Excitement and interest is building in the 2018 women’s AFL season, with round one kicking off on February 2.
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It has a ripple effect on other competitions across Australia, including the North Coast.
This weekend (January 20) sees the formation of a North Coast Women's AFL competition with a player draft to be held on Saturday February 3.
This innovative approach will be the first time that a draft has been conducted on the North Coast for any women’s sport.
With over 60 women having played in demonstration matches during the 2017 season the purpose of the player draft is to distribute the talent as evenly as possible across the four teams to ensure that the competition flourishes and grows.
Those four teams include Port Macquarie Magpies, Sawtell Toormina Saints, Coffs Breakers and Grafton Tigers.
The competition will be open to any woman aged 16 years or older with no previous experience necessary. Teams will operate under the banner of the existing senior clubs.
Matches will be played on Saturdays in conjunction with the under 17, reserve, and senior grades.
Port Macquarie Magpies president Craig Dicker said there are a lot of women who are keen to play the sport in Port Macquarie.
“I guess their trying to make sure it’s an even competition which is a good thing,” he said.
We have upwards of 20 girls who are keen to play this year, and it’s rapidly growing.
- Craig Dicker
“We have upwards of 20 girls who are keen to play this year, and it’s rapidly growing. More young girls and even older ladies are enquiring about playing.
“I think it’s an exciting thing for our club and other clubs in this league. In a few years we hope to see an evenly matched and large women’s competition.”
Paul Taylor, AFL North Coast Football Operations Manager, said that all involved with local footy is excited by the introduction of a women's competition.
"In 2017 we introduced a hugely successful youth girls competition and the girls loved the chance to play footy,” he said.
“From there we received so many calls from women wanting to play that put a plan in place to start a women's competition this season and the response has been overwhelming.
"We will now have a complete pathway for girls, starting at Auskick and going right through to women's footy, including opportunities for talented players to pursue their dreams."
To learn more about the Women's competition, or to nominate for the draft, contact the Northern NSW office on 6659 6000.