Hawks Junior Clubs Set the Path Forward
Perry Lakes Hawks took an important step towards shaping the future of junior basketball on Monday, 21 September, bringing together representatives from our Junior Clubs to reflect on the 2026 Winter Season and look ahead to 2027.
The session, held at Newman College, home of the Newman Raiders, provided an opportunity for clubs to share their experiences, discuss some of the challenges facing community basketball and, importantly, work together on practical ways to create better experiences for young players and their families.
Our Junior Clubs are at the heart of the Perry Lakes Hawks community, with City Beach, Clare-Cott, Newman, Scarborough, Subiaco and Woodland Junior Basketball Clubs providing the foundation for domestic basketball across the association.
Across the 2026 Winter Season, a total of 3,087 young basketballers participated across our Junior Clubs.
One of the most pleasing aspects of the season has been the continued participation of girls, with 968 girls taking part in domestic basketball, representing 31.4% of total participation. While the numbers are encouraging, the real story behind them is the people who make community basketball happen every week.
Newly appointed Perry Lakes Hawks Chief Executive Officer, Corey Ranger, said the contribution of volunteers across the Junior Clubs should not be underestimated.
“Our clubs have done a wonderful job supporting young basketballers throughout the year. The feedback we’ve received has been really positive, particularly around the environments clubs are creating and the support they’re providing to young participants and their families.”
Mr Ranger said his early experiences with the Junior Clubs had reinforced just how important they are to the broader association.
“Having met many of our club volunteers at this session, I’m genuinely excited about the future of our domestic competition. There’s a real sense of collaboration and connection within our community, and that gives us a great platform to build from.”
The Monday night session focused on listening and collaboration, with clubs encouraged to share what is working well, identify areas where improvements can be made and explore opportunities to work more closely together.
The session was chaired by Perry Lakes Hawks Board Member Quyen Truong, with the discussion also supported by experienced community representative and Board Member Justin Ford, along with key staff member Annette Nobensi.
For the Hawks, the meeting marks the beginning of a stronger and more regular connection with our Junior Clubs.
The focus will be on continuing to improve the experience for young basketballers and their families, while supporting clubs to build strong programs, environments and pathways.
Ranger said the philosophy is simple.
“Junior Club success is our success. Our Junior Clubs are the foundation of the Hawks, and the stronger we can make our clubs, the stronger our whole association becomes.”
The Hawks are committed to building a One Club, One Community mentality across every part of the association. #HawksAsOne
Monday night was an important first step, bringing our Junior Clubs together, opening the conversation and creating a shared focus for the season ahead.
