INTRODUCING: VECCHIO-SMITH MEDAL

South Fremantle Football Club, in partnership with East Fremantle Football Club, is proud to introduce the establishment of the Vecchio-Smith Medal.

Named after Bulldog stalwart and current Captain Lauren Vecchio along with female football pioneer and former Shark champion Lynette Smith, the Medal will be awarded to the Derby BOG in Saturday’s game, and all WAFLW Derbies ongoing.

Judged by both clubs, plus an independent third party, the award is a feature of several new innovations being driven within female football.

Both WAFL clubs have also combined to create a perpetual Derby Trophy for the marquee clashes ongoing, creating & advancing important new history & traditions within the WAFLW.

Both Lauren and Lynette will be special guests at a pre-game function prior this Saturday’s big season opening WAFLW Derby, with the event theme being ‘Celebrating Female Football’.

Read more about the players the Medal is named after:

Lauren Vecchio

Lauren has been a key person in the development and rise of the South Fremantle Women’s Football Club, prior to our imalgamation as ‘one’ South Fremantle Football Club ongoing. Not only a great player on the field but also a great leader off the field, this was recognised when she was appointed Captain and has remained in the role, going into her 6th season as Captain and her 11th season playing for South Fremantle (then and now). Vecchio won the inaugural WAFLW Reserves Best and Fairest in 2019 and followed up with a stand-out year in 2020, winning our Allomes Medal as B&F. As a Captain, Lauren leads the group with integrity, determination, passion, and honesty. She is someone the team can look up to at all times. With this WAFLW program developing so quickly, Lauren is the perfect role model and face for the program. From being around in the beginning, progressing through the WAFLW Reserves competition, and to last year (2023) where we narrowly missed out on a Grand Final berth, our “Skip” doesn’t give up when times are tough. 40 games in the WAFLW League with we know many more to come.

Lynette Smith

In her first playing year (1989) she was voted with her club’s Fairest and Best Award. She was also a member of the 1990 and 1991 premiership teams and in 1992, became a committee member with the combined Melville Men and Women’s Football Club, thereby starting her numerous volunteering roles in the game. Lynette was also a member of the inaugural State Team in 1994 as the Ruck and named in the first ever Team of the Decade (1988 – 1997). From 1997 to 2001 Smitty took on a variety of roles including President, Secretary and Treasurer. In 2007 she pulled on the boots again to assist the division 2 Melville Sharks team reaching the preliminary finals and reaching her 100th game. Lynette joined the WAWFL Committee in 1998 – 1999 as the Competition Coordinator and became the Inaugural State Team Manager in 1999 in Melbourne. From 2000 – 2002 she was the Leagues’ Treasurer and in 2002 Lynette was awarded Life Membership of the WAWFL. After a short time living up north, Lynette returned in 2007 and again became the Leagues Treasurer. Lynette also became involved in her beloved club East Fremantle. With her longevity at the club, she was honoured with being the inaugural life member after 20 years of service as a player, president and secretary and received the same struck medal as the men to recognise the continuing partnership with the men’s club and instil the same culture of pride in the women for their achievements.