohesy

Katie is Navy footy. As well as a storied playing career, Katie’s skills and experience as a team manager are second-to-none. Her persistence and dedication in creating teams and opportunities for women to be involved in Australian Football has resulted in a strong Navy women’s program and playing list. Her tenacity is unnerving and anyone who registers interest with Katie should expect to be spammed for life.

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