GSFLW 2026: Railways coach Taj Stubber confident in Tigers’ ability to stay the course despite key losses

With the loss of a key trio, Railways will rely on familiar faces and promising youngsters to improve on last year’s challenging Great Southern Football League Women’s competition and return to finals. Kathryn Slattery will return as the Tigers’ skipper for another season, bringing a wealth of leadership experience to the role, and Tayeesha Weeden will step into the vice-captain role, taking over from Maggie Smit and Chelsea Geddes. The team will be hurting from the loss of key trio Smit, Geddes, and Kiahn Perry who are now at Claremont, as well as Rachel Boothman who has moved away from Albany. However, returning coach Taj Stubber said the combination of Slattery’s strong leadership and the return of former GSFLW fairest and best winner Ksharna Coyne after a stint with Peel Thunder last year, will be important to keep the side on track for a good season. “I’m excited to get the season under way and see the girls get out there again,” he said. “The girls have really picked up their intensity at training in the last few weeks and are starting to gel together, but we are focusing more towards the back half of the season and building a bit of a stronger foundation to work up from.” The Tigers finished last on the ladder at the end of the 2025 season with two wins to their name, missing out on a finals spot after a rocky start to the season. They found their feet towards the end of the regular season, notching an emphatic 65-point victory over Albany in round seven and another over North Albany in round eight, but the momentum came too little, too late. Other new additions to the side include Ava Bowbanks, who has made the move from Denmark-Walpole for the season, and Emily Loveridge who has come over from Royals. Georgia Whitelaw and Piper Scorza have both stepped up from the youth girls to seniors this year, and Stubber said the young pair would be ones to watch as they make their senior debuts. “We lost a fair bit of experience from our team but bringing back some of our more experienced girls who have been through our system for a few years and know how things work will be good for us, they will be able to provide that leadership to the younger girls coming through,” Stubber said. “Some of the younger girls who are stepping up from the youth girls into seniors this year are definitely showing promise as well. “I’m excited to see them come through and show their class among the senior girls and come out as stars to watch for the future.” The Tigers have the daunting task of facing reigning premiers Mt Barker in the season opener on Saturday before their first home game in round two, hosting North Albany.