Women Keep Flocking to Play AFL
Interest continues to grow in Women’s AFL on the North Coast, with a further seven (7) first timers making their debut in the match played on Saturday against the strong club outfit Lismore Swans.
The match was played as a double-header with the Lismore Swans men’s team coming to Coffs to play Breakers in a C.ex Group Cross Conference round and drew a healthy crowd that were enthralled by the quality of the play.
In addition to the seven (7) players on debut, the North Coast team featured a further seven (7) players who have now played three (3) or less matches. Included in the team were two (2) players from Port Macquarie who showed how keen they are to play the sport by travelling up the highway just for the game.
Paul Taylor, AFL North Coast Operations Co-ordinator, said that momentum continues to build. “This is only the third time that we’ve staged a Women’s match and we’ve already had 32 women who’ve played in at least one match. Each time we play we get good numbers of first time players wanting to try the sport and they always go away with a huge smile on their face, keen for the next game.”
On the field, Lismore’s superior experience of training and playing proved the difference. They dominated the first half to open a 40 point lead at the main break but by this stage the North Coast Women were starting to get a feel for the game, the skills, and the rules. In the second half the North Coast team was far more competitive and started to string some excellent passages of play together. In the final quarter the team dominated both possession and territory but just couldn’t quite execute to post a score.
Another incredible display by the North Coast Women’s team saw them come agonisingly close to claiming a maiden victory in just their second ever match when they were up against the North West Women’s representative team.
Mr Taylor said the second half was a real contest. “Our team of rookies held Lismore to just 14 points in the second half. When the women came off the field they said that a number of their opponents had commented that they weren’t used to being placed under that degree of pressure. This is a great sign that the women are taking to the game and will become the best advocates for it’s growth in popularity on the local scene.
Lismore Swans 7.12.54 defeated North Coast 0.0.0
Next up for the growing wave that is Women’s AFL is the first ever match in Port Macquarie which is to be held on Saturday 29 July (time t.b.c.). This match will see North Coast Women take on the Tamworth Kangaroos at Wayne Richards Park with opportunities for any women that are keen to get involved. For further information please contact the Northern NSW office on 6659 6000.