Even more age groups in 2023
The pathway for junior footballers in the AFL North Coast will be different in 2023.
AFL on the North Coast is bucking the trend of three years of pandemic and wet weather and will embark on a second successive season of competition expansion in 2023.
With overwhelming support from the clubs, a new Under 10 non-competitive age group will be added to the Junior Competition, meaning that local players can start in structured AFL a year earlier than has previously been the case. With the introduction of Under 10, all existing age groups in mixed and male footy will increase by a year (e.g. Under 11 becomes Under 12) so that the top age group becomes Under 18.
- Under 10 – mixed genders, non-competitive
- Under 12 – mixed genders
- Under 14 – mixed genders (where girls are skilled, confident, and physically capable)
- Under 16 – male only
- Under 18 – male only, played on Saturdays within the Senior Competition
- Youth Girls 14
- Youth Girls 17
Paul Taylor, Community Football Manager, is excited about the tangible benefits for current and prospective junior and youth players across the region.
“This is a really positive step at both ends of the local pathway that will prove to be hugely beneficial in the continued growth of the game,” Taylor said.
“At the bottom end, players will have the chance to move out of the Auskick program a year earlier and be introduced to structured AFL in a non-competitive environment where the focus is on learning the game and having fun.
“At the top end, players will have a further year of age group footy, meaning they can play with the peers for another 12 months rather than being fast tracked into open age footy before they feel physically and socially ready.”
The expansion of the Junior Competition follows on from the introduction of the extremely successful Youth Girls 14 age group in 2022. Girls flocked to this new age group, with over 55% of the players being new to the sport. This really highlights how keen girls are to play AFL in a female only environment.
The changes to the age groups won’t flow on to Youth Girls footy, with competition ages to remain at Under 14 and Under 17.
Click here to find your child’s age group with in the new pathway. Click here to see the rules for the new Under 10 age group.
