SANFLW players inspiring the next generation as the competition’s third season gets ready to kick off

SANFLW captains are embracing being role models ahead of the start of the new season as female footy participation numbers in SA skyrocket.

SANFLW captains (left to right) Lauren Buchanan (South Adelaide), Cass Hartley (Glenelg), Natalie Seaman (Central District assistant coach), Georgia Bevan (Sturt), Leah Cutting (Norwood), Adele Gibson (Woodville-West Torrens), Lauren Rodato (West Adelaide) and Nadia von Bertouch (North Adelaide) at the season launch.
Picture: AAP/Mark Brake

SANFLW captains are embracing being role models for youngsters coming through the ranks and say the talent is only getting stronger as participation rates increase.

As the state league competition launched its third season on Monday ahead of Friday’s opening round, the SANFL announced the number of SA females playing Aussie rules had almost doubled in the past 12 months.

League figures showed there were 6118 females registered with SA clubs in 2018, up from 3185 in 2017.

Last year’s AFL census also revealed overall female participation in SA, including all club and skill competition, as well as programs such as Auskick, had increased by about 35 per cent to 61,284.

The SANFL has responded to the growth in women’s football by going from six to eight teams with the additions of Central District and Woodville-West Torrens for 2019.

South Adelaide captain Lauren Buchanan said boosting the number of sides was important for the next generation of female players.

South Adelaide captain Lauren Buchanan. Picture: AAP/Mark Brake

“It’s really humbling to know girls look up to us and to know they do have a pathway to aspire and work towards, not just a dream that it used to be,” said Buchanan, who skippered the Panthers to the premiership in their inaugural campaign last year.

Nine SANFLW players were selected at the AFLW draft in October – up from six at the 2017 draft.

North Adelaide co-captain Nadia von Bertouch said the state league’s professionalism was increasing each year.

“I think they (clubs) are realising this (women’s football) is something that’s going to stick around,” von Bertouch said.

“To be able to feel like you really have a place in SA playing football and that people do want to watch you is really special.”

First-year West Adelaide skipper Lauren Rodato was pleased the competition had support from major sponsor Statewide Super and the grand finalists would again share $20,000 prize money.

“Women’s sport in the past three years has skyrocketed, as has the funding, so it’s heading in the right direction,” Rodato said.

West Adelaide first-year captain Lauren Rodato. Picture: AAP/Mark Brake

Woodville-West Torrens co-captain Adele Gibson was proud to be a role model for young girls who had grown up supporting the club.

“There’s such a big buzz now around women’s football and the kids are so engaged with watching it, so having that pathway for them is great,” Gibson said.

The season kicks off with all four round-one matches – two double-headers – on Friday night.

At Noarlunga, Woodville-West Torrens plays Glenelg and South Adelaide faces Sturt, while at Richmond Norwood tackles North Adelaide and West Adelaide hosts Central District.

It is a 10-round campaign with a top-four finals series, culminating in a premiership decider on Sunday, May 26.