THIS weekend is the second last round of the home and away season in the Women’s competition before finals, and it is great to see a Women’s football competition being run under the EDFL’s banner.
In what is the first year of the Women’s competition in the EDFL, a merged league with the WRFL has been forged to ensure a sufficient number of teams competing in the competition.
Of the 11 teams in the competition, seven teams fall under the EDFL banner and it is great to see the quality on display from the EDFL teams.
Keilor has led the way all season, proving too strong for all teams who have come up against them so far. While the players will have the ‘one week at a time’ mentality, supporters will be expecting the team to go through the home and away season undefeated. They are full of confidence as the finals near and are short-priced favourites to take out the premiership in their first year of senior football.
Sunbury Lions are an established and experienced club at this level and will also make finals. They will look to regain their form and confidence after a couple of hard losses against Keilor and Manor Lakes, but cannot be written off as they head into finals.
Keilor and Sunbury Lions have confirmed themselves as the EDFL’s representatives in the finals and will be joined by the WRFL’s Manor Lakes who currently occupy second position on the ladder. Another WRFL club, Caroline Springs, is expected to fill the fourth and last spot in the finals.
Craigieburn, Pascoe Vale and Glenroy are all mathematical chances to steal fourth, sitting in fifth, sixth and seventh spot respectively. For Craigieburn and Glenroy, this is also their first foray into open-age Women’s teams; for Craigieburn, this team is the evolution of the youth girl’s teams that the club has nurtured over the years.
When VU Western Spurs and Roxburgh Park (another EDFL Club whose Women’s team has evolved from their youth girls teams of recent years) are added to the mix, EDFL teams occupy two of the top three, and seven of the top nine positions on the 11-team ladder.
The Jacana Football Club was the forerunner to Women’s football, being the first club to establish a Youth Girls team, and then the first club to establish a Women’s team. It is a tremendous to see that passion for girls and Women’s football spread to other clubs in the EDFL.
As recently as 2013, there were only four EDFL Clubs fielding girls/women’s teams in EDFL competitions. In 2017 this figure has grown to 44 teams. I am aware of at least four new teams planned for the Women’s competition in 2018 with Aberfeldie, Burnside Heights, Strathmore and Westmeadows all actively recruiting players for next year. No doubt other clubs will also be recruiting players for next year as well.
Any girls and women interested in taking up the game at any level, be it in Auskick, Under 12s, Under 15s, Under 18s or Women’s, I encourage you to get in contact with your local EDFL club to express your interest in taking up the game in 2018. Or alternatively, consider taking up umpiring with the EDFL where we already have a strong contingent of female umpires.
The growth of girls and women’s football is exciting and it won’t be long before all EDFL Clubs have a pathway for female participants from Auskick through underage football to senior football.
Congratulations to all clubs, officials and players on a magnificent season thus far and for being part of what is an exciting chapter in the history of the EDFL.
Enjoy the weekend.
Marc Turri, EDFL CEO
