All Divisions General NFNL Discussion Thread

[10571z]

League has zero awareness of the challenges in women’s football. I have watched my club battle for years just to field a team. Without juniors or an affiliation 70% of girls are just having a kick for social reasons and or giving it a go for the first time. We have 5 women over the age of 40 playing purely to fill numbers yet are expected to compete against teams with junior programs and girls who are 18 years of age.

I like the idea of more divisions less teams to reduce the gap between strong and developing teams. Forget promotion and relegation in traditional terms. There should be markers in place to grade teams in each divisions. Retirements, age of players, junior alignment, amount of players or teams registered, Experience of playing group etc.

What club?

I mean without a junior pathway its always going to be a battle no doubt. But yes divisions of 7,12,12 make very very little sense to me. 4 divisions of 7 probably the answer.

 

[Champ or Chump]

What club?

I mean without a junior pathway its always going to be a battle no doubt. But yes divisions of 7,12,12 make very very little sense to me. 4 divisions of 7 probably the answer.

Agree - 4 Divisons, keep promotion and relegation (grading games are for kids and cheats), bring in points and salary cap in 2027 as the competition grows.

Saturdays will be part of this also you would think - either as part of a full day of footy or as the VAFA do it and play on alternate weekends to men

 

[10571z]

Agree - 4 Divisons, keep promotion and relegation (grading games are for kids and cheats), bring in points and salary cap in 2027 as the competition grows.

Saturdays will be part of this also you would think - either as part of a full day of footy or as the VAFA do it and play on alternate weekends to men

How would points work? Nearly every club can’t get 1 pointers.

Salary cap is it required?

 

[Champ or Chump]

How would points work? Nearly every club can’t get 1 pointers.

Salary cap is it required?

There is starting to be some increased movement between clubs so points will come in by 2027 IMO

Several clubs now offering 'decent' money to get players - was only a matter of time. So salary cap will be required at some stage or .....

 

[Kangaman4lyf]

How would points work? Nearly every club can’t get 1 pointers.

Salary cap is it required?

Reservoir are paying more than the div 3 mens salary cap on 6 women’s players.

 

[10571z]

Reservoir are paying more than the div 3 men’s salary cap on 6 women’s players.

Points you could apply the 3 clubs in 3 years rule, premier div rule, vfl/afl player rule and competing against a team you came from rule.

New teams introduced could start off with more points than than existing clubs, existing clubs if a player has been there for 2 or more years or affiliated junior then they are 1 pointer? Home club player is a bit harder to establish so 1 pointer qualification may need to be easier than mens.

6 women are getting 80k between them?? Haha come off it…

 

[Kangaman4lyf]

Women’s football presents several structural differences that must be considered when designing competition policies:

1. Higher Player Turnover

Women’s football often experiences greater year-to-year turnover due to factors such as:

• Parenting and family commitments
• Work and study schedules
• Injury recovery
• Players returning to sport after extended breaks

A rigid recruitment restriction system could unintentionally limit a club’s ability to field a team.

2. Developing Player Pathways

Many clubs currently operate without established junior girls programs or formal development pathways.

In many regions, clubs are positioned between larger clubs with well-established junior programs and facilities, making recruitment and retention significantly more challenging.


Policies that penalise player movement could disproportionately disadvantage smaller clubs attempting to establish or maintain a women’s program.

3. Smaller Playing Lists

Women’s teams often operate with smaller lists compared to men’s teams. As a result, player availability can fluctuate week-to-week, meaning rigid squad restrictions may impact a club’s ability to field competitive teams.

4. Participation Should Remain the Primary Objective

Unlike some men’s competitions where financial incentives and recruitment dominate competitive outcomes, women’s football is still in a growth phase where participation and sustainability should remain the highest priority.


Proposed Women’s Player Points Model

1. Reduced Team Points Cap

A reduced overall cap should apply to reflect smaller team sizes and reduced recruiting intensity.

Recommended cap:

• 34-38 points per 22 player team

This maintains competitive balance while allowing clubs the flexibility needed to build viable playing lists.

What I think works:

AFLW PLAYER 4 points
VFLW PLAYER 3 points
Experienced community player (over 30 games) 2 points
Developing/New player (under 30 games)
Home player/junior 1 point

Apply same penalties as per mens for 3 clubs in 3 years, transferring from premier comp and playing against a team you have come from.

Loyalty incentives
2 seasons - 1 point reduction
4 seasons - 2 point reduction
This rewards clubs for developing and retaining players rather than encouraging recruitment.

New club/development concessions
Clubs establishing new women’s programs or rebuilding lists should be eligible for additional points.

New clubs - +4 points
Reestablished clubs - +4 points
No junior pathway - +2 points

This recognises the challenges faced by clubs without established female pathways.

Participation protection mechanisms

A participation safeguard should be implemented to prevent clubs from folding teams due to points restrictions.

Suggested mechanism:

• Clubs with fewer than 22 registered players receive +4 additional points
• Clubs with fewer than 18 registered players may request temporary exemption

This ensures clubs can prioritise fielding teams.

Introducing a women-specific Player Points System would provide several benefits:

• Maintain competitive balance across competitions
• Protect participation and team viability
• Encourage player retention and development
• Support clubs without junior pathways
• Reduce the risk of talent concentration at larger clubs

Most importantly, it ensures policy reflects the current stage of development of women’s football.

 

[10571z]

Apparently VAFA have introduced last touch rule and scrapped boundary umpires all together. Throw ups in the forward 50 and around the ground if required.

 

[Champ or Chump]

Apparently VAFA have introduced last touch rule and scrapped boundary umpires all together. Throw ups in the forward 50 and around the ground if required.

lack of umpires hitting all competitions!

 

[10571z]

lack of umpires hitting all competitions!

I mean clubs supply boundaries in the VAFA don’t they? Just seems like a good way to save them. I like the new rule as well.

 

[Champ or Chump]

I mean clubs supply boundaries in the VAFA don’t they? Just seems like a good way to save them. I like the new rule as well.

I'm hearing it's hard enough to get volunteers for other things let alone umpires. I like the rule and for clubs down the grades - welcome to what it will look like.

 

[Mappa]

Biggest issue is that many umpires in the lower grades like to umpire up the spine.
With ball ups over near the boundary now, this will require more running to get the ball, throw it up and then get back to the spine.

 

[guest100]

And to judge if the ball is out or not will be an issue. Imagine a ball out but not called and a winning goal kicked

 

[Champ or Chump]

And to judge if the ball is out or not will be an issue. Imagine a ball out but not called and a winning goal kicked

But when you have less and less umpires participating - what other options do we have/suggest?

It's not like the encouragement coming over the fence is anything that young people would feel is worth the $80 a game.

 

[Mappa]

But when you have less and less umpires participating - what other options do we have/suggest?

It's not like the encouragement coming over the fence is anything that young people would feel is worth the $80 a game.

One of the suggestions I put forward to the VAFA prior to us moving was to implement a system where the home team provided both umpires. It negated the need for teams coming from far and wide to try and find a boundary umpire to travel all the way to Bundoora.
It was never looked at or considered, and fell into the black hole of ideas to come from teams in the "Divisions" Chump

 

[guest100]

The AFL with all their millions should provide incentives for local umpires. We need them (look at an AFL game - there so many umps at one game).

The AFL need a pipeline, the clubs need support.

 

[10571z]

The AFL with all their millions should provide incentives for local umpires. We need them (look at an AFL game - there so many umps at one game).

The AFL need a pipeline, the clubs need support.

First things first it needs to be a full time job at AFL and really well paid at VFL level.

 

[Itspetracca]

First things first it needs to be a full time job at AFL and really well paid at VFL level.

Why would a lawyer give up his day job to take a pay cut and become full time umpire

 

[Mappa]

First things first it needs to be a full time job at AFL and really well paid at VFL level.

Interesting topic this one. How would making them full-time make them better? Between Sunday and Thursday / Friday, who are they going to practice on? There's no extra games for them to officiate.

Players are full-time and still can't execute a simple handball or kick in some instances. Umps will make mistakes, but still less than players.

My suggestion is to refine the rules. There's too many. There's too many changes. Simplify it and then it's easier to umpire

 

[Manang Rover]

Interesting topic this one. How would making them full-time make them better? Between Sunday and Thursday / Friday(in prem, who are they going to practice on? There's no extra games for them to officiate.

Players are full-time and still can't execute a simple handball or kick in some instances. Umps will make mistakes, but still less than players.

My suggestion is to refine the rules. There's too many. There's too many changes. Simplify it and then it's easier to umpire

Hey mate, with my extensive knowledge of umpiring (or lack there of) I do know that a few comps are sadly lacking umpires and NFNL is in this boat! I do remember my days in the VAFA where I was ressies ump as a volunteer in prem C!
I have heard that new ump coach at NFNL is ramping up activity by speaking with clubs and hopefully visiting schools to get to the juniors to grow numbers. This is the best avenue I believe to get the kids into Sunday games, then gradually Saturdays.
I think NFNL have good umpire numbers for the sunday games!
As you are connected with Paradians, who would umpire bosses reach out to at the school? Harro or Ricky

 

[Manang Rover]

First things first it needs to be a full time job at AFL and really well paid at VFL level.

Think each comp has well paid director/GM under that leagues cost centre! AFL needs to dish out more dollars to each league and competition chairs need to distribute more to umpiring dept

 

[10571z]

Interesting topic this one. How would making them full-time make them better? Between Sunday and Thursday / Friday, who are they going to practice on? There's no extra games for them to officiate.

Players are full-time and still can't execute a simple handball or kick in some instances. Umps will make mistakes, but still less than players.

My suggestion is to refine the rules. There's too many. There's too many changes. Simplify it and then it's easier to umpire

I’m not saying it’ll make them better but if it’s a legitimate career path maybe we see more interest at grass roots level.

 

[Doona2]

Unfortunately life's not what it once was. Small towns or communities no longer stop at noon on a Saturday, she's a 24/7 world now with a real "what's in it for me" attitude for many.

Retiring players aren't taking it up like era's of the past, especially given the money on offer to play now which see's careers extend as players drop down through the divisions.

Add to that the carry on that still goes comes from the peanut galleries each weekend (both days) - who'd actually want to umpire?

Unsure of the answer at grassroots level, but it's only going to get worse I feel if we can't find a way to recruit/retain.

 

[Mappa]

I’m not saying it’ll make them better but if it’s a legitimate career path maybe we see more interest at grass roots level.

Righto. In that regard, then definitely.

They could umpire the higher or highest grade on the weekend and be required to do school games during the week perhaps, and/or attend local clubs for clinics and engagement.

It would justify a full time wage I guess along with other benefits

 

[10571z]

Unfortunately life's not what it once was. Small towns or communities no longer stop at noon on a Saturday, she's a 24/7 world now with a real "what's in it for me" attitude for many.

Retiring players aren't taking it up like era's of the past, especially given the money on offer to play now which see's careers extend as players drop down through the divisions.

Add to that the carry on that still goes comes from the peanut galleries each weekend (both days) - who'd actually want to umpire?

Unsure of the answer at grassroots level, but it's only going to get worse I feel if we can't find a way to recruit/retain.

Get umpire abuse under control. Its genuinely cooked at junior levels with parents living vicariously through their 12 year old kids. Apparently most young umpires aren't going through to seniors.