Main Image: Fremantle AFLW coach Lisa Webb sits down with columnist Dani Laidley for an interview. Credit: The West Australian/Andrew Ritchie
Coach Lisa Webb talks with AFL legend and The West columnist Danielle Laidley about their flag quest, her goals, mentors, and more ahead of Fremantle’s finals campaign, which begins this weekend.
DL: Did you anticipate being your club’s senior coach five years after you retired from football in 2018?
LW: No, absolutely not. I wanted to continue playing, but I had my first son, who is now nine years old, who was born virtually deaf. Since my husband and I both carry the same gene, IVF was more difficult and required ensuring that we had the same type of gene, so I knew it would take a little longer when I wanted to have another kid. I always knew we wanted a family.
I enjoyed playing football after having Ollie, and I remember thinking that I wanted to continue playing but that family was more important. I thought, “I think I’m just. I was 33, so obviously late to do it.” The physicians told me that it might take a little longer than usual to have a family, which is what I wanted.
I added, “Look, I told the football team that if they wanted to stay on as coaches, I could handle being a parent too.” I immediately started teaching Fremantle in opposition, tactics, and backs for a few years. After my husband received a job in Melbourne, I decided we should do it since the family was young.
I followed him over there and eventually joined Marc as a midfield coach at the Bulldogs.
DL: When did you believe you were ready while you were a member of the Bulldogs?
LW: I believe I was overflowing with ideas and wanted to help with a lot of things. I was juggling relief teaching because I had been a teacher for 12 years before I started studying and wanted to help a lot of people.
One of them was Gabby Newton, who was at the Bulldogs when I was. She wasn’t in my queue, but she had so much energy that I wanted to give her feedback. It might be difficult to balance a full-time work with a few hours of afternoon assistant coaching in the AFLW. In addition to managing my two-year-old kid, I was working as a part-time teacher.
“I had a little extra time to help others, so let me know if you want it,” I told Nathan Burke, the coach at the time. Every time I showed up, I was ecstatic because Gabby is a great example of a player who would approach me and ask for more assistance. I reasoned that perhaps I should pursue a full-time coaching position since I want to continue improving and leading my own squad.
Fremantle’s willingness to believe in me and say, “We think you’re ready,” was what convinced me that I was ready. The more I progressed through the interview process, the more I realised that I had more experience than I likely realised.
It wasn’t just football; I also had a lot of responsibilities managing people and other things, as well as teaching and athletics. I’m extremely glad I did it in the end, but every coach wonders if it’s the proper time when you kind of come through.
DL: How did you formulate your beliefs on people and club culture during your many years of teaching and your own sporting experience?
LW: For me, it’s a huge thing. Although I am aware that athletics is ultimately a team sport, I have always been drawn to people as individuals and improving them.
I’m sure I did that a lot when I was a teacher. I worked with Matt Connell at Newman College for a very long period, and he is currently one of my assistants at Fremantle. Together, we launched a women’s football program at Newman. Though it’s built on that connection and enjoyment, I’ve always had that urge.
Some may consider my sense of humour and banter weak, but I just put it out there despite the fact that I can be fairly darn cheeky. I simply like making connections with people and supporting the shared objective of the team.
I believe that humour and positivity are definitely some of my strongest traits, which I wish to keep improving. People can relate to it, which has really helped me grow.
We don’t want to sit about here without winning, so I’ve always been willing to learn from others around me at the club and build those really great connections with individuals, making them feel loved and cared for while also wanting to improve.
DL: Who are your mentors and sources of inspiration?
LW: I think my spouse Marc ought to be mentioned here. Marc was a major contributor to Subiaco’s five premierships throughout his incredibly successful WAFL career. My passion was football, and I loved watching him play because it allowed me to learn more about the game.
For the simple reason that I genuinely loved his games, I never missed one. Marc was probably a little annoyed by my constant questioning regarding the game. Simply put, I was passionate in learning a bit more about it.
He has undoubtedly had a significant role in my life. Finding the right people at the right moment may be difficult at times, and time is really valuable for everyone, especially in the AFL. I am fortunate to still be able to bounce ideas off him.
Another is my dad, who has been an athletic coach for thirty years. He is an amazing coach who is constantly motivated by the idea that hard effort and connection are important to him. He gets by thanks to his wicked sense of humour. He emphasises diligence, dedication, and consistency in a lot of his tutoring.
Regarding the individuals at the club, Bob Murphy had a significant influence on my career and gave me the self-assurance to be myself while knowing I had the skills to teach the players. As that leadership consultant, he also gave me advice.
The best thing about Cam Shepherd, the director of coaching here, is that he always pushes me. He is amazing and really helpful. It’s fantastic that he is not a yes man.
I adore it when we complement one another and engage in the awkward dialogues that come with playing football. My hardest adjustment has been having those talks when we discuss it after I view it one way and he sees it another. For me, he’s been a true beauty; we’ll discuss it and occasionally he says we’ll agree to disagree.
DL: What lessons did you take away from your four victories, six losses, and elimination from the finals after receiving the senior position at Fremantle last season?
LW: The most important lesson I took away from this experience was that we must rely on our whole roster, not just one or two exceptional players.
Kiara Bowers is one of our most accomplished and gifted players; she was a constant source of support and helped us define what hard effort was. Her 18 to 20 tackles every game were crucial to our success. We didn’t have her this year, and I stated early in the preseason that we would be depending on the 30 players on the roster. Since only one or two players kept the AFLW together in its early years, we cannot rely on just one or two.
I’ve worked really hard to have those tough talks with the younger players and teach them about what it’s like to be a professional athlete.
Another important lesson I discovered was that we needed to improve communication. It’s a skill that players need to keep honing; it’s not a choice; speaking on the pitch is a requirement of your job.
Even if they know what to do, our quieter players feel that they can’t express themselves as much. Each and every player on our list is what makes us powerful.
An example of it is Dana East, who is a true weapon who plays hard on the pitch. Initially a quiet, youthful player, she and Mim Strom are now making decisions from the inside midfielders’ point of view and providing feedback to other players.
Her being able to tell Turbo (Bowers), Eps (Ebony Antonio), and any of the other older players precisely what they are thinking, as well as guiding and holding them accountable, has been extremely beneficial for us, regardless of your age.
I stated at the beginning of the preseason that while it’s great that the coaches understand the game, we must evaluate ourselves based on how well we impart that information to the players.
It gives them the ability to decide on momentum, fast plays, and slow plays during play, which is a far better tool for us than coaches employing runners and their knowledge.
Encouraging our players to make wise choices on the pitch is something I believe is constantly changing as a coach. Our team has demonstrated this year that they are capable of making wise choices. Having some candidates with some experience also helps, and they have given the team positive feedback.
LW: This group has never really been limited by me.
I’ll just say that they were hungry. They hadn’t been done long when I was working here from preseason to April, and I was sitting in my office in mid-January when they would come in and ask, “Well, what are we doing?”
They simply wanted to learn and grow, and it wasn’t only on the field; they frequently come to my office and ask how I can improve at something, and we break it down. Our improved performance was the result of our desire to improve our physical attributes on the field, in the gym, and through in-game instruction.
I’ve also been teaching a lot in the lecture hall, and now that they understand what we’re trying to do better, they collaborate more closely with Cam Sheperd, line coaches, and me. We’re really gaining a lot of knowledge in these players, which gives them the confidence to go there and perform.
DL: Aine Tighe is injured after you acknowledged losing Bowers prior to the season. How did you get back on your feet? I thought everything went smoothly, so how did you create a team rejig?
LW: That was difficult, I believe. At first, I thought Turbo (Bowers) had gastro-oesophageal symptoms, but she claimed to be pregnant, the little ratbag! That taught me a lot.
Although I didn’t see Aine losing the game, she is incredibly tough and stoic, and she doesn’t lose easily. That was somewhat of a surprise when it occurred. It was difficult to replace her because she is a highly special player with amazing speed, agility, and leadership skills.
However, since we have been developing these girls for some time, another person may step in and take the part. And the way that Aine has carried herself hasn’t missed a beat; it benefits the players and the team. She currently serves as an additional coach for the players.
DL: You might find it challenging to respond to this question. I’ve seen AFL and AFLW games, and I find your coaching style and ability to rotate players fascinating. You’re among the competition’s best strategists, in my opinion. How did you get at that?
LW: Player mentality undoubtedly plays a role in that. Our motto this year is “all in the mindset,” which means that while doing things like putting a tag on, you need a player who is prepared to put on the part and sacrifice their own game.
As long as you can perform your job, I genuinely don’t care if you acquire one or two belongings. It all comes down to accepting a position. One of those players who started out as a half-back before switching to defensive forward was Jae Flynn. We learnt a lot from Charlotte Thomas, who played for the Eagles, during preseason games.
It also comes down to player development; during the preseason, we advised players to focus on developing other positions if they weren’t chosen.
Apart from that, I enjoy watching a lot of football and researching topics like matchups, weights, and heights.
As a coach, I’m far from the final product. I believe that I have accumulated a great deal of information from my work in football and athletics, as well as from teaching and other sports that I still wish to learn more about. I also believe that I have been involved in the strategy side of things since the beginning.
I would observe the various game tendencies and previous opposition games. I’m in a unique position in the inner sanctum to see what these players are capable of, therefore I use other people to bounce ideas off. Even though I will listen to others and not always make the best decisions, I will ultimately sit with my choices.
DL: You can now use the F-word because you’re heading to the finals. How do you feel?
LW: After defeating the Bulldogs, I must admit that I’m ecstatic.
I returned to see the round one match against Essendon because we are playing them. I wouldn’t say we are a completely different team, but we are much closer than we were in the season’s first round.
We have three new players and players like Gabby Newton who had an interrupted preseason. I think we are a much better team now, but it’s vital to teach our girls that you don’t have to be off much—just a few percent off will affect us.
They will undoubtedly pull some surprises because Essendon is a fantastic squad and is coached by Natalie Wood, a brilliant game strategist.
This week, we must strike the correct balance between the things we can control. I get a little anxious, but not yet. For me, though, it’s about making sure our girls are as ready as possible.
We’ve put in a lot of effort to return to where we believe we belong, and I want them to appreciate it too. Players like Aisling McCarthy, who have played nine seasons and have never participated in a finals game, make me very happy.
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