Western Strikers Soccer Club has been nominated for Club of the Month in recognition of its strong commitment to creating an environment where women and girls can thrive in football.
With a clear focus on equity, safety and opportunity, the club has taken meaningful steps to strengthen its female program and remove barriers to participation. Through improved lighting across training and match pitches, Western Strikers has created safer, high-quality conditions for female players, while equitable scheduling and extended training hours have helped ensure girls and women have consistent access to facilities.
A key strength of the club’s program is its leadership and development pathway. With Women’s Coordinator Michelle Loprete and Technical Director Georgia Iannella, a former Matilda, helping guide the program, Western Strikers has built a strong foundation for players to progress from junior to senior football. This pathway is further supported by female coaches who provide visible role models and development opportunities across the club.
Western Strikers has also used the Club Changer Program to take a more strategic approach to growing women’s and girls’ football. The program has helped the club identify and address barriers around access, safety and scheduling, leading to improvements in pitch allocation, training structures and overall support for female players.
The club has also created opportunities to strengthen connection and aspiration within its female program by scheduling Friday night women’s matches, allowing junior girls training beforehand to stay, watch and engage with senior female football. This has helped foster a stronger sense of belonging and shown younger players a clear pathway within the club.
The results of this investment are already being seen on the pitch. Over the past year, Western Strikers’ U13 to U16 girls teams have all qualified for finals in the Youth Premier League, while U14 Coach Gianni Canovas led his side to a Grand Final appearance. In another positive sign for the club’s pathway, U15 goalkeeper Sian Schopfer recently made her debut in the Women’s State League team.
Looking ahead, Western Strikers projects an additional 146 female players over the next three years, underlining the club’s ambition to continue growing the women’s and girls’ game. Through strong leadership, inclusive practices and a genuine commitment to equitable access, the club is helping build a sustainable and exciting future for female football.