Women's Football

Women have been playing Australian football for over 100 years with the earliest known competitive women’s game played in Perth in 1915. From then on, there are countless moments where women have overcome significant barriers to be able to play the game they love. The contribution and persistence of each of those pioneering individuals who pushed for women to play football should never be forgotten. It is thanks to each pioneer that today more than 600,000 women and girls participate in Australian Football and where all 18 AFL clubs field an AFLW team.

RANAFA’s vision for women’s footy is to promote equal participation and representation at all levels of footy in Australia from grassroots through to the semi-professional elite level. Guided by the ADF Aussie Rules Women’s Football Strategy, Navy footy provides equal opportunity for women to play, coach, umpire and administer the best game in the world. We have created a participation pathway that best supports the continued development of participants and enables career-long and lifelong participation in the game, regardless of skill or experience.

2025 Carnival - Coach's Review

Katie Clohesy

The 2025 carnival showcased the most competitive and successful performance by the Royal Australian Navy Women's Australian Rules team in the last eight years. The progress made throughout this campaign has been evident on and off the field, with the playing group displaying resilience, unity, and an elevated standard of football. The experience and professionalism within the team continues to grow, setting a benchmark for future success. We are incredibly excited by the direction of the program and the level of competitiveness now coming through our squad. Each year we are seeing greater depth, skill, and commitment, which not only strengthens our immediate results but also lays the foundation for long-term sustainability.

The rebuild over recent years has been nothing short of outstanding, and we are grateful to Liz Quinn for the leadership and vision that established the base for our current achievements. This year has proven that the investment in development, culture, and pathways is paying dividends, and with the strong platform now in place, the future is very bright. The Navy Women's Australian Rules team is on an exciting trajectory, and we are confident that the next few years will bring even greater success as we continue to grow, compete, and inspire. WLPF.

Women's Coaching Team

Head Coach - Katie Clohesy

Katie has been involved in RANAFA since 2017, both as a player and in management roles, and in 2025 she assumed the role of Head Coach with a three year contract. Katie has her attained her National AFL Silver Coach accreditation, coupled with her extensive leadership training and experience, is an outstanding role model within our club. Over the years Katie has been instrumental in the development of women’s football, initially at the Cerberus Football Club, before moving to Western Australia where she founded the HMAS Stirling Women’s Football Club. Katie’s passion for the game is infectious, motivating and uniting the team to create a culture of family where players are empowered to reach their potential.

The Navy women's team have not won the Geoff Ledger cup since 2011, but Katie's leadership and commitment to developing our female athletes is on the right track to success. We are confident that Katie and her coaching will soon be able to lead the team to that long overdue win.

Women’s All Star Team 2004-2016

To recognise the best RANAFA female players from 2004-2016, the RANAFA Executive formulated the concept of establishing an All-Star team. Having won the ADF Australian Rules carnival three times during this period, the task of selecting just 27 players and administrators proved to be a difficult task.

Over 100 nominees were considered during the selection process. To qualify, players must have played in three games for RANAFA. The successful nominees were amongst the best players for RANAFA who had also been recognised by opposing coaches during the carnivals. For this reason, most had also been selected to represent ADF in their All-Star teams.

Some of the stand-out performances/achievements from the 2004-2016 carnivals were:

Tash Wilson - the inaugural RANAFA captain who kicked 10 goals against RAAF at the 2009 carnival (yet named on a half-back flank);
Nikki Furlong - kicking 9 goals against RAAF at the 2011 carnival;
Trish Muller - RANAFA Legend who represented Richmond in the VFL and has been awarded the RANAFA player of the carnival trophy more than any other player;
Candice Freeman - RANAFA Legend and inaugural player who captained the team for five years during the 2004-2016 period;
Rhiannon Metcalf - the first RANAFA player to represent at AFLW level playing with the Adelaide Crows in the inaugural AFLW season of 2017.

The 2004-2016 All-Star team acknowledges the player’s skills, ability and contribution to RANAFA’s history and heritage.

H. FLANNERY

E. QUINN

M. PING

N. WILSON

L. GAYLOR

J. MERCER

A. CARPENTER

H. MERRICK

J. NORTH

K. SARGENT

S. MOONEY