NFL Women’s: Four clubs put hands up to join expanded competition from 2019

FOUR clubs have expressed interest to enter a women’s team in the Northern Football League for the first time next year.

Jemma Cremore of Bundoora runs forward during NFL women's footy: Bundoora v St Mary's on Saturday, August 11, 2018, in Epping, Victoria, Australia. Picture: Hamish Blair

FOUR clubs have expressed interest to enter a women’s team in the Northern Football League for the first time next year.

As the competition’s current clubs vie for premiership glory in the second NFLW finals series, Whittlesea, Lower Plenty, Fitzroy Stars and Wallan are working to field sides in 2019.

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NFL chief executive Peter McDougall said it was yet to be decided whether NFLW would feature two or three divisions next season.

The final call will be influenced by the number of first-year teams entered.

“It’s not like your traditional men’s comp where you just stay there and it’s promotion and relegation,” McDougall said.

“It’s very different because the teams coming in are at different levels.

“Bundoora has come in (this year) and hasn’t lost a game, so it’s fair to say they are more than capable of handling a higher division, regardless of whether or not they win it this year.”

Bundoora’s Jemma Cremore sprints away from a pack on Saturday. Picture: Hamish Blair.

Wallan has four girls teams from under-12s to under-18s, while Whittlesea has an under-12, under-14 and under-18 side.

McDougall said La Trobe Uni, which has teams in NFLW Division 2 and Division 3, had previously expressed interest to align with its men’s sides and compete in the VAFA.

“I would expect they will be looking at that again,” he said.

“That might be one we might lose, but then we might pick up a new one. It changes the dynamics of the competition. Losing an established team versus picking up a potentially brand new team. It’s not an easy swap.”

West Preston-Lakeside and VU Western Spurs do battle in Division 2 finals. Picture: Hamish Blair.

Clubs with ties to other competitions or regions such as VU Western Spurs, Darebin, Keilor (EDFL), Bendigo and Whitehorse (EFL) compete in NFLW. Only six teams featured in Division 1 this year and McDougall said the league’s desire was to expand the top tier.

“We’ve still got to go through that process and realistically the final numbers for next year won’t be confirmed until early next year,” he said.

The NFLW premierships will be decided on Sunday, August 26 in a triple header at Preston City Oval.