EAST FREMANTLE’S men’s and women’s football clubs have rebooted merger talks after a previous attempt to unite the clubs fell apart, putting almost 40 years of women’s football history back on the negotiating table.
The women’s club, which was formed in 1988 and retains its own board and constitution, had rejected a merger in 2022 after the EFFC would not recognise its life memberships and playing records dating back to the beginning of women’s football in WA.
The WA Women’s Football League was brought under the control of WAFL clubs in 2019, but last year the Chook found out East Freo’s women’s club had been playing under the Shark’s banner for four years without amalgamating.
The women’s club, which has its own board and constitution, wanted the EFFC to recognise their life memberships and games played since 1988 – not since the 2019 rebrand.
The EFFC dug its heels in, so the women’s club voted against merging, resulting in female players seeing their statistics erased and being told not to celebrate what would have been significant career achievements.
A sustained campaign by the women’s club saw a turnaround at the Sharks earlier this year, with the EFFC released a statement saying it now recognised “all senior state league matches, including both WAFLW and former WAWFL competitions”, acknowledging women’s games dating back to the league’s beginning.
Now halfway through 2026 with the WAFLW finals approaching at Fremantle Oval, both EFFC and EFWFC say they are working together towards a merger.
EFWFC vice president Nikki Harwood said a working group from both clubs was formed to take the merger forward.
“While there is still work to be done, the EFWFC committee is encouraged by the recent progress and remains focused on continuing constructive discussions with the East Fremantle Football Club,” Ms Harwood said.
She didn’t elaborate on details of the proposed merger.
History
“As the WAFLW competition enters its first week of finals, we would like to wish the EFFC League and Rogers Cup teams every success in their upcoming finals campaigns,” Ms Harwood said.
WAFLW football operations manager James Depane said he valued the history of women’s football and wanted current players to recognise the contribution of those who came before them.
“That’s been a lot of hard work that’s had to get them there, and that’s come from past players, supporters, parents,” Mr Depane said.
With the WAFLW finals set for Sunday, August 23 at Fremantle Oval, Mr Depane said the current women’s team and Roger Cup team had seen new personalities begin to shift the dynamic and expectations.
Mr Depane said captain Tiani Teakle, Mackenzie Webb and Anjelique Raison had been among the team’s standout performers this season.
East Fremantle, currently sitting third on the ladder, are considered a potential threat to back-to-back premiers Claremont as they prepare to begin their finals campaign.
by ISLA TOMLINSON