The Fremantle Football Club are pleased to announce a $6M upgrade to the AFLW and Community Changerooms at Victor George Kailis Oval at the Club’s headquarters at Cockburn ARC.
Premier Mark McGowan, Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman, Women’s Interests Minister Simone McGurk and City of Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett joined CEO Simon Garlick, President Dale Alcock and AFLW star Gabby O’Sullivan for the announcement on Thursday morning.
The project will be delivered thanks to a joint investment from the WA Government, who are providing $2.5M in funding, and the AFL and WAFC, who are committing $0.65M to the project.
As well as facilitating the Club’s goals outlined in its 2021-2025 Strategic Plan to expand community program participation to 150,000 people per year, the upgrade allows the Club to address the current inequality between the AFL and AFLW facilities.
O’Sullivan said the new facilities would allow Fremantle’s AFLW team to continue to deliver at an elite level as the NAB AFL Women’s competition goes from strength to strength.
“I’ve been here since the start of our AFLW program and the Club moving to Cockburn ARC in 2017,” O’Sullivan said.
“Since then, there’s been a lot of advancement in female football, and I’m really excited and grateful that the State Government, the City of Cockburn, the AFL and WAFC have dug deep to put together this infrastructure upgrade.”
Also present on the day were members of Fremantle’s 11-13yrs female NGA program, who will benefit from the community facility upgrades.
“I’m really passionate about women in sport, so I’m really grateful for this opportunity and what is to come, not just for the AFLW team but for the girls standing behind me,” O’Sullivan said.
“The changeroom upgrade will add to the professionalism of the elite pathway that we’re travelling.”
Fremantle will contribute $3M to the project and Garlick was thankful that the Club were given significant support.
“On behalf of the Fremantle Football Club, we’d like to thank the State Government particularly the Premier and Minister Templeman for their vision, commitment and support for what is some sorely needed facilities,” Garlick said.
“This project gives us the capability to open up this oval for community use and go over and above the elite level for our AFLW and AFL teams.
“It is a phenomenal outcome for the health and wellbeing of West Australian youth, particularly in the south west corridor.
“This will benefit female football in particular from grass roots through junior female football to the elite pathway into the AFLW, along with All Abilities Football.
“I’d also like to pay tribute to our partners and friends, the City of Cockburn, the AFL and the West Australian Football Commission, who are also partnering and making a significant contribution to making this all happen.”
