Quaife providing grand final experience at Swan Districts

On a very youthful and exciting Swan Districts team, Lauren Quaife is one player with grand final experience in the WAFL Women’s competition but she knows how special it is to have just made the decider with this group.

Quaife is now in her third season with Swan Districts and continues to lead from the front in the ruck to be a key piece of reaching the grand final which will be played this Sunday afternoon against reigning premiers Claremont at Lathlain’s Mineral Resources Park.

She has already played in two WAFL Women’s premierships with Peel Thunder as well so playing on the grand final stage is familiar to her as Swan Districts attempt to win their first flag since the new competition was formed.

Having been there in grand finals before and having also now played State football the last two years, Quaife is one of the leaders at Swan Districts despite still being 24 years of age herself, and she’s pleasantly surprised that the nerves haven’t kicked in yet.

“Surprisingly not nervous!,” Quaife said.

“Going into the past two finals against East Freo and Subiaco I definitely had a lot of anxiety whether we’d get on top of the competitive teams, not wanting to make it all this way to get out before making the final.

“Now it feels like we’ve done everything we can to get to this point, we’ve earned our spot and it’s just exciting to really appreciate how far we have come as a team as we lead into this week.

“When you read comments on social media of people backing us in and people know about the grand final and chat to you it’s really special.”

Reaching grand final in top form

Claremont and Subiaco might have been the top two teams all season in the WAFL Women’s in 2025, but Swan Districts have been in the best form of any side of the past two months almost now.

The Swans finished the home and away season having won five straight games to secure third position with a 12-4 record before then going on to beat East Fremantle and Subiaco to now book in a meeting against the Tigers in the grand final.

Quaife couldn’t be happier with the form that Swan Districts now take into the grand final despite being fully aware how tough Claremont are going to be as they attempt to win a third premiership in the last four years.

“Can’t agree more that we are performing well and have a good feel with the team,” Quaife said.

“Every time we lost during the season I think we took it personal and locked in each week to make sure we don’t feel that way (no one likes losing).

“As much as we have become a family and have good banter and team activities, we’re really good at locking in at training and knowing when to be serious and I think we all back one another in to win our one on one contests and give it our all for the team. The feeling is great on and off the field for that reason.”

Winning into the grand final

After beating East Fremantle at Steel Blue Oval in the first semi-final, Swan Districts took on Subiaco in the preliminary final last Sunday at Leederville’s Sullivan Logistics Stadium.

The Swans were on top for most of the game before the Lions did kick the last two goals to get back to within two points, but the black-and-whites were able to hold on much to the relief of Quaife.

“The last two minutes of the game were high pressure and stressful, especially being ruck having a centre bounce and lots of repeat stoppages, I think everyone including myself kept watching the clock tick down,” Quaife said.

“The main goal was to just make sure Subiaco couldn’t get a free ball and kick it towards their 50. Given all that stress and pressure, when the siren went it was a weight off our shoulders and felt like we could breathe.

“Once the stress wore off it was massive celebrations, we went into the game knowing Subiaco were favourites and we beat them, I think it was an added bonus to the celebration that we proved everyone wrong and really put ourselves out there as a contender to win the whole thing.

“Friends and family were there, lots of hugging and celebrating, it got me excited to think if we can win this week just how big the celebrations would be.”

Leading the ruck with midfield stars

Quaife is having another standout season in the ruck for Swan Districts to have her as the standout player in that position across the competition highlighted by her playing for WA in the first two State games ever against South Australia.

However, no ruck is much good without some gun midfielders around them and with two genuine stars like Carys D’Addario and Jaime Henry who are in brilliant form, Quaife couldn’t be happier with the mix they have in there with plenty of others contributing too.

“Right from the outset at pre-season I knew our midfield was something special, we have so many talented players in the mid that when we would do match sim we can fill two sides easily, I’m sure it’s hard for Jason (Burton) each week to pick our starters and bench for mids,” Quaife said.

“We work really well together and have plans and always chat and lift each other up. It’s been a privilege to see Cary’s develop to the key player she is over three years and it’ll be sad when she gets drafted. Her and Jaime work really well together and are in sync.

“Jaime is really good at telling when I could use a bit of a fire up and helps me get into the game. Then you have Luka, Meg, Bakes and Summer all running through showing their speed, skill and footy smarts.

“The other teams we play are stacked with their ex-AFLW players on ball but we always take them on and I’d be scared to line up on our midfield when we’re up and about.”

Continued growth of women’s football

While Quaife has played in grand finals before in the premierships she won with Peel Thunder in 2020 and 2021, what getting back there now with Swan Districts does is provide a chance to reflect on the continued growth of women’s football.

It might be only four years later since that last time that Quaife was part of a grand final, but she is in as good a position as anybody to have seen the continued growth of the competition and the game in general for females which she couldn’t be prouder to be seeing.

“I started playing WAFLW when it started in 2019 and only had five teams, to compare that to this a season where it came down to six teams being contenders for a top four spot coming down to percentage – it’s really exciting,” Quaife said.

“I’m very impressed at how competitive and big the competition has grown in only seven seasons. I have friends, family and work colleagues who now follow the girls footy and get around it.

“The finals crowds get bigger and bigger; the girls are getting contracts and player payments. We’re doing reviews, interviews, streamed games, rookie me articles etc. It’s a real testament to the WAFL clubs providing an opportunity for the girls and treating us like one club and respected.

“It feels pretty special to be able to be part of such an important era in woman’s footy especially with all the young talent coming through and seeing that the 16-18 year old girls are going up against ex-AFLW veterans and giving a great contest.

“There’s definitely been a big shift in the competition more competitive but I think it’s only the start with all the development pathways for young girls which is great for myself and other players who didn’t get that chance growing up.”

Hectic life but all worth it

Quaife not only is a standout on the football field, but she has a burgeoning career that she’s starting to build outside the sport as well having graduated in 2024 with a double degree in Law and Commerce.

She is now in the middle of completing her Practical Legal Training (PLT) ahead of being admitted as a lawyer, and it just happens to be coinciding with the WAFL Women’s finals series.

“I actually missed the big Wednesday training this week due to PLT commitments,” Quaife said.

“The girls were understanding and supportive. It has been quite a lot mentally but this weekend will be worth it.

“It’s pretty exciting to finish my PLT for admission the same week as the grand final.”