Women’s football numbers skyrocket in VAFA as association prepares to welcome 500 new players in 2018

VICTORIAN Amateur Football Association boss Brett Connell has praised the impact of women’s football on the historic competition as it prepares to welcome another 20 sides next year.

Hawthorn and South Melbourne Districts do battle in VAFA Women’s. Picture: Chris Eastman.

VICTORIAN Amateur Football Association boss Brett Connell has praised the impact of women’s football on the historic competition as it prepares to welcome another 20 sides next year.

The VAFA expects the number of female footballers playing at its clubs to swell from about 2000 to 2500 next year after a promising debut season.

The association welcomed 40 teams across five divisions this year, but is planning for about 20 new sides to register for 2018.

Connell said 35 clubs of the competition’s 73 clubs fielded teams this season, but it would be
“around that 55-60 mark” next year.

“If you had have told someone, even 10 years ago, that in the 125th year you will open your season with a female game under lights, people would have laughed at you,” Connell said.
“The season was launched with a game between Hampton Rovers and Ormond at Hampton and it never looked back from there.”

Connell lauded the work of Shona MacInnes, the VAFA’s women’s football development officer, with making the competition’s inaugural year a success.

“Shona talks regularly about the development of the girls — the way they played the game, the way they attacked the footy, the coaching,” he said.

“Just that general acceptance, we didn’t know what it was going to look like.

Loren Pugh of St Kevins gets a kick away during a VAFA Women’s match against Old Brighton. Picture: Mark Dadswell

“By the end of the year, it was quite amazing just to watch the amount of people who came to watch VAFA footy for the female finals.”

Marcellin, St Mary’s Salesian, Old Camberwell, Mazenod and Hawthorn claimed women’s premierships this year.

The Melbourne Cricket Club, Old Scotch, Old Melburnians, Aquinas, Eley Park Sharks, Power House and Westbourne Grammarians will be among the clubs fielding new teams in 2018.

“It brings everyone together and provides a great opportunity for sisters, aunties, mothers and nieces who want to play at those respective clubs,” Connell said.

The impact of female players at clubs was not only felt on field.

“It has improved their environments on a match day (and) it has improved their environments at social functions,” Connell said.

“Traditionally footy is a men’s competition. There wasn’t a lot of ladies involved because there wasn’t a sport played by the women.

“The female component of playing has added a whole new element.” 

AFL Victoria figures revealed more than 108,000 females participated in football programs and competitions this year.

The number of women’s football teams in the state has more than doubled in the past year, skyrocketing to 747.

“The integration of female football competitions within community leagues is creating more opportunities for females to play the game and they are taking up these opportunities in droves,” AFL Victoria chief executive Steven Reaper said.