SANFL clubs raise concerns over new women’s football competition
SANFL clubs have raised concerns over a proposed state women’s football league, saying they have not been given enough time to secure grounds, funding and coaches.
SANFL clubs have raised concerns over a proposed state women’s football league, saying they have not been given enough time to secure grounds, funding and coaches.
The governing body last week invited the eight non-AFL aligned SANFL clubs to apply to participate in the new women’s competition, which is scheduled to launch next year.
When contacted by Messenger Community News, each club backed the concept but would not commit to fielding a team until several key issues were resolved.
Woodville-West Torrens football manager Luke Powell said the idea was a positive step for women’s football.
But he said clubs needed more time than the SANFL’s November 11 deadline to decide whether to lodge an application.
“We haven’t made a formal decision,” Powell said.
“The club’s perspective is that the SANFL has not given us enough time to put in a submission.
“We feel it’s a very rushed process.”
The four-team women’s SANFL would be played over seven weeks in February and March, before a grand final between the two top-ranked teams.
The league would run at the same time as the inaugural AFL women’s competition but would not impede on the SA Women’s Football League season.
West Adelaide football manager Andrew Marks was keen to enter the Bloods’ women’s team – which already plays in the SAWFL – into the new state league.
But he said the club would delay a final decision until logistical concerns were addressed.
“We are 100 per cent supportive of it,” Marks said.
“However, we have a few questions on how it can go ahead.
“We would need to work out what funding there is available because we’d need coaches, match day officials, medical staff and facilities.”
Glenelg president Nick Chigwidden agreed.
“We informed the SANFL we’d like to be one of the clubs that would like to do that (field a team),” Chigwidden said.
“But it is a pretty short time frame.
“The biggest hurdle for us would be the change rooms. We’d need to look at doing them up and whether we could afford to do that.”
North Adelaide and Sturt raised concerns about ground availability due to both Prospect and Unley ovals being used for cricket during the months earmarked for the new competition.
Norwood, Central District and South Adelaide backed the concept and planned to discuss the matter at board level in the coming weeks.
SANFL general manager Adam Kelly said the league aimed to bridge the gap between local women’s clubs and the AFL.
He said the interest from SANFL clubs – each of which fields teams in under-14 and under-16 girl’s competitions – had been “immediate”.
“Each of the clubs … are keen to pursue the opportunity to be included in a women’s state league,” Kelly said.
Amateur league chief executive John Kernahan said he had not received feedback from existing women’s teams regarding the SANFL’s announcement.
“It’s about creating participation, so promotion of women’s football at any level can only be a good thing,” Kernahan said.
Grassroots boost
AMATEUR clubs have welcomed an SANFL proposal to introduce a women’s state league next year and hope it will strengthen grassroots competitions.
The SANFL announced last week it had invited its eight non-AFL aligned clubs to enter teams in its inaugural women’s league.
Angle Vale women’s co-ordinator Ainslie Baylis said the concept would boost player development and raise the profile of women’s football.
“As long as it doesn’t conflict with the SA Women’s Football League, then it’s a great opportunity for female football,” Baylis said.
“There are so many talented female footballers (and) they can bring so much more knowledge and experience back to our club and help the less experienced girls.”
Salisbury captain Emma Gibson said players involved in the new league would strengthen the local competition.
“From a club point of view, it will upskill our players,” said Gibson, who is also SANFL’s female talent pathway manager.
“The SANFL women’s league will be a high standard of coaching, umpiring and administration, so the whole lot of it will be the next step above.”
West Adelaide women’s president Glenys Killian praised the proposal, but raised concerns about timing and logistics.
“Our home is West Adelaide so we are definitely keen to transition into the SANFL,” Killian said.
“However ... it’s such a short turn around time (to field a team) when you’re looking at critical mass and numbers and getting the standard representative of the SANFL.”