In an innovative approach to cross-training, the West Coast Eagles AFLW squad took to the badminton courts for a high-energy session designed to sharpen their footwork, hand-eye coordination, and communication skills. The unique collaboration between Badminton WA and the AFLW powerhouse showcased the value of transferable skills between sports.
Newly appointed Badminton WA Executive Officer Rob Kennedy welcomed Eagles Development Coach Chad Morrison, along with other coaching staff and a selected group of players, to the Kingsway Indoor Stadium for the session. Led by Badminton WA’s State High-Performance coaches Lily Buttrose, Daniel Fan & Edmund Xu, the AFLW athletes were put through a series of footwork drills and match-simulation exercises, gaining insights into the speed and precision of one of the world’s fastest racquet sports.
Morrison, a former AFL player, reflected on his own high school experience playing badminton and the lasting impression it left on him. “I remember playing badminton and being amazed at how fast and highly skilled the game was,” he said. “It’s one of those sports where you have to be incredibly light on your feet, react quickly, and be highly coordinated, skills that are directly applicable to football. I thought this would be a great opportunity for the girls to see how elite athletes from another sport train and how we could bring some of those learnings back onto the football field.”
Kennedy, who has a background in coaching WAFLW, was thrilled with the collaboration, emphasising the importance of inter-sport learning. “The Eagles players got to experience the fastest racquet sport in the world, and it was clear they took something valuable away from the session while also having a lot of fun and competition,” he said. “We encourage all sports to collaborate, and we’d welcome any team to Kingsway Indoor Stadium for a session.”
The training session not only highlighted the similarities in movement and reaction time between badminton and Australian Rules football but also reinforced the benefits of stepping outside traditional training methods to gain a competitive edge. With the AFLW season approaching, the Eagles will no doubt be looking to apply their newfound agility and precision on the field.
As sports continue to evolve, collaborations like this between Badminton WA and the West Coast Eagles AFLW serve as a reminder that the best athletes are always looking for new ways to improve—sometimes, by stepping onto an entirely different playing field.
