BULLDOG UPDATE – SEASON 2026

Football Department Update – Season 2026

As we head into Season 2026, the South Fremantle Football Club continues to build strongly across all areas of our football program. From list management and coaching development to talent pathways and community connection, the focus remains on sustained success both on and off the field. Our intent is to play finals in all grades of football, setting up our respective seasons with the best opportunity for success.

Senior Men’s Program

Over the past three seasons, our Senior Men’s squad has undergone significant change. Some of this evolution has been forced through retirements, interstate moves and AFL opportunities, while other changes have been driven by deliberate list management decisions.

Since 2023, 52 players have represented the Club at WAFL League level, highlighting the ever-evolving nature of state league football. Of those, 20 players have been recruited to address specific list needs, while the remainder have come through our home-grown talent pathway, reinforcing the strength of our development programs.

Unlike the AFL system, WAFL lists are constantly evolving. The League’s salary cap and points system ensure a strong competitive balance – something reflected in the fact that five different clubs have won the past five premierships, with every club bar West Coast playing finals at least twice in that period. This parity makes list management both challenging and crucial.

Our approach continues to strike a balance between:

• Providing opportunities for local and home-grown talent
• Retaining core players
• Recruiting strategically to suit positional and game-style needs

Over the past three years, more than 60% of our League players have come through our talent pathway, a credit to our talent identification processes, metro and regional zones, and the dedicated staff who support them.

Across the past three seasons, the Club has recruited 20 players, bringing us to maximum points as we enter 2026. Importantly, retention has been strong, with 18 of the 22 premiership players signed on for 2026, and strong depth coming through from Reserves and Colts, both of whom progressed deep into finals last year. This depth creates healthy competition for spots and excitement around the next wave of talent.

The Men’s squad currently has an average age just over 23, with 11 players in the crucial 24–27 age bracket and 9 players aged over 28 providing experience and leadership and a strong group of emerging players progressing through the pathway.

The coaching group has seen some change heading into 2026. Shaun Sullivan, who served an apprenticeship with the Reserves last season, has stepped into the role vacated by Brad Maney, who has returned home to South Australia.

The coaching group has been bolstered with several key appointments:

• Danny Chartres – Senior Assistant Coach
• Andrew Harman and Matt Taberner – Reserves Program
• Daniel Vidovich – Head of Player Development & League Bench Coach
• Brennan Gillam – Bench Coach (Headset)
• Andrew Gaff – Performance & Wellbeing Coordinator

The WAFL environment presents unique challenges, with players balancing full-time work, study, trade-based employment and family commitments. The planning required to keep players fresh, motivated and performing at a high level is significant, and the work done behind the scenes by our dedicated football and support staff is critical in creating the strong, professional environment that defines South Fremantle.

The Senior Men’s squad had planned another regional pre-season trip; however, due to bushfires in and around Boddington, which impacted water supply and oval availability, the decision was made to hold a metro-based training day ahead of official practice matches in early March. Our thoughts are with all those affected by bushfires across Western Australia this summer.

Encouragingly, list health is strong at this point of the pre-season compared to the past two years. We’re looking forward to seeing players such as Koen Sanchez, Solomon James, Ed Graham and Kyle Russell spend more time on the park as the season approaches.

Senior Women’s Program

Our Senior Women’s squad has impressed throughout the pre-season with their commitment, professionalism and willingness to build on the learnings from last season under a new coaching structure.

The list continues to evolve, with exciting young talent progressing from the Rogers Cup program, including Madi Hadley, winner of the Charmaine Rogers Medal last season. This group has been complemented by experienced recruits, including:

• Ash Gomes (WAFLW premiership captain)
• Brianna Cleggett
• Natasha Entwistle
• Madison Evans

It was also fantastic to see Renee Morgan selected at Pick 43 in the AFLW National Draft by the Geelong Cats, a proud moment for Renee and the Club.

Our WAFLW program will once again undertake its annual pre-season camp at Legacy Camp in Busselton in late January. This camp continues to be a valuable opportunity to strengthen connections, build confidence and lay strong foundations within the group.

Our female pathways continue to gain momentum, with 17 players graduating from the 2025 Development Squads into the Rogers Cup program this season. Combined with the 16 players selected last year, this creates a strong core of emerging talent representing South Fremantle at a high level.

Lauren O’Connor has taken charge of the Rogers Cup program following a two-year apprenticeship under Brad Mazzuchelli, who has transitioned into a development role with the senior team. Lauren has made an impressive start, bringing fresh energy and ideas while fully engaging the playing group.

Coaching stability remains a key strength across both programs with all coaches retained and the addition of Alli Nokes, who joins the club from East Fremantle. This appointment increases our number of female coaches to four and we are proud to continue providing meaningful opportunities for outstanding female coaches within our club.

The Men’s and Women’s programs will again come together for a joint training session and the Gerry Bahen Race on Friday 6 February, with members, supporters and families encouraged to attend and connect before the season begins.

Talent Program & Pathways

Our Talent Program continues to go from strength to strength.

• WA State Summer Boys Program:
  Heath Wilson, Lucas Robinson, Byron Foster and Cam Maynard are all tracking well.
• Lucas Robinson has recently completed a training stint with the Fremantle Dockers as part of the NGA Elite Program.

The talent program players will attend a draft combine testing day this coming weekend with 150 players attending. This is an opportunity to have a look at their athletic profile and where they currently stand.

Over a three-week period, our Colts players have volunteered on Saturday mornings, assisting with the revitalisation of the Hilton Harvest verge on Rennie Crescent South, helping breathe new life into the local space.

Player development remains a priority, with 10 Under-14 players training up with Futures and 6 Futures players training with the Colts

There have been no major staff changes within the Talent Program, and the annual camp will be held on the weekend of the 7–8 March.

With practice matches approaching and final list decisions to be made in the coming weeks, excitement is building across all levels of the football program. The depth, balance and alignment across Men’s, Women’s and Talent pathways place the Club in a strong position heading into Season 2026.

We thank our members and supporters for their ongoing backing and look forward to another exciting year in the red and white.