Local Queensland Womens Footy - General Discussion

[The_Wookie]

AFL Queensland today announced a new look South East Queensland senior women’s football competition structure for 2017.

The new model, which was developed in consultation with existing clubs, caters for participants at all levels and paves the way for the continued growth.

Highlights of the four-competition structure includes 11 new teams; the QWAFL as a genuine high-performance competition to underpin AFL Women’s; a second-tier competition catering for clubs and players aspiring to play in the QWAFL; and an all-female grand final day to cap off the season.

http://www.aflq.com.au/22200-2/

2017 SEQ WOMEN’S COMPETITION STRUCTURE

QWAFL (Queensland Women’s Australian Football League)
High performance competition underpinning AFL Women’s.

• The entry of Maroochydore sees a seven team QWAFL, with Coolangatta, Yeronga, Wilston Grange, Zillmere, University of Queensland and Coorparoo returning in 2017.\The competition has a new look, with the introduction of capped lists with teams permitted to sign up to 30 primary and 6 rookie listed players.

QWFA (Queensland Women’s Football Association) Division 1
Second tier competition for players and clubs with QWAFL aspirations.

• Eleven teams will battle it out in QWFA Division, with newcomer Aspley joining established teams Coolangatta, Burleigh, Bond University, Jindalee, Yeronga, Coorparoo, University of Queensland, Wilston Grange, Moreton Bay and Maroochydore.

QWFA (Queensland Women’s Football Association) Division 2
Participation based competition for new and developing players and clubs.

• 7 clubs - The new QWFA Division 2 is designed for entry level clubs and players, as well as those just wanting to participate in a community club environment.The competition provides opportunity for women from the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Brisbane with Broadbeach, Coomera – Beenleigh, Kedron, Sandgate, Pine Rivers, Hinterland and Gympie entering teams.

QWFA (Queensland Women’s Football Association) Northern Rivers

• 3 clubs - This season will see the birth of the QWFA Northern Rivers, with Lismore, Ballina and Tweed making their first foray into the female competition space

AFL Cairns

• 6 clubs (North Cairns, Manunda Hawks, South Cairns, Centrals TB, Pyramid Power)

AFL Townsville

• 4 clubs (hermit park, Thuringowa Bulldogs, University hawks, Shalom College)

AFL McKay

• 5 clubs (Bakers Creek, Eastern Swans, Mackay Magpies, Moranbah Bulldogs, North mackay Saints)

AFL Darling Downs

• 8 clubs (Coolaroo, Dalby, Goondiwindi, Lockyer Valley, South Burnett, South Toowoomba, Toowoomba, Warwick)

 

[The_Wookie]

 

[fanackapan]

AFL Queensland today released the QWFA Division 2 fixture, marking the official launch of the new division.

Six new teams – Aspley, Gympie, Hinterland, Beenleigh, Coomera and Sandgate -join the competition; a testament to the popularity and growth of female football in Queensland.

The newcomers join existing teams, Broadbeach, Pine Rivers, Kedron and a combined Coorparoo Yeronga team.

http://www.aflq.com.au/22887-2/

 

[Gigantor]

I know the Suns are interested in getting a women's team. I was just noticing how well some of the Gold Coast women's teams were doing in the Qld comp:

 

[The_Wookie]

 

[Garlic muncher]

I know the Suns are interested in getting a women's team. I was just noticing how well some of the Gold Coast women's teams were doing in the Qld comp:

View attachment 370227

probably similar to the men's, traditional stronghold of the game along with Cairns.

 

[The_Wookie]

 

[TWLS]

The article below discusses the Gold Coast Suns Womens team entering the AFLW in 2020.
There are some stats quoted on Womens/Girls participation in QLD which reached 98,000 this year- Very impressive.
They are still growing the Womens game albeit at a slower rate than before, and very interesting that Northern NSW falls in their catchment area for recruiting.
QLD cannot be ignored anymore and the figures above confirm that, and anecdotally there is evidence that the Women are creating heaps of publicity in the general Sports arena.
http://www.aflq.com.au/25055-2/

 

[The_Wookie]

 

[The_Wookie]

 

[The_Wookie]

 

[TWLS]

Noticed the total participation has reached 39.9% up there.
Will the day arrive when participation reaches 50% and then some, and how would the fans feel if it did.

 

[NoobPie]

Noticed the total participation has reached 39.9% up there.
Will the day arrive when participation reaches 50% and then some, and how would the fans feel if it did.

Well, the key measure would be in club participation. Given there are 3 times the mens teams compared to the womens teams in SEQ, and its probably the most gender balanced major region, we are a fair way off there yet. I personally would think its fantastic if womens numbers equaled or even surpassed mens numbers

 

[jatz14]

Thats some impressive development in Qld. In my opinion now clearly the second state for womens AFL.

 

[The_Wookie]

 

[The_Wookie]

The Gold Coast SUNS path to joining the elite AFL women's competition in 2020 has been revealed with the SUNS to field a team in a new winter series in 2018.

The SUNS will line up against teams from the GWS GIANTS and Brisbane Lions in the series which will result in matches being played over a 10 to 12 week program in 2018 and 2019.

The Gold Coast Junior girls competition was established in 2011 with 3 Under 17 teams and now has over 24 teams with 265% growth in the past 12 months.

 

[BringBackTorps]

Six new AF adult female teams have been formed in a new Wide Bay comp. - teams from Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Bundaberg & Gympie etc. It has 120 players -but nos. are expected to increase in next few weeks. It will run from Feb. 10, for c. 6 weeks (no explanation why it is so short, & not played in winter!).

Article also notes:-
. schoolgirl AF comp.nos. in this region have grown over 300% since 2015, to over 900 girls.
. Wide Bay region also has c.1000 Auskickers (1/3 female) in 2017

www.aflq.com.au/wide-bay-region-gears-inagural-womens-league/

 

[TWLS]

This article is good news overall for QLD Footy, and it also confirms that Womens Footy up there is partially driving change in our game.
Note the emphasis of having the new facility read for the AFLW comp in the future.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-03-29/lions-new-training-base-a-giant-step-closer

 

[Mitchell54]

Looking at the deal that saw Victorian AFLW venues get an upgrade. I thought of when I went to see Lions v Giants in Brisbane, 2017.

The seating arrangement there was hopeless. No stands. Hardly a hill to place a seat on. Surely putting some temporary stands in there wouldn’t be too difficult but there needs to be a hill or permanent stand if there is going to be the home ground of Brisbane AFLW.

I would presume that a few people here may have been there and if they have done anything to improve the seating facilities

 

[The_Wookie]

Looking at the deal that saw Victorian AFLW venues get an upgrade. I thought of when I went to see Lions v Giants in Brisbane, 2017.

The seating arrangement there was hopeless. No stands. Hardly a hill to place a seat on. Surely putting some temporary stands in there wouldn’t be too difficult but there needs to be a hill or permanent stand if there is going to be the home ground of Brisbane AFLW.

I would presume that a few people here may have been there and if they have done anything to improve the seating facilities

If the Lions get their facility up and running with state, federal and afl funding that might be a thing of the past soon.

 

[BringBackTorps]

Queensland U18 Girls, in the National U18 Championships, have caused a massive historic upset, defeating Vic. Metro by 9 points. This is the first time any Queensland representitive, male or female, side has defeated a Vic Metro side.
This bodes very well for Qld. teams in the AFLW, & is not a total surprise since female GR AF nos. are, amazingly, almost as big in Qld. as they are in Vic.

www.aflq.com.au/queensland-bring-the-pressure-in-historic-aflw-win/

I recommend listening to the girls belt out their Qld. State song, with gusto- sung to the tune of Richmond's "We're From Tigerland".

 

[jatz14]

Queensland U18 Girls, in the National U18 Championships, have caused a massive upset, defeating Vic. Metro by 9 points. This is the first time any Queensland representitive, male or female, side has defeated a Vic Metro side.
This bodes very well for Qld. teams in the AFLW, & is not a total surprise since female GR AF nos. are, amazingly, almost as big in Qld. as they are in Vic.

www.aflq.com.au/queensland-bring-the-pressure-in-historic-aflw-win/

It also shows why they are bringing GCS into the comp in 2020. There will be more girls coming through the pathway in Qld soon, than 1 team can absorb, and with state based drafts, its hard for them to go elsewhere, so the AFLW risks missing out on them altogether.

 

[jatz14]

QWAFL gf, Over 2000 at the game.

 

[TWLS]

It also shows why they are bringing GCS into the comp in 2020. There will be more girls coming through the pathway in Qld soon, than 1 team can absorb, and with state based drafts, its hard for them to go elsewhere, so the AFLW risks missing out on them altogether.

Very good point about our game missing out altogether on players.
That ironically was one of the original reasons why Gil in 2016 brought forward the AFLW. He got quite excited at the time when he heard the QLD participation figures and was worried they would disappear to other sports.

 

[BringBackTorps]

A record six U 18 Queensland girls have been selected for the U18 All Australian Team.
http://www.aflq.com.au/record-six-queenslanders-named-in-the-aflw-all-australian-team/

At the U18 National Draft on 23.10 at DS, Brisbane are entitled to 8 selections.

It is a reflection of the extraordinary strength of female GR AF in Qld. -where RL is the dominant code!
Qld. in 2017 had 100,841 female Regd. participants -only behind Vic.'s 108,021. In 2017, 39.9% of all AF Regd. participants in Qld. & NSW Northern Rivers are female!
How has Qld. been able to achieve this growth? And lessons for other States in how to increase their female recruitment?

As TWLS advises above, an AFL official stated that it was the phenomenon of female AF growth in Qld. that lead to the AFLW being brought forward from 2020 (its original planned inception date) to 2017. The AFL feared this fragile Qld. growth/following could be lost if female AF did not offer significant elite pathways for ambitious female athletes.

We can, therefore, offer gratitude to Qld. females for the unexpected growth of female AF Australia-wide; & to those unsung Qld. GR officials who encouraged females to play in their "foreign" environment.