Darebin Council will consider a $300,000 deal to keep Darebin Falcons in the VFL Women’s comp

AN elite women’s football team needs more funds to compete. But should ratepayers foot the bill?

Darebin Falcons slugging it with Southern Saints in August.

A LOCAL council may take the unusual step keeping an elite women’s football team afloat.

City of Darebin councillors will next week vote whether to give up to $300,000 of ratepayer funds to the financially struggling Darebin Falcons.

The Falcons is considered a trailblazing outfit for women’s footy and is the home club of star AFLW player Daisy Pearce, who won five best-and-fairest titles there.

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AFLW star Daisy Pearce playing for Darebin Falcons.

A Darebin Council report said the Falcons was the only independent women-run club with a team in the elite VFL Women’s competition.

“The recent large scale changes in women’s AFL, including costly requirements and

standards for playing at elite levels, mean the club must increase its income significantly,” it said.

“As a result, the club is at significant risk of having to withdraw from the elite VFL competition.”

Darebin Falcons players fly for a mark during the VFLW match against Southern Saints in August.

The report said that while it was unusual for a council to fund the operations of a sporting club, the situation itself was unusual, and the Falcons had decided not to accept funds from gambling sources.

“This places the Falcons at a financial disadvantage compared to other women’s teams who are part of men’s clubs with an income stream from poker machines,” it said.

If approved at Monday’s meeting, Darebin will pay the club $160,000 for two years, with the option of extending the deal by two years for an extra $140,000.

The club would have to continue and bolster programs for female participation, and to continue promoting “social inclusion and social justice”.

Hawthorn FC president Jeff Kennett.

Hawthorn Football Club president and former premier Jeff Kennett said while the proposal was unusual, councils routinely funded sporting facilities.

“If Darebin thought that (supporting Falcons) was important to the development of opportunities for its community, then I would respect the decision,” he said.

“Council is probably paying for some childminding centres, they’re probably assisting with aged care - why is this substantially different - I’m not sure that it is.”

Falcons is also home to AFLW players Katie Brennan, Darcy Vescio, Lauren Arnell, Aasta O’Connor and Libby Birch.

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