AFL Outer East joins the women’s footy boom with new standalone competition
AFL Outer East will join the boom in women’s footy when it fields its own standalone competition in 2020.
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The participation rate in women’s footy has skyrocketed in recent years, so much so that the AFL Outer East will be able to start a stand-alone competition in 2020.
Since the new competition was first mooted, interest from clubs in the region has been outstanding.
“Our aim is to get two divisions and it’s going really well,” league general manager Aaron Bailey said. “And we’ve got 12s, 14s, 16s and 18s leading into that as well, which is the really exciting thing.”
Bailey said the league was hopeful of extending the competition to three divisions, mirroring the men’s structure, in the near future.
This year Mount Evelyn, Upwey Tecoma, Healesville, Monbulk, Yarra Junction, Thornton Eildon and Belgrave fielded sides in the Eastern Region Women’s competition, playing alongside Eastern Football Netball League clubs, but they will play in the AFL Outer East next season. Officer will move across from South East Women’s to join the new competition.
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“But essentially it’s new clubs,” Bailey said. “Existing clubs starting a women’s team.”
The rapid increase in female teams has forced administrators to look at different ways to accommodate their participation.
Bailey said a number of clubs were already pairing their women’s games with veterans games on a Sunday while some are using the 4.40pm timeslot after the completion of the senior men’s game of a Saturday with supporters staying back and throwing their support behind the women.
“The lighting through the Yarra Ranges and Cardinia is really good,” he said.
Bailey said clubs are embracing the women’s game with gusto.
“The advent of the AFLW came at a really good time,” he said. “There’s a genuine desire among clubs to get a women’s program going.
“Three girls were drafted out of the region into the AFLW this year.
“We’re at 50 per cent female participation including netball.”
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