Women’s AFL is Kicking Goals!

Female AFL continues to build momentum at an incredible pace following a hugely successful day at Leisure Park, Coffs Harbour on Sunday.

As if two quality matches of the Youth Girls competition wasn’t enough, 16 women joined in the come and try session and enjoyed themselves so much that they’ve committed to training on a weekly basis!

Over 40 local women have expressed an interest in playing AFL so the come and try session was the first activity to get the women on the park and start learning the skills and the game. There were a number of interested women who weren’t able to get to the ground on Sunday so Monday evenings will be their chance to join in the fun.

Alana Bennett, AFL NSW/ACT Female Footy Champion, stated that the response from women keen to play AFL had been overwhelming. “We ran this first session based on the amount of interest from people who had rung us unsolicited. To get 16 women at the first session is so exciting, and to then have them say that they wanted to train the very next day shows the level of passion they have for trying a new sport. There will be more ladies come to our second and subsequent sessions and our numbers will grow quickly.

“None of the ladies had played AFL before but all came from a background in other sports and their skills were instantly transferable. They’re telling us that they love the fast pace, the skills, and the excitement of the game.”

Next step is to run a similar come and try session in Port Macquarie to engage women in the southern half of the region. Once the two groups are up and running and feeling comfortable with the game, several matches will be organised where the North Coast women play against teams from the Northern Rivers and North West regions.

The session at Port Macquarie will be at Wayne Richards Park (Koala Street) from 1:45pm on Sunday 21 May. This will be preceded by a local derby in the Youth Girls competition between the Port Macquarie Magpies and Macleay Valley Eagles at 12:15pm so all interested women are invited to come down early and watch the girls in action. To find out more about Women’s AFL in Port Macquarie and surrounds please contact Cambridge McCormick from AFL NSW/ACT on 0439 798 575.

A keen group of women from Coffs Harbour have indicated that they’ll be travelling to Port Macquarie for the session on 21 May so excellent numbers are expected.

Monday night sessions in Coffs Harbour are from 4:30pm to 5:30pm at the Coffs Harbour Education Campus Oval (Hogbin Drive), starting from Monday 8 May. For further information about Women’s AFL in Coffs Harbour and surrounds please contact Alana Hanson from AFL NSW/ACT on 0413 963 860.