VAFA CEO Jason Reddick on striking the right balance in women’s footy

VAFA chief executive Jason Reddick has opened up on how the league is aiming to strike the right balance in its women’s competition’s ensuring “regular and competitive football”.

The VAFA is aiming to maintain the right competitive balance. Photo: Josh Chadwick.

As the Victorian Amateur Football Association’s women’s competition continues to grow, so does the challenge to maintain the right balance.

This year, 74 teams will take to the field across eight different divisions in the competition as the women’s local footy scene thrives.

The continued growth will see clubs including Elsternwick, Kew, Old Yarra Cobras, St Kevin’s and West Brunswick each field three senior women’s teams this year.

The Premier and Premier B competitions will have senior and reserves teams for each club as well.

League boss Jason Reddick said each competition would have an even number of teams in a massive win for the development of the game.

“We put the hard yards on these clubs to ensure they’re going to have the numbers so there is no forfeited games or anything like that,” Reddick said.

“Regular football and competitive football, where we can place teams in divisions where they are going to get competition and not be hammered by 200 points, is a real feature.

“We also have a regrading happen after round 4. It’s more so about the sides who are struggling opposed to those who are doing well.

“We’d rather look after the players in a team who might be battling and put them in the right division where they can have a good experience.”

While the on-field development is a key part of the VAFA’s women’s strategy, it is also dedicating as much time to the off-field success.

“What has excited us is the development of the game from where it first started to where we are now,” Reddick said.

“Our competition is one that really focuses on women’s football and ensuring that we have the best environment for women on game day but also in the club environments.

“There’s a big focus in the Amateurs about the safe and inclusive environments that our clubs need to have.”

According to Reddick, one of the key reasons for the growth in the women’s game has been the “amazing coaches” players have access to.

But there’s also the lure of playing on the big stage.

“There’s some real quality coaches involved and players are developing. Our clubs are putting players through the pathway to VFLW,” he said.

“This year, Westbourne’s senior coach is Chris Grant. His daughter obviously plays at the Western Bulldogs and we all know about his own career.

“Dean Anderson, the ex-Hawthorn player, is coaching Old Scotch’s women’s team again.

“The jewel in the crown from the Amateur point of view is rep footy of wearing the Big V is a goal for the girls to reach.”

One of the biggest wins for the VAFA this season, before a ball has even been bounced, will be the return of Westbourne to the competition.

They’ll field the first women’s team in club history.

“It’s important for us to have a presence in the west,” Reddick said.

“It’s fantastic the women’s team has come on board and I think it’s only the start of Westbourne Football Club coming back into the fold and fielding a men’s team as well.

“A lot of those players have played in the west. I think they were really keen to test themselves in the amateur competition.

“Putting them into Premier B women’s will be a good litmus test.”