By Ben Gilby
Grace Warburton is one of a host of exciting young talents in the embryonic stages of her career, thriving in her first main season with the Azzurri first-team squad after coming through the club’s U21 system over the past few years.
Warburton’s potential last season was shown when she was given opportunities to step up from the U21s to train and earn some minutes with the first team squad who won the NPLW WA in 2025. It was an experience that she describes as “a big eye opener as to the training and consistency it takes to win an NPL league.”
“It was a massive step up to see the level of high intensity training and workrate from the girls on the pitch to ultimately get the results they wanted. I think all the girls inspired me, the performance they displayed on the field was a reflection of their friendship and connection off the pitch. They are such a tight bonded team who really work for each other and it was really inspiring looking up to them as a younger player.”
Warburton traces her footballing journey back to Year Seven in school, where she decided that she wanted to play the sport for fun.
“One of my friends’ dads coached an U14 girls team at Quinns and was watching the school football games and asked if I wanted to come down and play. I played at Quinns for two years, and spent a year between ECU and Kingsley Westside in U16 teams.”
“I then moved to Carramar Shamrock Rovers where I played for a few years and where I played my first season in senior football, in the Central Women’s League. After a successful season, the majority of the team moved over to Perth Soccer Club together. “
“The following year I played my first season at NPL U21’s, and managed to get a few minutes playing time for the first team, which eventually led to me signing a contract for the Perth first team this year.”
Now having started the majority of games in the NPLW WA so far this season, the youngster can reflect on how she has grown as both a player and a person who recognises the rewards of overcoming challenges and the rewards that are there when they are conquered.
“In the past I have put too much pressure on myself. I have played in teams where we placed bottom of the ladder, and teams who have won the league, and no matter the teams performance I doubted my own ability and didn’t have any confidence. I overcame this by noticing what my strengths were and working on incorporating these into my game.”
This recognition and a hard work ethic has set both Warburton and the Azzurri team up for another strong season.
“Pre season was filled with a lot of hard work and training as well as the Night Series games, which has set us up for a great season start. Being a new full time member of the first team has been great, I have loved the high intensity training sessions and the team bonding we have done.”
“With the team being majority the same as last year, all the existing girls made all us new girls feel welcome and we all bonded super quickly.”
“I was quite pleased with the team’s Night Series campaign, making it through to the final, unfortunately losing 1-0 to a strong Balcatta side. I believe it took us some time to figure out how we play as a team and what our strengths are, but I think as the competition went on, we saw a lot more of our style of football and the way we like to play.”
With each side now having played each other once, the league is starting to take shape, with a real battle looking to be forming for the top four positions, with the top six sides closer together than ever. It makes for a winter period that excites Warburton greatly.
“I believe there are quite a few teams up for the title this season. A team out of the usual top teams, who gave us a decent game this season so far has been Subiaco. They came to Dorrien Gardens with a fight, but we were able to secure the win through a hard earned physical battle.”
After taking a first ever NPLW WA title last season, Warburton is determined that, at the very least, they defend the silverware this year.
However, Warburton admits on a more personal level, “My aims this season are to get comfortable playing in the first team environment and continue to add more things to my individual playing style through the support of my coach and team.”
Given the way she has started the 2026 campaign, Grace Warburton is well on her way to achieving those goals.