The Essendon District Football League is fully embracing the growth of women’s and youth girls’ football, which is one of the country’s fastest‐growing sports.
EDFL general manager Marc Turri said the clubs were really getting behind the western youth girls competition and the league would hold a girls’ day at Windy Hill on Friday, when girls would get the opportunity to learn skills and get a feel for the game.
Players from Calder Cannons youth girls’ side will help with training drills and talk about their football experiences.
“There’s always been a lot of interest from clubs, which is why we formed the partnership with the WRFL (Western Region Football League),” Turri said.
“Two years ago we only had under‐18s; now we’ve got under‐12s and under‐15s as well.”
Turri said there looked likely to be seven or eight sides in each of the three age groups this season.
KEILOR’S SARAH GRUNDEN. PICTURE: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
He said 13 teams from the EDFL clubs had expressed interest in fielding at least one team, with Aberfeldie, East Keilor, Moonee Valley, Strathmore and Westmeadows seeking to have female teams for the first time.
“To have over 20 teams in total shows a tremendous growth in a short period of time,” he said.
Three EDFL senior clubs, Roxburgh Park, Jacana and Pascoe Vale, will have senior women’s sides this season.
Sunbury Lions and Melbourne University, who have youth girl’s sides in the EDFL, also have senior teams.
“Other clubs are looking at senior sides for 2017,” Turri said.
“Girls can play anywhere from local club to adult football, and there’s a national competition coming.”
The EDFL Girls Day at Windy Hill on Friday will start at 5pm and last for two hours.
It will include training drills, AFL inflatables, giveaways and music.
