Harper Sercombe
Truganina Thunder is seeking to expand its operations into the Western Region Football League’s senior program.
Within three years the club is aiming expansion within its junior program, as it aims to have senior men’s and women’s programs long
President Nick Ladbrooke said he is hopeful of the club having a women’s side next year following the club putting out an expression of interest.
“We see that there is a gap in senior women’s football in the WRFL compared to the men’s,” he said.
“We’re in the process of doing a strategic plan for the next five years, and that will focus on the senior section of the club.”
The five year plan aims to grow junior football organically, including all the way up to an under-18s team, for both men’s and women’s football.
Currently the club has six junior teams from under-eight to under-12s, therefore a senior side would require the club to recruit women from other teams in the area or those who are not currently playing.
“Every year we have lost girls (to rival clubs) because they have pathways and we don’t,” Ladbrooke said.
“We want to put plans in action to give those pathways and to give good conjugation when they’re coming in, because you can lose those girls very easily.”
With the club starting in 2019, Ladbrooke said they were decimated by COVID the following two years, with 2022 and 2023 being major rebuilding years for the club.
“We have plans to move forward and grow the club into 20 teams, with men’s, women’s, reserves, netball, big plans,” he said.
The club said it will release its full strategic plan before the end of the year.
