The Victorian Women’s Football League has a new State League and more clubs for 2016

A 10-club State League kicks off in the Victorian Women’s Football League this year, with some games to be played at VFL venues.

VWFL Premier Division grand final: Darebin V Diamond Creek

NEW clubs, the creation of a State League and the fixturing of curtain-raisers and closers to VFL matches prompt general manager Darren Flanigan to declare the Victorian Women’s Football League is “flying’’ as the 2016 season approaches.

Cranbourne, Seaford, Knox and North Geelong have moved up to join six other teams in a 10-team top-tier competition.

It comes after the launch of the AFL Victoria Women’s Football Academy and ahead of the AFL national women’s competition.

More than 100 players are involved in the nine-month Academy program.

Flanigan said he believed the four promoted clubs would hold their own in the State League, which is built around 2015 Premier Division teams Darebin, Diamond Creek, Melbourne University, St Kilda, Eastern Devils and VU St Albans.

“I think so. They’re young, they’ve played some really good footy,’’ he said.

“They won’t catch Darebin or Diamond Creek in the short-term but in time they will.’’

Steered by AFL South East, the Mornington Peninsula region will have its own league.

Rosebud and Endeavour Hills took up VWFL affiliation last season, and this year Beaconsfield, Mt Eliza, Warragul, Mornington, Mt Eliza and Edithvale-Aspendale have done the same.

A five-team competition in the Mildura area is also taking shape.

“We’ve done a little bit of work with AFL Sunraysia. They had a couple of come-and-try days and it looks like they’re going to have a little comp,’’ Flanigan said.

Shepparton, Lake Wendouree, Maryborough, Castlemaine, East Point, Glenorden, Roxburgh Park, St Kevins and Chadstone have also entered teams. And Fitzroy ACU will field a second side.

Flanigan said most of the new clubs sprang from youth girls team, which had been formed from Auskick participants.

“That’s when it started (growth in women’s football), when the AFL decided to encourage girls to do Auskick, about 15 years ago,’’ he said.

“It generated interest. Girls wanted to play under-age footy. And now those girls are 19, 20, 21.

“Just about all of these new teams have come out of youth girls teams, and just about every junior league has got a youth girls comp now. Some have four divisions. The Northern footy league has got Under 10s, Under 12s, Under 14s, Under 16s and Under 18s. Most have gone 12s, 15s and 18s now.’’

Up to 12 State League women’s games will be played before or after VFL games this year. The fixtures are being finalised but St Kilda has confirmed it will play two matches at Port Melbourne.

Flanigan said the VFL clubs had been supportive of the concept. “They see it as a new experience for their supporters. ’’

He said it appeared female sports were growing and feeding off each other.

He noted the excellent TV ratings for last year’s Western Bulldogs and Melbourne AFL women’s match and the Women’s Big Bash League Twenty20 games over summer.