History made as leagues launch new female comps

The Sunraysia Football and Netball League (SFNL) and Central Victoria Football League (CVFL) are setting the bar for youth girls’ participation with both leagues launching new football competitions in 2022.

Almost 80 young girls attended Sarah Oval in Mildura for the launch of the inaugural Under-14 Sunraysia Youth Women's Football League on Sunday June 12. The new competition will see six SFNL clubs—Wentworth, Red Cliffs, Imperials, Irymple, Mildura and South Mildura—compete in a six round fixture.

Sunraysia Youth Women’s Rd 1 Results:

• Wentworth 5.6 (36) d Red Cliffs 2.2 (14)
• Imperials 16.10 (106) d Irymple 0.0 (0)
• Mildura 11.6 (72) d South Mildura 4.1 (25)

The launch comes after the Central Victoria Football League also made history earlier this year by launching their own Under-14 Girls competition.

The first of its kind in the region, the CVFL Under-14 Girls – Northern competition features girls aged 8-14 from six clubs—Woorinen, Birchip Watchem, Kerang, Sea Lake, Tyntynder and Swan Hill—and saw over 130 participants in its first year.

Tyntynder Football and Netball Club were the inaugural premiership winners in the competition.

Players from Tyntynder Football and Netball Club celebrate their inaugural premiership in the CVFL U14s Northern competition

AFL Sunraysia Participation Coordinator, David Kennedy, said the introduction of the new competition was a real positive for the development of women's football in the Sunraysia Region.

"For many of the girls, it was their first time playing competitive football. There was a lot of friends, parents and grandparents cheering them on and it was a really exciting environment for the players."

"It has been great to see the SFNL clubs buy-in and align with the new competition—it will be really important to help develop the junior game."

The development of these new competitions is important as community football around Victoria continues to support the growth of women's football.

Women and girls participation in Australian football has surged since the inception of AFLW in 2017. Nearly 600,000 women and girls participate in the game and there are more than 2,500 community football teams around the country, compared to around 600 in 2015.

AFL Victoria Community Football Manager, John O'Donohue, said it was a priority to create and support opportunities for women and girls and it was exciting to see these regions and clubs embrace the growth of women's football.

"We are seeing incredible growth in female football participation at the community level, and it's imperative that we continue to provide opportunities for women and girls."

"It's important for our leagues and community clubs to support the development of female football, and it's fantastic to see the CVFL and SFNL clubs leading the way."

In another history making moment, players from both competitions will come together in August to play in an exhibition match between the two regions.

Match details TBC.