Fremantle defender Ange Stannett was one of almost 500 guests celebrating the achievements of women at the Club’s International Women’s Day luncheon on Friday at the Crown Perth Ballroom.

The Fremantle vice-captain was in attendance alongside the Club’s newly appointed AFLW Senior Coach Lisa Webb, both sharing their individual football journeys on stage.

Presented by Programmed, the IWD luncheon is one of the most important days on Fremantle’s events calendar, with Stannett saying the day was a source of inspiration.

“It’s always such a good day to see a room full of people who are there to support each other and wanting to lift each other up,” Stannett said.

“With the theme this year being equity and wanting to make the world a more equitable place, it’s obviously important on that global sort of level - but it is just so empowering to be part of a day like this.

“I hear stories from other speakers, and you just feel inspired, to do more, to be better, to have hard conversations and to really try and close some of the gaps.” 

The event included a discussion with Webb and Fremantle CEO Simon Garlick, while Stannett joined Elise Sutherland on stage – a biomedical engineer shortlisted on the Forbes 30 under 30 list for healthcare and Science. 

Fremantle board member Colleen Hayward gave the Welcome to Country to open the event, while the inspirational Sam Bloom was the luncheon’s guest speaker.

A bestselling author, and two-time World Para Surfing Champion, Bloom shared her extraordinary experience of suffering from a devastating accident while on holiday with her young family in Thailand, leaving her paralysed from the chest down.

Stannett also told the room of one of her biggest inspirations in life, her fiancé Tash Rigby.

Recently engaged to the Perth Glory women’s captain, Stannett said Rigby’s support was invaluable as the pair strive to support each other to perform at their best in their respective elite sporting careers.

“It's been a huge couple of weeks, I don’t think I realised at the time when I proposed to Tash that it was World Pride, so it really just was a big week and quite overwhelming,” Stannett said.

“Tash is such a good support for me. Her experience in her own sporting career helps me with mine - she is an incredible leader and I learn through her lived experience too.

“It’s nice being able to give each other the support that we need on and off the field to try and be the best that we can be.”

Earlier on Friday morning, Stannett and Webb were also part of Fremantle’s inaugural IWD Student Focus event, supported by Programmed. Held at Emmanuel Catholic College, it was a chance to celebrate the achievements of women with over 100 students.

Stannett said it was an important opportunity to share the message to a younger demographic.

“It was really good to be at the College this morning, and it’s so important to be able to include the next generation in days like this where they wouldn’t usually get a chance to come to an event like this at Crown,” Stannett said.

“It’s awesome to be able to share stories with…we learn through lived experiences and if they can hear from how we have dealt from our own obstacles and challenges then they will hopefully be better equipped to move forward and lead in their own life as well.

“It was awesome to see a turnout, a lot of the students there didn’t actually have school today - so they rocked up just for the International Women’s Day event which was awesome.”