Kids turned away due to ‘dire’ lack of ground space in inner west

The skyrocketing number of girls playing Aussie Rules has led to a shortage of playing grounds. As a result, some kids have been turned away by clubs and are unable to play.

Francie and Emma Walsh with Margot Bass-Tracy from Glebe Greyhounds. Picture: John Appleyard

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The skyrocketing number of girls playing Aussie rules has driven a staggering 40 per cent increase in registrations over five years at inner west junior clubs.

But a lack of ground space and suitable facilities is hampering future growth with the Glebe Greyhounds having to turn away between 20 and 30 players this year.

Club president Simon Tracy said they had to close off registrations for under 12 and under 14 girls as they were already struggling to squeeze their 688 players, up from 284 in 2013, onto Jubilee Oval.

“Our training sessions are like an ugly patchwork quilt, where we have to start some teams before others finish otherwise we are training until 9pm at night,” Mr Tracy said.

Club president Simon Tracy with Margot Bass-Tracy and Francie and Emma Walsh. Picture: John Appleyard

“There is a dire lack of ground space in the inner west and everyone is trying to get a slice of the pie.”

He said the “sky is the limit” for the number of players they could take on if they had enough space.

“It breaks my heart having to turn kids away.”

Sometimes they were able to send children to other Aussie rules or soccer clubs.

“But they often want to come play because their friends are playing at Glebe and what sometimes happens then is they often opt out of sport altogether.”

He said female participation had underpinned their club’s growth.

“Three years ago we started our first all-girls team and now we have six teams with 100 girls and we’re having to turn some away.”

Mr Tracy said the ever increasing popularity of the sport had been fuelled by investment at the grassroots level and in Auskick’s “successful model” of “giving everyone a go” rather than focusing on winning and ladders.

The Newtown Swans have also experienced huge growth. Here they are pictured with cricket legend Alan Davidson. Picture: John Appleyard.

The Newtown Swans have had an increase from five players in 2010 to 63 players in 2018 in the girls under nine and above age groups.

AFL NSW/ACT figures sourced for the Courier show registrations jumped a combined 40 per cent between 2013 and 2018 at five inner west clubs; Drummoyne Power, Newtown Swans, Leichhardt Cygnets, Glebe Greyhounds and Concord Giants.

The number of players at the Canada Bay Cannons doubled from 180 in 2013 to 368 in 2018.

Milan Serovich, who is president of both the Cannons and Power, said they had seen a 100 per cent increase in youth girls aged 12 to 16 years.

He said a further 30 per cent increase would force further splitting of training and put further strain on Drummoyne Oval which is already at capacity from 4.30pm to 7.30pm on Wednesday nights.

The Cannons have split training between Drummoyne Oval and St Luke’s.

“We would need to expand again to another field, Mr Serovich said.

“This removes the club atmosphere of training at central locations … however if we need to we will have to and the available green space is limited.”

Glebe Greyhounds have been lobbying for better facilities at Jubilee Oval and want to see an AFL field provided on top of the Rozelle Interchange. Picture: John Appleyard

The Glebe Greyhounds have been lobbying the City of Sydney and Balmain MP Jamie Parker for better facilities including change rooms at Jubilee Oval.

“The council and the government need to look at opportunities for more green space and Callan Park springs to mind as an obvious solution,” Mr Tracy said.

He called for an AFL field to be provided as part of up to 10ha of open space promised on top of the Rozelle Interchange.

A Roads and Maritime spokesman said the project would provide “terrific new outdoor leisure and recreation spaces for local residents.

“The final layout of the park on the former Rozelle Rail Yards site will be developed following consultation with the community and all relevant stakeholders,” he said.

A City of Sydney spokeswoman said the council upgraded Jubilee Oval in 2013 when it improved the playing surface and drainage to support a variety of sports.

AFL NSW/ACT CEO Sam Graham said the introduction of the women’s AFL competition had been instrumental in increasing female participation.

“Having two successful AFL teams in the Sydney Swans and the GIANTS with great role models also drives interest in our code,” he said.

“Continuing to meet the demand for our game with quality facilities for our participants is one of the AFL’s biggest challenges and highest priorities in Sydney.

“We’re working closely with Inner West Council and Mayor Darcy Byrne to increase the capacity of existing sports fields with lighting, drainage and new playing surfaces for example synthetic grass.”