WA Football
 | |
| Sport | Australian rules football |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Western Australia |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Tuart Hill, Western Australia |
| Chairman | Ian Callahan[1] |
| CEO | Michael Roberts |
| Official website | |
| wafootball | |
 | |
WA Football, formerly the West Australian Football Commission, is the governing body of Australian rules football in the state of Western Australia. The organisation is registered as a not-for-profit association.[2]
WA Football assists in administering the West Australian Football League (WAFL) and is the owner of Australian Football League (AFL) teams Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles.[2]
History
[edit]In the late 1980s, Australian rules football in Western Australia faced financial struggles and depended heavily on State Government funding. Graham Edwards, the State Sports Minister, called for changes to the sport's administrative structure, resulting in the creation of the West Australian Football Commission (WAFC) in 1989. Peter Tannock, a future Hall of Famer, served as the chair of the WAFC for its first decade.[3]
When the WAFC was formed, the Eagles were insolvent and unsuccessful, the WAFL was in serious trouble and Subiaco Oval needed an overhaul desperately. By 1991, the Eagles and WAFL were rescued from financial ruin and planning began for a second WA AFL team. Both the Eagles and Dockers had $4 million upfront licence fees upon joining the AFL, which attributed to the financial troubles of the WAFC.[4]
In 2020, a parliamentary committee inquiry into the WAFC was established[3][5] after it was revealed that a third of its revenue went to commission staff payments.[6] Sports Minister Mick Murray had concerns that not enough money was being spent on grassroots football by the WAFC.[7] The WAFC sought to make drastic spending cuts following the revelations[6] but the organisation defended its staff structure and salaries.[7] As of 2020, the State Government provided $11 million a year to the WAFC as part of the proceeds from Optus Stadium.[6] The inquiry found that the Eagles and Dockers had "too much power" in deciding the make-up of the WAFC board and the election of commissioners had to be reformed to be more representative of community football.[8][9]
In February 2025, the West Australian Football Commission underwent a re-brand to WA Football to shed its corporate stigma.[10]
Districts
[edit]WA Football has three Regional Development Councils in the Perth metropolitan area, with each council consisting of three districts.[11][12][13]
| Councils | Districts | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Metro North | Claremont | Claremont |
| Subiaco | Leederville | |
| West Perth | Joondalup | |
| Metro Central | East Perth | Leederville |
| Perth | Lathlain | |
| Swan Districts | Bassendean | |
| Metro South | East Fremantle | East Fremantle |
| Peel | Mandurah | |
| South Fremantle | Fremantle |
See also
[edit]- Australian rules football in Western Australia
- Australian rules football
- West Australian Football League
References
[edit]- ^ "WA Football chair Ian Callahan flags WAFL recruiting zones shake-up, says Bunbury-based team unlikely". The West Australian. 7 February 2025. Archived from the original on 7 February 2025.
- ^ a b "About Us". West Australian Football Commission. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
- ^ a b Law, Peter (2 September 2020). "Former State sports minister Graham Edwards adds to outrage over WA Football Commission". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024.
- ^ King, Rhianna (26 September 2013). "Growing pains long and hard". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024.
- ^ Law, Peter (25 June 2020). "Parliamentary inquiry announced into WA Football Commission following salary scandal". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024.
- ^ a b c Townsend, John (12 June 2020). "WA Football Commission set to make drastic spending cuts after staff payment leaks". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024.
- ^ a b de Kruijff, Peter (19 August 2020). "WA Football Commission inquiry: Chairman Wayne Martin slams staff number 'speculation'". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024.
- ^ de Kruijff, Peter (12 November 2020). "Inquiry calls for Eagles and Dockers' power over WA football to be reined in". WAtoday. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024.
- ^ Law, Peter (12 November 2020). "Parliamentary inquiry finds Eagles, Dockers have 'too much power' and WAFC board election must be reformed". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024.
- ^ "SPECIAL REPORT: WA Football name change first step in major WA Football Commission re-brand". The West Australian. 6 February 2025. Archived from the original on 6 February 2025.
- ^ "Metro North Regional Development Council". West Australian Football Commission. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Metro Central Regional Development Council". West Australian Football Commission. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Metro South Regional Development Council". West Australian Football Commission. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024.