For 20 years, the West Coast Eagles working together with BHP has delivered support to communities in Western Australia, using the medium of sport and the brand of AFL and AFLW to inspire youth and deliver meaningful impact in communities.

In 2025, BHP and the West Coast Eagles continue to engage with communities supporting a number of tailored engagement programs that deliver in priority areas both in Perth and regional Western Australia, both across male and female football. Together BHP and the West Coast Eagles are proud of the ongoing impact they have in regional towns, including Port Hedland, Newman and Kalgoorlie.

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Celebrating 20 Years of the BHP Partnership!

In 2025, we are celebrating 20 years of BHP and the Eagles standing together!

BHP & EAGLES PARTNERSHIP CASE STUDY – WARLAWUURRU CUP

Engagement Area – Pilbara Region, Newman

In its third year in 2025, the Warlawuurru Cup has grown to become one of the biggest youth engagement events in Newman, offering local youth, male and female, the opportunity to play in a competitive local football competition.

This year the Warlawuurru Cup attracted over 150 youth participants and a crowd of over 300 at Boomerang Oval. Through increased community engagement a number of local businesses were on hand to offer operational support and volunteer across the day.

With teams from Newman, Western Desert & surrounding areas, the reach of the Warlawuurru Cup has been felt all through the Pilbara. In 2025, further engagement events held record numbers on the evening before the carnival.

The success of the Warlawuurru Cup can be directly attributed to the ongoing relationship management the West Coast Eagles and BHP enjoy in Newman.

BHP & EAGLES PARTNERSHIP CASE STUDY – ROYAL SURF LIFESAVING VOLUNTEERS

Engagement Area – Pilbara Region, Newman

Across 2024, the West Coast Eagles looked to engage with other community organisations to help service and delivery programs leading to an increased community collaboration.

Part of this initiative saw the club extend its partnership with Royal Surf Lifesaving WA, offering extended volunteer opportunities to youth in the community. A number of these volunteers were engaged, to help deliver programs such as Nightfields, Aqua Footy and Freestyle Footy. This positively impacted the community by growing sense of belonging and helping in efforts towards embracing positive role models in the town.

By utilising the power of the Eagles and BHP brands, a direct influence was able to be had in communities.

BHP & EAGLES PARTNERSHIP CASE STUDY – AQUA FOOTY

Engagement Area Pilbara Region, Newman and Port Hedland

Aiming to continue to use football as a key engagement driver for youth, an innovative new program was implemented in Newman in 2024, Aqua Footy.

Aqua Footy was designed to allow an extra option and tool towards engagement with youth during hot weather periods in Newman when traditional football programs were unable to be delivered.

The program saw West Coast Eagles staff and appointed Royal Surf Lifesaving volunteers run modified football games, at the Newman town pool. As well as delivering an active program for youth, the program also incorporated food options for youth.

The program is another example of the West Coast Eagles collaboration with other community providers, with the Y, Royal Surf Lifesaving and East Pilbara shire all engaged to assist in delivering Aqua Footy.

Further expansion of this program has continued with Aqua Footy now also being run in Port Hedland.

BHP & EAGLES PARTNERSHIP CASE STUDY – SOAR CUP

Engagement Area Pilbara Region, Port Hedland

The SOAR Cup was a new engagement event, held in Port Hedland in 2024, designed to engage Primary School Aged Females, combining the power of football engagement, to deliver education outcomes.

The program saw 85 female students across five Port Hedland Primary Schools participate in a female specific education program SOAR, followed by an all-girls interschool football carnival.

The SOAR program delivered four pre-event education modules at all five Port Hedland Primary Schools aiming to develop positive attitudes and offer health and well being education for on and off the field.

Carnival day, was promoted as a reward offering for completion of the SOAR program modules with former West Coast Eagles AFLW Player and current First Nations and Regional Community Officer, Krstel Petrevski part of the day as an added role model visit.