WA Football set to announce new CEO this week as former Fremantle Docker Brad Wira firms for the role

WA Footy are set to announce a new chief executive as soon as Wednesday with former Fremantle and Western Bulldogs footballer Brad Wira heavily linked to the role. The West Australian understands an appointment has been made with speculation Wira — who is on the WA Football board — will be unveiled as Michael Roberts’ successor. Sources told The West that the panel was headed by WA Football deputy chair Dixie Marshall and included fellow commissioners Martina Crowley and Michelle Fyfe as well as AFL executive general manager of game development Rob Auld. Wira was appointed to the WA Football board in December of 2024, on the back of more than 35 years in the football industry with roles as a player, coach and administrator and experience in the AFL, State of Origin, WAFL, community and school football. Wira played 35 games in two stints for the Dockers as well as 61 for the Western Bulldogs from 1995 to 2001. He has been a principal private client adviser at Shadforth Financial Group for 25 years, while he is also a former board member and financial educator at the AFL Players’ Association. “I deliver financial solutions to professional sportspeople whilst specialising in providing financial advice to high net worth clients to protect and grow their financial lives,” Wira’s LinkedIn reads. He was also part a review into the WA Football talent pathway, where he worked alongside Marshall and former West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett. Roberts’ tenure ended last month after five years in the role. Former Fremantle captain Peter Bell — who ruled himself out of the running — and fellow executive Linda Hamersley are acting as joint interim chief executives until the new appointment takes over. Bell — who is the executive manager of performance pathways and development — is in charge of the stakeholder and media relations, while Hamersley — who is the executive manager of operations and capability — heads the operational decisions, with the WAFL team reporting to her. The West Australian also revealed last month that WA Football was in the finals stages of locking away a new funding arrangement with the State Government, which would provide pivotal money the sport gets for a decade starting from 2028. The sporting body currently $13 million a year as compensation from the WA Government for giving up the lease to Subiaco Oval in 2017 when the two AFL clubs moved to play home games at Optus Stadium despite 75 years still remaining on the lease. WA Football is also working with both West Coast and Fremantle on the royalty agreement, with all parties exploring whether a new model would work going forward. The new chief executive will also have to work on finding a new home for WA Football with the current lease at Tuart Hill having only four years remaining and plans to move to a Gloucester Park redevelopment on hold. Wira was contacted for comment.