Grassroots AFL participation rates are expected to break records again. This time, it’s girls at full forward

Participation in local and grassroots footy is on track to break records for another year in a row — and it’s thanks to girl power.

New AFL data obtained by the Herald Sun reveals participation in our great game is soaring at junior, youth and community levels — with girl power a key reason for Aussie rules kicking new goals in footy heartland. Picture: AFL

Footy lovers young and old are driving a surge in AFL action expected to rewrite the record books this season.

New AFL data obtained by the Herald Sun reveals participation in our great game is soaring at junior, youth and community levels — with girl power a key reason for Aussie rules kicking new goals in footy heartland.

The figures show total participation among boys, girls, men and women in grassroots Victorian football are at 215,667 and counting this season – 5 per cent higher than during last year’s record intake.

Auskick numbers are up 6 per cent or more than 2000 extra participants compared to this time last year, with more than 41,025 registered and 20 per cent of that intake girls.

The AFL’s “older sibling” to Auskick has also experienced huge growth, with “Superkick” for seven-12-year-olds undergoing a 335 per cent explosion, growing from 1135 to 4947 players in just its second season.

New footy talent is also coming from diverse backgrounds, with about 20 per cent of all Auskick and Superkick players having at least one parent born overseas.

AFL game development general manager Rob Auld said last year’s unprecedented Victorian community football participation mark of more than 236,950 would almost certainly be shattered.

“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves but we are confident that we are on track for another record year this year,’’ he said.

New footy talent is also coming from diverse backgrounds, with about 20 per cent of all Auskick and Superkick players having at least one parent born overseas. Picture: AFL

While junior registrations will be taken until later this year, there are already 857 Auskick and 157 Superkick programs statewide, compared to 900 and 93 at the end of last season.

More than 1100 community clubs – two per cent higher than at the same time last year – are helping lift the sport to new ground.

Nationally, Mr Auld said, Auskick numbers had surpassed 10,000 participants

“And we’re on track to hit another major milestone for the program this season,’’ he said.

Murrumbeena Auskick and Superkick co-ordinator Adrian Smith said the numbers rang true at his junior club where Auskick and Superkick numbers were surging, including about 20 more girls than last year.

“We have 230-plus kids registered this year which is up from last year and our all-girls group has taken off, which is fantastic, with more than 60 girls registered in Auskick,’’ he said.

“If we can build numbers at Auskick level, if we do it right, it flows through to junior footy and then we can keep those numbers and keep building the club as a whole.’’

He said growth in the girls game had raised hopes of creating the club’s first all-female under 8’s team.

“We want to create that pathway to say ‘right, if you keep going with this and really want to keep doing footy you can’,’’ he said.

Despite the growth Mr Auld said the AFL had “plenty of work to do to help drive participation’’, particularly in rural and regional areas where teams could struggle to fill teams.

“We acknowledge that not all areas are seeing growth and we are continuing to invest in support for club and volunteer support to ensure we have a strong and growing footy community network wherever possible,’’ he said.

“We continue to have an all of state approach and work with metro and country footy to ensure we are set up for the future and the growth in numbers again this year shows the investment and co-operation is proving to be beneficial.’’

Originally published as Grassroots AFL participation rates are expected to break records again. This time, it’s girls at full forward