West Coast Eagles Board Member Jan Cooper OAM is one of eight new members to be welcomed to the AFLW Competition Committee, with the first meeting of 2025 taking place earlier this week.
Cooper is a pioneer of Australian Rules Football, making history in 2023 as the first woman to be inducted into the WA Football Hall of Fame.
The Order of Australia recipient created the first ever Women’s International Cup, introduced Female National Exhibition games, and has been a catalyst for the AFLW competition, paving the way for the league’s inception in 2017.
Cooper is joined by fellow new members Dave Barham (Essendon President), Tom Harley (Sydney CEO), Gemma Houghton (Port Adelaide player), Erin Lorenzini (North Melbourne GM AFLW), Kath McCann (Public Affairs and Social Impact Tasmania Football Club) Jordyn Pearson (AFLW Field Umpire) and Craig Starcevich (Brisbane AFLW Premiership Coach).
Following the end of their tenure, Eagles’ Head of Women’s Football Michelle Cowan, Brisbane’s AFLW GM of Football Bree Brock and Collingwood’s GM of Women’s Football have stepped down from their roles on the AFLW Competition Committee.
Full list of AFLW Committee Members:
- Simone Wilkie AO (Chair, AFL Commissioner)
- Laura Kane (AFL Executive General Manager Football)
- David Barham (Essendon President)
- Julia Chiera (AFLPA, Head of AFLW)
- Jan Cooper (West Coast Eagles Board Member)
- Tom Harley (Sydney Swans CEO)
- Gemma Houghton (Port Adelaide AFLW player)
- Erin Lorenzini (General Manager AFLW North Melbourne)
- Kath McCann (General Manager Marketing, Public Affairs and Social Impact Tasmania Football Club)
- Emma Moore (General Manager AFLW)
- Jordyn Pearson (AFLW Field Umpire)
- Erin Phillips (AFL Football Performance Lead)
- Hannah Priest (St Kilda AFLW Captain)
- Craig Starcevich (Brisbane Lions AFLW Senior Coach)
