Gold Coast Dolphins president Jeff Pfaff on the progress made in girls and women’s cricket

GIRLS cricket on the Gold Coast is set to boom with Dolphins president Jeff Pfaff forecasting plans to launch an all-girls competition.

GIRLS cricket on the Gold Coast is set to boom with Dolphins president Jeff Pfaff forecasting plans to launch an all-girls competition.

The Dolphins’ female cricket presence has been on the rise, fielding junior teams to complement their senior squads in the premier Katherine Raymont Shield and reserves Jodie Fields Shield divisions.

While the club have dropped back from their typical runner-up placing in the top-tier state competition, Pfaff has been encouraged by the increasing depth coming through the ranks.

“The big thing for the girls this year has been what we have done beneath them to try to bolster them up and be as strong as we can,” he said.

Sammy-Jo Johnson is a star performer at the top level for the Gold Coast Dolphins. Picture: Annette Dew

“We had the first year of the under-15 comp this year which we won, which was good.

“That was like a December-January shortened comp so that was really promising and then we have had an under-13 girls team that we have played in the under-11 (Cricket Gold Coast) boys comp.”

Pfaff said the next step is developing a Cricket Gold Coast competition for girls only – even if it is probably still multiple seasons away.

“We would love a Cricket Gold Coast girls comp,” he said.

“I think the idea is we are going to start some teams and try to build it into its own comp and then hand it over to the clubs if possible and then we’ll keep the second and first grade women in the Brisbane comp.

“That’s the long-term plan but it’s small steps.”

Pfaff said such a plan would need the support of clubs around the Gold Coast to encourage players to take part in a centrally-run tournament at first.