Local NSW/ACT Womens Footy - General Discussion

[TWLS]

The Australian 25.10
S.Buckingham-Jones has reported "In the northern suburbs of Sydney, a sporting shift is under way". The first Syd. Private Secondary Girls AF comp. has been established, with 7 new teams initially: Mont Sant'Angelo, Queenswood, Ravenswood, Abbotsleigh, Pymbal Ladies, St Catherines, Brigadine St Ives.
The plan is eventually to have a Private Secondary Girls' AF Comp. to include "all Private Girls schools in NSW".

Article behind a paywall.
.Go into Incognito
.then click on Google
.then search in Google "Private Girls Schools In Sydney Start New AFL Comp"
(You may then have to click IMMEDIATELY on Esc key, as soon as article appears, if paywall still tries to lock you out)

Did manage to get a copy on screen initially and I should have hit "Print Screen" in WIN10 to get a copy on one drive.

Well something is happening up in Sydney - The Journo said a sporting shift -How big a shift will it turn out to be is the question.
Sydney is a big area and the Northern Suburbs just one part of it so I think we have to be bit cautious at this time with our predictions.

Did a bit of research on Private Schools in NSW =The Schools we picked out only enrolled Females across the State.
There were a total of 50 that were in this category, and some of them had at least 1000 students. Do we assume this is the target group for AFLNSW - They clearly said -All Private Girls Schools In NSW, and of course that means considerable resources need to be developed.
There were also many many Private Colleges/Schools that were Co-Ed in NSW, which would have big numbers of Girls.
Either way heaps of potential in the future - If they are not all playing Soccer Football, Netball, Womens Hockey, Basketball etc.
Did a quick look at at Pymble Ladies College current football type sports.
Soccer Football -Rugby 7`s -new, Touch Football, Futsal and to be added Australian Rules Football- Full contact.
This is definitely a breakthrough when the full list of Sports being offered at these schools is shown.
Any comments on this move by our game.

 

[The_Wookie]

 

[BringBackTorps]

It's taken AFL SNSW, where AF has a stronghold, a LONG, LONG time to start the women's comp. Hopefully, they will implement their duty/responsibility to get the jnr. female AF SNSW comp. started by April 2018.

 

[BringBackTorps]

Did manage to get a copy on screen initially and I should have hit "Print Screen" in WIN10 to get a copy on one drive.

Well something is happening up in Sydney - The Journo said a sporting shift -How big a shift will it turn out to be is the question.
Sydney is a big area and the Northern Suburbs just one part of it so I think we have to be bit cautious at this time with our predictions.

Did a bit of research on Private Schools in NSW =The Schools we picked out only enrolled Females across the State.
There were a total of 50 that were in this category, and some of them had at least 1000 students. Do we assume this is the target group for AFLNSW - They clearly said -All Private Girls Schools In NSW, and of course that means considerable resources need to be developed.
There were also many many Private Colleges/Schools that were Co-Ed in NSW, which would have big numbers of Girls.
Either way heaps of potential in the future - If they are not all playing Soccer Football, Netball, Womens Hockey, Basketball etc.
Did a quick look at at Pymble Ladies College current football type sports.
Soccer Football -Rugby 7`s -new, Touch Football, Futsal and to be added Australian Rules Football- Full contact.
This is definitely a breakthrough when the full list of Sports being offered at these schools is shown.
Any comments on this move by our game.

I also was surprised AFLNSW intends to have ALL NSW Girls'Private schools eventually in the comp. (H. Davis AFLNSW "We hope this will develop into a "STATEWIDE"(my emphasis) independent schools' competition. We'll be looking to expand this (ie current 15 teams in 7 schools -my words)".
From sthn. NSW to the Nthn rivers region is a massive area, much too far to travel -probably aspire to have eventually many regional Conferences. Then a play-off between regional Conferences eg sth. NSW Private Secondary School Girls' comp., Syd nth., Syd. sth, Gong/ south coast, central coast, Newcastle, nth.rivers etc. And probably Co-ed. Private Schoolsgirls will also eventually participate.

The 2017 creation of Syd. GR suburban JNR. female AF comps. is the genesis (along with AFLW) of the Private Secondary schoolgirl growth -& both will inevitably expand strongly from the first year.

www.aflnswact.com.au/u12s-girls-competition-launches-sydney/

This will bring many "new"families to AF in NSW. Female Touch rugby/tag are huge in NSW & Qld. -probably 150,000+ females (mainly in state & private schools). Touch offers fertile ground for the AFL.

Anecdotally, in Melb., I have heard 2nd hand about some interesting family conversations occurring around the family dinner table -between girls who have recently taken up AF, & their brothers who play soccer/fathers who follow soccer; or don't follow sport much at all! Common themes are - "You'll get hurt": girls' reply "but I like kicking and tackling"!

EDIT: The Australian article
www.aflnswact.com.au/igsgd/

 

[TWLS]

I also was surprised AFLNSW intends to have ALL NSW Girls'Private schools eventually in the comp. (H. Davis AFL NSW "We hope this will develop into a "STATEWIDE"(my emphasis) independent schools' competition. We'll be looking to expand this (ie current 15 teams in 7 teams -my words)".
From sthn. NSW to the Nthn rivers region is a massive area, much too far to travel -probably aspire to have eventually many regional Conferences. Then a play-off between regional Conferences eg sth. NSW Private Secondary School Girls' comp., Syd nth., Syd. sth, Gong/ south coast, central coast, Newcastle, nth.rivers etc. And probably Co-ed. Private Schoolsgirls will also eventually participate.

The 2017 creation of Syd. GR suburban JNR. female AF comps. is the genesis (along with AFLW) of the senior private schoolgirl growth -& it will inevitably expand from the first year.

www.aflnswact.com.au/u12s-girls-competition-launches-sydney/

This will bring many "new"families to AF in NSW. Female Touch rugby/tag are huge in NSW & Qld. -probably 150,000+ females (mainly in state & private schools). Touch offers fertile ground for the AFL.

Anecdotally, in Melb., I have heard 2nd hand about some interesting family conversations occurring around the family dinner table -between girls who have recently taken up AF, & their brothers who play soccer/fathers who follow soccer; or don't follow sport much at all! Common themes are - "You'll get hurt": girls' reply "but I like kicking and tackling"!

Yes very telling those Anecdotal comments.
Does this new scenario indicate a battle for the hearts and minds of young girls to recruit them to play each code.
No doubt the numbers will settle down, but for the next 5 years there will be changes in participation rates particularly in NSW, which is a key state in all of this.
What I find interesting is that the NSW girls if interested in sport would normally not given our game a thought to take up, being soaked in Soccer Football, Netball etc promotions.
So along comes the AFLW driven by the huge AFL media presence which apparently does manage to seep through the anti AFL media up there, and some girls get interested enough to sign up and play. Those girls like the game and tell their friends and the network expands.

Have extracted the following NSW/ACT figure from the 2016 AFL Annual Report---
Female participation grew by 23 per cent to 85,919 five times the number of women who participated in 2010.
What will the 2017 figure bring - Another big increase - We hope so.
In my opinion also there is a co-relation between the big increase in the numbers in AFL in the boys/youths Sydney GPS System and the start up of the girls Private system. There would be communications between the two groups helped along by AFLNSW. „

 

[BringBackTorps]

Yes very telling those Anecdotal comments.
Does this new scenario indicate a battle for the hearts and minds of young girls to recruit them to play each code.
No doubt the numbers will settle down, but for the next 5 years there will be changes in participation rates particularly in NSW, which is a key state in all of this.
What I find interesting is that the NSW girls if interested in sport would normally not given our game a thought to take up, being soaked in Soccer Football, Netball etc promotions.
So along comes the AFLW driven by the huge AFL media presence which apparently does manage to seep through the anti AFL media up there, and some girls get interested enough to sign up and play. Those girls like the game and tell their friends and the network expands.

Have extracted the following NSW/ACT figure from the 2016 AFL Annual Report---
Female participation grew by 23 per cent to 85,919 five times the number of women who participated in 2010.
What will the 2017 figure bring - Another big increase - We hope so.
In my opinion also there is a co-relation between the big increase in the numbers in AFL in the boys/youths Sydney GPS System and the start up of the girls Private system. There would be communications between the two groups helped along by AFLNSW. „

There is certainly now more keen competition between female sports. Witness the huge increases in female pay rates recently after the success of the AFLW: cricket (the pacesetter on female pay now), netball, WNBL & W League soccer.

There are not in NSW/ACT 85,919 REGISTERED females in suburban & school comps., & Club Auskick -much less. This figure is misleading, as it includes Gala Days/School Phys. Ed. programs, & similar promotions -which may not create any great increase in comp. players.
The problem in NSW/ACT (& everywhere in Aust.) is to get the very big nos. of girls playing school AF to join their local AF CLUB. Only a small minority do, but numbers should increase significantly as the AFLW grows in prominence & female AF is "normalised". Club Auskick players (u5 -u8 mostly) generally join their Club as comp. players.

Also, three NSW/ACT u18 females have gained entry to the 2018 National AFLW Academy. It has 44 players who have won a Scholarship in the 12 month national program. Only having three is disappointing.

www.aflnswact.com.au/aflw-academy-2018/

 

[TWLS]

There is certainly now more keen competition between female sports. Witness the huge increases in female pay rates recently after the success of the AFLW: cricket (the pacesetter on female pay now), netball, WNBL & W League soccer.

There are not in NSW/ACT 85,919 REGISTERED females in suburban & school comps., & Club Auskick -much less. This figure is misleading, as it includes Gala Days/School Phys. Ed. programs, & similar promotions -which may not create any great increase in comp. players.
The problem in NSW/ACT (& everywhere in Aust.) is to get the very big nos. of girls playing school AF to join their local AF CLUB. Only a small minority do, but numbers should increase significantly as the AFLW grows in prominence & female AF is "normalised". Club Auskick players (u5 -u8 mostly) generally join their Club as comp. players.

Also, three NSW/ACT u18 females have gained entry to the 2018 National AFLW Academy. It has 44 players who have won a Scholarship in the 12 national month program. Only having three is disappointing.

www.aflnswact.com.au/aflw-academy-2018/

Yes we know the AFL has a history of adjusting numbers as all the footy codes do. Its all about perception, which has spread through all levels of society as well.
Perhaps the Womens Coaching standards currently are not as high in NSW as elsewhere, however we are coming off very low players numbers as well.
To sum up on this topic -NSW as a state is the prize all sports aim at participation wise, and we have to absolutely get our share of that prize.

 

[TWLS]

The good news keeps coming out of Regional NSW for the Womens game.
AFL North Coast will launch a new Senior 4 team comp next year after successfully introducing a Girls Youth comp this year.
The numbers quoted are impressive from a nil base.
They will have some opposition/neighbours to play next year in the form of AFL North West with AFL North Coast Mens and Womens teams to travel and hold matches there.

http://aflnorthcoast.com.au/2017/10/12/womens-afl-coming-town-near/

Regionally in NSW there are now Womens teams located at -----
AFL North Coast
AFL North West
AFL Broken Hill
AFL South NSW
AFL Sapphire
AFL Black Diamond
We are only scratching the surface up there with NSW`s population, and the surge of interest in our game will drive the creation of more teams.
It is likely that the NSW Womens figures will exceed the QLD figures eventually.
Did anybody see this coming.??
Will repeat NSW is the prize for our Womens game now.

 

[BringBackTorps]

The Black Diamond comp., centred around Newcastle district, will expand from 13 men's adult Clubs to 15 in 2018. Pt Stephens & Wallsend will be the 2 new men's Clubs in 2018 -& both have plans to also introduce 2 NEW WOMEN'S adult teams as well (creating a women's BDAFL comp. of c. 16 women's teams!).
AF is growing strongly in the BDAFL, off a very low base -something is happening in this large catchment area of c. 600,000. It puts to shame the desultory efforts of heartland AFL Sthn. NSW to promote female AF -still no junior female comp. announced for 2018.

 

[TWLS]

The Black Diamond comp., centred around Newcastle district, will expand from 13 men's adult Clubs to 15 in 2018. Pt Stephens & Wallsend will be the 2 new men's Clubs in 2018 -& both have plans to also introduce 2 NEW WOMEN'S adult teams as well (creating a women's BDAFL comp. of c. 16 women's teams!).
AF is growing strongly in the BDAFL, off a very low base -something is happening in this large catchment area of c. 600,000. It puts to shame the desultory efforts of heartland AFL Sthn. NSW to promote female AF -still no junior female comp. announced for 2018.

Yes you are right about AFL South.
This is what I discovered about the potential of that group in a earlier posting.
AFL Southern NSW is made up of 72 clubs across 18 leagues, which is much much bigger than I realised, and no doubt more Club Boards will shake off their sole attachment to the Netball Code, which will be now fishing for talent in the same pool as our game.

There is currently only one tryout Womens Comp that commenced this year in Griffith and was introduced by only one Club - Griffiths Swans, who are one of nine Clubs in the Riverina Football League, however so far no other Clubs have stepped forward for 2018.
This region is a very historic heartland for our game since the 1880`s, and long preceded Rugby League, who did not filter down from Sydney until circa 1916.
Another factor that maybe clouding the issue is the existence of the 48 player squad Riverina Lions Womens Football Team, who being based in Wagga do a lot of travelling to compete in the 11 Club Canberra Womens League.
Their squad did not list the areas the players originate from but presumably the Riverina League area, so where did they learn their footy??? Schools???. Perhaps from High School to the team. What would the pathways be. Anybody know.
Since the arrival of the AFLW interest has increased including from Netball and Basketball players to join the Lions.
http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/4469780/big-ambition-for-lions/

With an 18 League set up AFL South has a big job in front of them to re-organise to cater for the new Junior and Womens teams that will come, and they will come. Why should they be different from the rest of the country.

 

[TWLS]

Here is an article that discusses the threat of the AFL Womens game in NSW to the NRL.
Dont think it is NRL panic time yet but bells are ringing up there.
What is obvious is that their International Womens game is much more advanced with 8 viable countries.
Looks like 2019 now for their first major Australian NRL Womens League.
http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/11/1...um=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+theroar+(The+Roar)

 

[BringBackTorps]

Here is an article that discusses the threat of the AFL Womens game in NSW to the NRL.
Dont think it is NRL panic time yet but bells are ringing up there.
What is obvious is that their International Womens game is much more advanced with 8 viable countries.
Looks like 2019 now for their first major Australian NRL Womens League.
http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/11/13/how-to-grown-the-womens-game/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+theroar+(The+Roar)

I don't believe there is any possibilty of a National women's RL comp. in 2019 -& the NRL have made vague comments about a possible comp.around 2022.
The ARU built a RU Gold Medal winning Rio Olympics team in c. 3 years, with female athletes all selected from non-RU sports. Thus, the NRL, with its $1.9 billion TV Rights deal, might have a reasonable comp. by 2022, or later, if sufficient resources are allocated.

Female contact RL simply doesn't have now the depth/adequate nos./sufficient skills. (IIRC, c. 24 adult female teams only exist now in Aust. in total). They are starting jnr. female RL contact teams/comps., but at embryonic stage now.

Where RL (& RU) could have a massive increase in female contact nos. is if they are able to convert significant nos. of females from touch variants of rugby (strictly non contact; 200,000+ females playing, mainly in schools) to the full contact versions.
I think this is unlikely, due to the emphasis on physicality in RL & RU -would the average female touch player be enamoured with the level of physicality required for RL?

Will be interesting to see how competitive the other 7 nations are in the RLWC. I thought only NZ would be competitive with the Aust. female RL team, but I have no knowledge what standards are like with the other countries (nor how many Aust. women are playing for the other countries, as " heritage" players domiciled here).

 

[TWLS]

Further on the topic of AFLNSW Southern and its Womens footy activities it appears that a new Comp is being formed in we think Wagga??? to begin in January.
It is referred to as -Southern NSW Womens AFL Competition.
Two clubs have stepped up so far -Charles Sturt Uni (Wagga Campus)??? and the the Snowy Mountain Bears (From several Snowy district towns)
Interest levels are high it is reported and it appears that the AFLW influence (Our words) has again made itself felt.
The link below confirms all of this.
http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/5037087/bears-join-southern-nsw-womens-comp/?cs=149

Just found another similar article with more info in it. It is referred to as a League here and will be 16- a - side to commence in February. This new comp will be a sort of test to see how many teams are formed, with the towns of Leeton and Griffith mentioned.
Note the Women from Rugby League background who have rocked up.
http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/s...ps-in-new-footy-territory-video-photos/?cs=12

 

[BringBackTorps]

Interesting developments in Newcastle/Hunter BDAFL, which has been growing strongly in last few years.
AFL wants to spend more net funds & resources there on GR/extra staff/introduce cost efficiencies/promote & exploit the power of the AFL "brand"-but possibly wants "control" by having 3 or 4 Board members it approves on the 7 man Board. Some locals, perhaps, fear the possibility (no evidence provided) that SYDNEY-based people will exercise control. In GR comps. in NSW & Qld., the AFL generally has control -& has been doing a good job.

Given the BDAFL's incredible success in creating 16 adult female teams, perhaps the AFL wants to learn more closely from the BDAFL modus operandi -which it can then emulate in other RL heartland areas.

www.2gofm.com.au/news/central-coast/a-diamond-s-best-friend

On a tangent, the new women's team above -the Snowy Mountain Bears- probably has the best sounding name of any footy club in Australia!

 

[TWLS]

Interesting developments in Newcastle/Hunter BDAFL, which has been growing strongly in last few years.
AFL wants to spend more net funds & resources there on GR/extra staff/introduce cost efficiencies/promote & exploit the power of the AFL "brand"-but possibly wants "control" by having 3 or 4 Board members it approves on the 7 man Board. Some locals, perhaps, fear the possibility (no evidence provided) that SYDNEY-based people will exercise control. In GR comps. in NSW & Qld., the AFL generally has control -& has been doing a good job.

Given the BDAFL's incredible success in creating 16 adult female teams, perhaps the AFL wants to learn more closely from the BDAFL modus operandi -which it can then emulate in other RL heartland areas.

www.2gofm.com.au/news/central-coast/a-diamond-s-best-friend

On a tangent, the new women's team above -the Snowy Mountain Bears- probably has the best sounding name of any footy club in Australia!

Having read the article it appears that the AFL is adopting the usual business practise of ---If we give you the funding we want a large say in how it is spent. That is the norm in any business.
On the other hand for the BDAFL they say we have successfully grown the business (Footy) without any significant funding from you but we think we can grow it more with extra funding with no strings attached, because what we are doing works.
Its a classic stand off IMHO and so we move to that great English diplomatic invention - Compromise.
So who is going to compromise with who.
WE will watch with much interest, and applaud the BDAFL and its Clubs for the growth they have achieved.

 

[TWLS]

There was one NSW region we missed in an earlier survey above of Womens teams/Clubs.
AFL Central West, which has 8 established Clubs ranging across that region, and they have been in existence since the 2015 season, making them pioneers of some sort.
Presumably they are fed by School Comps in those areas, however we did find a reference to a Youth Girls comp to be set up in 2018 with 4 teams because of the high interest levels.
Their 2017 Grand Final was won by the Bathurst Bush Rangers who def the Dubbo Demons. The Bush Rangers have won all the previous Grand Finals.

The item below is really good news for potential recruiting of that regions new players, and is a practical demo of the power of the AFLW to attract interest.
"Canowindra's Melissa Freckleton will join the Giants for the 2018 AFL Womens season."
Melissa has been playing in the Sydney Womens AFL Comp.

 

[jatz14]

NSW female participation, from the Herald.

The instant success of AFLW is driving Aussie rules participation levels to new highs in NSW and the ACT.
An amazing 30 new team’s will compete in the first under 12 competition for girls which will be followed up by another new under 10 comp next year.

NSW and the ACT now have the strongest development in Australia where Club participation grew 8.2% off the back of a massive 78% increase in the number of female participants playing in registered Club football competitions.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...t/news-story/72c3a2977f78aaeaefcfb00cf11a71fc

 

[jatz14]

Figures like that will scare the bejesus out of NRL, and puts female RL participation numbers into perspective. Can they afford to wait 5 years?

Also a clear indication of why the AFL is prepared to have free gate for womens matches, and why those expecting crowds to plummet when people are made to pay, may be waiting quite a while. If they can get 50% growth for even a few more years, it will put female footy in NSW on a par with other states.

 

[TWLS]

NSW female participation, from the Herald.

The instant success of AFLW is driving Aussie rules participation levels to new highs in NSW and the ACT.
An amazing 30 new team’s will compete in the first under 12 competition for girls which will be followed up by another new under 10 comp next year.

NSW and the ACT now have the strongest development in Australia where Club participation grew 8.2% off the back of a massive 78% increase in the number of female participants playing in registered Club football competitions.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...t/news-story/72c3a2977f78aaeaefcfb00cf11a71fc

Well we knew something was happening in Womens footy up there.
A few comments on the article--
We said all along that NSW was the prize for the Womens game with its big population, and it appears to be taking shape, putting the hype to one side. The ACT is in full growth mode also with their NSW colleagues.
The news that the Under age divisions in the Sydney metro area are expanding with shortages of facilities in the mix is mixed news - The girls have to play somewhere or perhaps interest will drop off.
We have read reports that up in the Armidale area and surrounds in the North our game has surged and Rugby League officials up there have demanded more funding.
The Girls/Women are bringing family members/friends with them so there is a multiplying factor involved now in public interest, which strengthens our game overall.
The growth will continue in the Regional areas like the Riverina where, the Senior Womens teams in Clubs have only been in existence one or two years with more Youth teams needed to feed them.
Who would have thought 3 years ago this would have happened.

 

[jatz14]

Well we knew something was happening in Womens footy up there.
A few comments on the article--
We said all along that NSW was the prize for the Womens game with its big population, and it appears to be taking shape, putting the hype to one side. The ACT is in full growth mode also with their NSW colleagues.
The news that the Under age divisions in the Sydney metro area are expanding with shortages of facilities in the mix is mixed news - The girls have to play somewhere or perhaps interest will drop off.
We have read reports that up in the Armidale area and surrounds in the North our game has surged and Rugby League officials up there have demanded more funding.
The Girls/Women are bringing family members/friends with them so there is a multiplying factor involved now in public interest, which strengthens our game overall.
The growth will continue in the Regional areas like the Riverina where, the Senior Womens teams in Clubs have only been in existence one or two years with more Youth teams needed to feed them.
Who would have thought 3 years ago this would have happened.

While a lot of this growth will be occurring in AFL households, some of it will be putting AFL in families it has never been in before.

Sent from my XT1068 using Tapatalk

 

[BringBackTorps]

NSW female participation, from the Herald.

The instant success of AFLW is driving Aussie rules participation levels to new highs in NSW and the ACT.
An amazing 30 new team’s will compete in the FIRST [NO -2017 was first] under 12 competition for girls which will be followed up by another new under 10 comp next year.

NSW and the ACT now have the strongest development in Australia where Club participation grew 8.2% off the back of a massive 78% increase in the number of female participants playing in registered Club football competitions.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...t/news-story/72c3a2977f78aaeaefcfb00cf11a71fc

The Sydney U12 girls' comp. commenced this year, 2017, with 32 new girls' U12 teams starting.

The Herald above states there will be an additional, new U10 Sydney girls' comp. in 2018.
The Herald headline, above, also states there will also be 30 new U12 Sydney girls' teams in 2018 (ie added to the 32 U12 girls' teams of 2017, so 62 U12 girls' teams in 2018 -extraordinary for the Sydney "non-AFL"market).
www.aflnswact.com.au/u12s-girls-competition-launches-sydney/

These girls' team figures above, from the Herald, don't include Auskick girls' (usually U5- U10) big increases in Sydney nos. Article does say, however, the Auskick nos. for boys & girls increased 10% in GWS Sydney area; & Auskick "double digit growth in Sydney's WS".

Interestingly, AFLNSW/ACT boss S.Graham said in the Herald "...girls' football is strong in (Sydney's) east, west, north and SOUTH...". GR AF has been relatively weak in Sydney's south.

S.Graham below says "Our growth in club football is the highest in any state in Australia, DRIVEN BY SKYROCKETING participation rates in our YOUTH GIRLS (my emphasis) and female competitions".
NSW/ACT female AF Club regd. nos. rose 78% in 2017.

www.aflnswact.com.au/participation-numbers-2017/

EDIT:
Sport NSW has declared AFLNSWACT the joint winner of the NSW Sports Oganization Of The Year for 2017. It also won this Award for 2016.

www.aflnswact.com.au/org-year-2017/

 

[TWLS]

The Sydney U12 girls' comp. commenced this year, 2017, with 32 new girls' U12 teams starting.

The Herald above states there will be an additional, new U10 Sydney girls' comp. in 2018.
The Herald headline, above, also states there will also be 30 new U12 Sydney girls' teams in 2018 (ie added to the 32 U12 girls' teams of 2017, so 62 U12 girls' teams in 2018 -extraordinary for the Sydney "non-AFL"market).
www.aflnswact.com.au/u12s-girls-competition-launches-sydney/

These girls' team figures above, from the Herald, don't include Auskick girls' (usually U5- U10) big increases in Sydney nos. Article does say, however, the Auskick nos. for boys & girls increased 10% in GWS Sydney area; & Auskick "double digit growth in Sydney's WS".

Interestingly, AFLNSW/ACT boss S.Graham said in the Herald "...girls' football is strong in (Sydney's) east, west, north and SOUTH...". GR AF has been, relatively, weak in Sydney's south.

S.Graham below says "Our growth in club football is the highest in any state in Australia, DRIVEN BY SKYROCKETING participation rates in our YOUTH GIRLS (my emphasis) and female competitions".
NSW/ACT female AF Club regd. nos. rose 78% in 2017.

www.aflnswact.com.au/participation-numbers-2017/

EDIT:
Sport NSW has declared AFLNSWACT the joint winner of the NSW Sports Oganization Of The Year for 2017. It also won this Award for 2016.

www.aflnswact.com.au/org-year-2017/

Great result for all concerned and anecdotally we saw evidence of the increases in the various regional Leagues.
The U12`s growth is something to be investigated. Why would our Womens game attract attention that the Mens game does not in non heartland areas.
These girls have been raised generally on a diet of Mens/Womens Soccer Football and the Rugby Codes, Netball etc etc. Our game is different though in many ways especially the Team Thing, which extends into their Social world, and the constant running, which probably appeals to kids. We can only hope those on the ground up there check this stuff out.
At a risk of repetition NSW with its relatively big population for Australia has a lot of potential players.

 

[TWLS]

Great result for all concerned and anecdotally we saw evidence of the increases in the various regional Leagues.
The U12`s growth is something to be investigated. Why would our Womens game attract attention that the Mens game does not in non heartland areas.
These girls have been raised generally on a diet of Mens/Womens Soccer Football and the Rugby Codes, Netball etc etc. Our game is different though in many ways especially the Team Thing, which extends into their Social world, and the constant running, which probably appeals to kids. We can only hope those on the ground up there check this stuff out.
At a risk of repetition NSW with its relatively big population for Australia has a lot of potential players.

Slightly off topic for Womens Footy however the following article on 2017 TV Ratings for our game really highlights the fact that more people in Sydney are watching more footy at certain times
Every new female recruit up there be they a Junior or Senior brings more eyes to our game hopefully long term.
The AFL recognises this by singling out the Sydney Swans in the article, who will eventually have a Womens team.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-12-03/gf-friday-night-footy-dominates-tv-ratings

 

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We have done some more research on the structural set up and growth of NSW Independent Schools Girls footy in the Sydney area.
There are 30 Schools in the NSWIGS organisation, which are spread Statewide.
The Boys have been established up there in the GPS network for about 4/5 years, which is well documented.
The IGSSA which is a subgroup of the parent body organises the Girls into their chosen sports each year.
Currently there are 8 Sports under their umbrella, which include Soccer Football and Touch. The remainder are all the other traditional sports played in Australia. We should add the full contact Rugby Codes are not present at this time
Our game has been accepted this year which is a huge breakthrough for AFLNSW to say the least.
Not being on the ground up there we can only presume that the success of the equivalent Boys Comps, and the introduction of the AFLW, and the strong demand from parents and students has had a big bearing on the decision.
With 30 schools there is a fair bit of potential for future growth if all goes well, in what used to be a neutral area for our great sport.
The article below sums it all up really well – The Ravenswood School Youth Girls group look pretty happy.

http://www.ravenswood.nsw.edu.au/news-stories/afl-nsw-independent-girls-schools-championships

 

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More AFLNSW/ACT research shows that in 2017 there was an 78% increase in Womens Club participation. Please note that is Club footy.
A total Womens particpation figure for NSW/ACT has not been found. We may have to wait until 2017 AFL Annual Report next March.
The 2016 AFL Annual report said that there were 85,919 total NSW/ACT Female participants, which was a 5 times increase from 2010.
We are not surprised by the 2017 increase because it confirms the development State wide we have all found in recent times and shown on this thread.

Change of topic -- With all of the upcoming major sports new ground re-developments in Sydney the AFL will find itself with 2 first class facilities only - SCG and Spotless which can hold large crowds up to 47,000 (SCG).
The NSW Govt has or is sending a message that rectangular grounds are a priority up there over the Cricket type ovals needed for our game.