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Local NSW/ACT Womens Footy - General Discussion

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Another older article discussing Womens Footy in NSW/ACT.

The article confirms that last year the 15 School NSW Catholic Girls Secondary Schools Sports Association based in Sydney held its first competition for Girls.
We said previously that they did hold some trials and they went a step further apparently and held some matches.
The actual number of schools involved not known but the school in the article - St Scholastica College in Glebe - did compete.

To sum up the various articles two seperate Female Schools organisations up there have now added our game to their sports curriculum, and the best quote we found was the Abbotsleigh Girls School Sports Co-ordinator -" AFL WAS JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN AND THE GIRLS LOVE IT"

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/no...ays-for-indigenous-girls-20190206-p50w2l.html
 
The Sydney Swans Womens team will now be set up properly with much needed funding from the Federal Govt.

https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/2019-04-23/funding-to-make-sydney-swans-womens-team-a-reality

An earlier article on the Swans taking over the Royal Hall of Industries Pavilion in which the new facilities will be made available to the surrounding community.
It appears that the Swans continue to establish a decent footprint in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, and so they should with 60,000 members.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/hordern-pavilion-sydney-swans-royal-hall-20181004-p507oz.html
 
AFLNSW/ACT & AFL Riverina (comprises 4 AF Leagues) have been conducting a Review into GR AF in sthn. NSW, since late 2018- the final report is due about now. It has also employed D. Burgess, an expert independent consultant to assess its findings (Burgess also assessed the AFL Sydney comp.)

Many small country towns around Australia are experiencing a drift to larger country towns, where there are more jobs/"brighter lights"- or to the big city. This loss of younger populations is hurting AF particularly, since large nos. are needed for 1 team.

Sthn. NSW, AF heartland, has a VERY poor female AF record (pro rata to Vic. AF Clubs- & even the "sensational" female AF club scene in the RL oriented Newcastle/Hunter district- which now has c.16 snr female teams; & many female jnr teams!; & RL-oriented Wollongong/Illawarra district-which now has 13 snr female AF teams; & many female jnr teams!)
The Riverina has low nos. of female AF teams, some playing in the HEAT of summer or mid-week, short duration female comps. etc. Female jnr AF teams have increased since 2018.
(Far nthn. Vic. also has a poor record re female AF).

The Review states "...noting that Netball NSW has no role in the governance and administration of the AFL Riverina Netball competitions".
The Review examines:-

. a competition of "...106 football teams, 43 netball teams...AFL riverina competitions spanning almost 150 square kilometres".
(I thought there was more than 106 jnr & snr male & female AF Club teams in sth. NSW)

. "AFL Riverina's existing junior & senior football and netball structures, as well as female football"

. "growth of female football, and the integration into AFL Riverina factoring in Netball (my emphasis)".

."Determine the optimal structure and administration of AFL riverina female competitions to better support female football growth, and factor in the community importance of netball (my emphases)". What about promoting the community importance of female AF; & devoting maximum efforts to promote the Australian game, AFLNSW/ACT's Charter? Play AF in winter, netball at other months?

The reality is that, unlike in big cities, due to small populations, in rural small towns, there may not be sufficient athletic young females to have thriving female teams in both AF & netball.
Female GR AF, obviously, must be given priority by AFLNSW/ACT, & local AF Club committees. Let the women & girls decide what sports they wish to play-& remove all "obstacles" that have prevented them from playing AF! It's booming everywhere else in Australia- except Sthn. NSW (& far nthn. Vic.)!

The AFL HQ mini-empire now has another highly paid Executive, Tanya Hosch (c. $800,000 pa?) whose focus is Inclusion & Diversity. Females are 50% of the population- can T. Hosch help solve the whiteanting of female GR AF in sthn. NSW (& far nthn. Vic.)?
Or don't the AFL & local Clubs really care about FULL AF opportunities for females in these regions?
What has AFL House in Wagga done, re female AF, since 2004 (when parent-initiated court action caused Youth Girls' comps. to be formed in Melbourne)?

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-06-22/indigenous-leader-named-as-new-afl-diversity-chief

http://aflriverina.com.au/2018/08/23/afl-riverina-to-review-competitions/
(also refer to the attachment in this link for the details/objectives of the review)

https://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/5894395/afl-riverina-review-to-kick-off-club-forums/
This 8.2.19 Daily Advertiser article on the Review is behind a paywall. It would be appreciated if someone could open it, then link it here.
 
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Great research BBT on one of my favourite topics.
A few things caught my eye---
A well entrenched attitude of a Netball First policy which will take time to overcome, because they have paved the way for female sport in that region.
We cannot take that away from them, however that was then and times have changed.
Some interesting sports politics going on up there - Netball NSW has no say in the set up down there -Very strange but typical of the rivalry at the border since Federation.
A very telling point is the actual female population decline in those regions which we have discussed before on here. So who gets preference and your comment about the girls being asked very pertinent.

Found this report on Female Football in the second link above which is worthy of posting here.

"Female football in Southern NSW and more specifically the Riverina continues to grow. Whilst current challenges including fixturing, facilities and Netball make it difficult to implement our ability to adapt to local conditions has made Women’s and Youth Girls AFL accessible for all.

Historically local AFL Women’s clubs Riverina Lions and Cootamundra Blues have been the only avenue for women to participate in a structured competition namely AFL Canberra. The Riverina Lions have been the stalwarts of female football in the region yet the fact they have only been able to field 1 team in the AFL Canberra competition highlighted the lack of ability to recruit women into weekend fixtures whilst competing with other sports.

With the need of Female participation becoming evident AFL NSW ACT introduced the state’s first ever Girls only Auskick program in Wagga back in 2009 which has since generated the new wave of female football participants.

In 2016 a community-based Youth Girls AFL Competition was introduced with 6 teams and 120 participants taking part in the regions first ever Youth Girls competition. This competition was the catalyst in introducing club-based Youth Girls competitions in both the WDJFNL and SWJFNL in 2017.
The competition’s fixturing on Wednesday night’s allowed alternate athletes including weekend netballers to participate. In 2017 the WDJFNL had 16 club-based teams with the SWJFNL having 6. This has since grown to 21 teams in the WDJFNL and 10 teams in the SWJFNL in 2018.

On the back of the success of the inaugural club-based Youth Girls competitions and increased support from local clubs the regions first ever club-based Women’s Competition was launched.
5 clubs from across the region participated in the competition including Riverina Lions, Cootamundra, CSU, Griffith Swans and new comers Snowy Mountains Bears.

The governance and administration duties of these competitions has been the responsibility of AFL NSW ACT Game Development staff and has been ably supported by local clubs.
The complete pathway from Auskick to Opens Women’s AFL now exists in the Riverina ."
END OF REPORT

Very revealing article which provides a much more positive tone on the future of the Womens Game in that region and some of the stuff we knew about.
But one fact remains - The sharing of players between Netball and Footy is not sustainable long term IMHO.
 

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Three rounds into the AFL Canberra women's league and there are signs that there is a bit of a disparity between the best and worst teams in the comp.

1557206198538.png

Surely this must be concerning for the people in charge.
 
The EFL (Eastern Football League) moves teams to different divisions/grades after 4 rounds depending on performance, is that the same with this competition?
 
It hasn't been the case in previous seasons.

This was the ladder from last season. Ainslie has improved but Tuggeranong and Gungahlin remain weak.

1557289844261.png
 
A very big shake up happening in all of the various levels of Footy in the AFL Riverina Zone in Southern NSW to meet the challenges of changing demographics, and other factors.
Interesting to note Female Footy has to be fully integrated into that Zones Footy Clubs, and we dont know if that was the case beforehand
At the same time Netball has to be looked after to protect the various Clubs and their culture.
It is not known if the other Leagues in that region will be doing the same.

http://aflriverina.com.au/2019/08/1...ns-review-proposed-recommendations-announced/
 
My local Women's Club(Wollongong Saints) that my sisters play in has been kicked out of the Sydney league due to them not being aligned with a mens club.

"The league restructure has been designed to align men's and women's clubs statewide, pushing the Saints out of the Sydney competition as a result."

It's shameful that the AFL wants to push Women's footy but doesn't feel like it should be supporting independant Women's clubs that has built the foundations for women's footy in the region.

They left as Premiers of the Division 1 league(weren't allowed in Premier League due to location apparently)

The club for 10 years has been the pathway for women in the Illawarra to expand themselves and play in a competitive league which has seen 2 players be drafted by GWS and another in the Giants Academy. I don't expect anyone form this region to join that group unless they travel to Sydney multiple times a week to train and play in a competitive women's league.

Gil can get the f*** off his high horse about women's footy and support women's footy at it's roots instead of destroying the clubs founded by the people that have brought it this far.

Sorry for my rant but AFL Sydney and everyone up to Gil can get stuffed.
 
Mitchell54 said:
My local Women's Club(Wollongong Saints) that my sisters play in has been kicked out of the Sydney league due to them not being aligned with a mens club.

"The league restructure has been designed to align men's and women's clubs statewide, pushing the Saints out of the Sydney competition as a result."

It's shameful that the AFL wants to push Women's footy but doesn't feel like it should be supporting independant Women's clubs that has built the foundations for women's footy in the region.

They left as Premiers of the Division 1 league(weren't allowed in Premier League due to location apparently)

The club for 10 years has been the pathway for women in the Illawarra to expand themselves and play in a competitive league which has seen 2 players be drafted by GWS and another in the Giants Academy. I don't expect anyone form this region to join that group unless they travel to Sydney multiple times a week to train and play in a competitive women's league.

Gil can get the f*** off his high horse about women's footy and support women's footy at it's roots instead of destroying the clubs founded by the people that have brought it this far.

Sorry for my rant but AFL Sydney and everyone up to Gil can get stuffed.
Click to expand...
Your comments confirm what is happening in the Riverina -The alignment of Men and Womens teams everywhere in NSW.
You have my sympathy for that club and there are winners and losers always in reshuffles unfortunately.
 
TWLS said:
A very big shake up happening in all of the various levels of Footy in the AFL Riverina Zone in Southern NSW to meet the challenges of changing demographics, and other factors.
Interesting to note Female Footy has to be fully integrated into that Zones Footy Clubs, and we dont know if that was the case beforehand
At the same time Netball has to be looked after to protect the various Clubs and their culture.
It is not known if the other Leagues in that region will be doing the same.

http://aflriverina.com.au/2019/08/1...ns-review-proposed-recommendations-announced/
Click to expand...

That's interesting. The talk of "aspirational" clubs as the basis for creating presumably a divisional heirarchy doesn't really exist in regional Victoria. It seems they go with one regional league with larger towns or bigger clubs from regional cities and then lower leagues mainly with smaller towns represented.
 

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TWLS said:
More good news out of NSW and the ACT for Womens footy up there.
The untapped potential in those two States is now slowly being revealed and was evident in the recent AFLW draft.
Everybody focuses on the major states ignoring what is happening elsewhere.

https://womens.afl/news/18500/capital-gains-record-act-draft-haul-amid-bumper-nsw-crop
Click to expand...
Is it or just spin that only 1 ACT was picked up by GWS. Thought Hamilton was unlucky not picked up this season. Allen was great in the SANFLW as was Dunn.
 
As a sign of improving standards in Sydney female GR senior AF, 3 new clubs have been added to Sydney Premier Division (the highest)- which, in 2020, will have 10 teams. They are all expected to be competitive when promoted. The new clubs are Pennant Hills, Manly Warringah and North Shore.
They all have strong, well established links/pathways with nearby junior AF clubs who have good jnr female nos, & men's teams.

Newtown, established 2002, who have won previously about 5 Grand Finals, has become non-competitive in Premier - so it has been decided they should be relegated to Division 1 in 2020.

sydneyafl.com.au

Three additional clubs to join Women’s Premier Division in 2020 - AFL Sydney

In line with the expansion of AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division to 10 teams in 2020, AFL Sydney can announce that applications from Pennant Hills Demons, North Shore Bombers and Manly Warringah Wolves have all been approved.
sydneyafl.com.au sydneyafl.com.au

Newtown Breakaways is an independent AF club (all adult females only, never linked to a men's AF club).
In 2020, interestingly, it will attempt to form its own Men's AF team from scratch.
 
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The mention of increasing the geographical spread was enlightening, which in the past has held the game back because of that fact.
We can only ponder where the new players come from and how they get involved -Surveys if they happen never seem to get published publicly.
 
Another good increase in Western Sydney female GR AF participant nos.- 30%.
The term "participant" is rubbery, & it has not been defined.

I assume this the 2019 increase- it has not been officially announced yet by AFLNSW/ACT, but GWS CEO D. Matthews would have been informed of the correct nos. for 2019.


www.gwsgiants.com.au

St.George Extends Partnership With GIANTS

St.George Bank has extended its partnership with GWS GIANTS for a further two years, including support to the elite team as well as investment in the growing grassroots footy participation across Western Sydney.
www.gwsgiants.com.au www.gwsgiants.com.au
 
This article partly describes what sports activities young girls/youth girls get up to in NSW apart from Soccer Football.
Apparently according to the article the two activities - Oztag/Touch - attract thousands of participants across the state.
Very interesting comment by one of the Giants recruits -There was no future in it.
This is some of the huge potential up there for our Womens game that we have been banging on about and how do we get them converted to our sport.
We are still scratching the surface ATM.
There is hope because AFL Queensland has found the formula in a Rugby Code Heartland.
www.foxsports.com.au

The unorthodox pathway to Australian rules for two AFLW hopefuls

The unorthodox pathway to Australian rules for two AFLW hopefuls
www.foxsports.com.au www.foxsports.com.au
 

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The article below is wide ranging covering the Sydney Swans Mens/Future Womens/Girls/Boys efforts to find suitable venues for our game.
The Randwick Racecourse deal has fallen through along with others that were planned, however there are further projects being planned which might come to fruition.
The gaining of the Exhibition Hall and its facilities was a huge win up there last year for the Swans AFLW team and Juniors.
Yes we know the grassroots up there is growing but that growth is being hampered by various obstacles not including venues.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-11...m=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed:+AFL+Latest+News
 
TWLS said:
The article below is wide ranging covering the Sydney Swans Mens/Future Womens/Girls/Boys efforts to find suitable venues for our game.
The Randwick Racecourse deal has fallen through along with others that were planned, however there are further projects being planned which might come to fruition.
The gaining of the Exhibition Hall and its facilities was a huge win up there last year for the Swans AFLW team and Juniors.
Yes we know the grassroots up there is growing but that growth is being hampered by various obstacles not including venues.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-11-24/venue-identified-as-option-to-bolster-shortage-of-sydney-facilities?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed:+AFL+Latest+News
Click to expand...
A bit of a follow up on the above article -
According to the 2018 Sydney Swans Financial Report dated October 2018 there will be a big dollar investment by the Swans in the Exhibition Halls etc to the tune of 25 million. It will be in partnership with another group up there.
The project is very important for the Swans particularly in the Eastern Suburbs, who according to the report are a "Transitional Club" in the AFL -Very interesting indeed after all these years. Its not easy up there folks for our game.
Apparently reading between the lines I think the Australian Jockey Club Committee had a change of heart about the Aussie Rules Oval in the middle. That item had a vague comment in the report.
 
1. NW NSW (New England) was once non-existent for AF until the mid 1990's (when casual pub teams were started, 12-a-side)- but is now having good growth.
There is a women's competition there, & a jnr female comp. will be added in 2020. Gunnedah FC is planning to join- by adding 3 female U14, U17 & women's teams in 2020

AF "...sport's popularity is at an all time high in the Gunnedah region"
Adding female AF teams "...would help future-proof the club". More evidence of the great benefits of female AF teams.

www.northerndailyleader.com.au

Gunnedah Bulldogs look to 'future-proof' through expansion

Gunnedah Bulldogs look to add junior and women's teams.
www.northerndailyleader.com.au www.northerndailyleader.com.au

Club Web Sites - GameDay

Club Web Sites - GameDay, fixtures, results, ladders, statistics, news and events for the AFL North West NSW proudly supported by Greater Bank, on GameDay, the Home of Grassroots Sport
websites.sportstg.com websites.sportstg.com


2. On 15.3.20, at the top 2nd tier Henson's Oval Marrickville (good facilities, can currently accomodate c.15,000), the Newtown Breakaways women's AF team have organised a brilliant promotional/training program for women's AF. Newtown has 2 women's teams, & is planning to add a 3rd women's team- & also introduce a men's team!- in 2020.

I would like to see other GR clubs emulate what the Newtown women are doing.

" The Newtown Breakaways have designed the Challenge Event Programs as a Carnival & Clubs' Picnic to encourage community and comradery (sic) while still engaging in community football...We encourage teams to bring a marquee (my emphases) and a picnic, get to know each other better...".

sydneyafl.com.au

Newtown Breakaways Pre-Season Women’s AFLX Challenge Carnival returns in 2020 - AFL Sydney

Following the success of the inaugural Newtown Breakaways Pre-season Challenge Carnival the we are pleased to announce the event is returning in 2020!
sydneyafl.com.au sydneyafl.com.au


en.wikipedia.org

Henson Park - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
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Further growth for female AF in NSW.

.AFL Sapphire Coast is forming an inaugural Youth Girls' comp. in 2020.

aflsapphirecoast.com.au

Youth Girls competition to commence in 2020

Find out about the all new girls only competition commencing in 2020!
aflsapphirecoast.com.au aflsapphirecoast.com.au

. The Wollongong Illawarra Academy of Sport, a Not For Profit, that promotes elite local sport/offers scholarships etc., is creating a Girls' AFL Program (note: nothing offered for boys!)

Illawarra Academy of Sport

www.ias.org.au www.ias.org.au

There is in 2019 already a 13 team adult women's comp. in the Wollongong/Illawarra area. In 2017, there were only c. 3 women's teams- amazing.

. 2018- nil private girls' secondary schools full AF inter school competition in Sydney.
2019- 30 Sydney private girls' secondary school teams in a full AF inter school comp.
2020- 49 Sydney private girls' secondary school teams in a full inter school comp. (starts 8.2.20, more girls' teams later in the year? Nos. do not include Catholic secondary school sports' system)

Fixtures & Results - AFL Sydney Juniors

Please select your region from the options below. From here you can select your competition from the drop-down box. Wet Weather Check – Ground Closures Sydney Harbour Western Sydney Independent Schools
aflsj.com.au aflsj.com.au
(then click on "Independent Schools")
 
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BringBackTorps said:
Further growth for female AF in NSW.

.AFL Sapphire Coast is forming an inaugural Youth Girls' comp. in 2020.

aflsapphirecoast.com.au

Youth Girls competition to commence in 2020

Find out about the all new girls only competition commencing in 2020!
aflsapphirecoast.com.au aflsapphirecoast.com.au

. The Wollongong Illawarra Academy of Sport, a Not For Profit, that promotes elite local sport/offers scholarships etc., is creating a Girls' AFL Program (note: nothing offered for boys!)

Illawarra Academy of Sport

www.ias.org.au www.ias.org.au

There is in 2019 already a 13 team adult women's comp. in the Wollongong/Illawarra area. In 2017, there were only c. 3 women's teams- amazing.

. 2018- nil private girls' secondary schools full AF inter school competition in Sydney.
2019- 30 Sydney private girls' secondary school teams in a full AF inter school comp.
2020- 49 Sydney private girls' secondary school teams in a full inter school comp. (starts 8.2.20, more girls' teams later in the year? Nos. do not include Catholic secondary school sports' system)

Fixtures & Results - AFL Sydney Juniors

Please select your region from the options below. From here you can select your competition from the drop-down box. Wet Weather Check – Ground Closures Sydney Harbour Western Sydney Independent Schools
aflsj.com.au aflsj.com.au
(then click on "Independent Schools")
Click to expand...
Good work finding this stuff - Would really like to know for sure the basis for all of this growth -New Sport for females in NSW would likely be a start.
But that does not really fully explain because there are loads of sports now for them -Ours is just another one.
It probably is a range of factors involved too numerous to explain.
 
TWLS said:
Good work finding this stuff - Would really like to know for sure the basis for all of this growth -New Sport for females in NSW would likely be a start.
But that does not really fully explain because there are loads of sports now for them -Ours is just another one.
It probably is a range of factors involved too numerous to explain.
Click to expand...
Momentum builds momentum. The growth builds hype, builds growth. People tend to talk about the new sport they started compared to the one they have played for years, so lots of new players creates lots of new buzz, attracting more new players.
 

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