Press Release | The future of female football in country Victoria is alive and well, with the establishment of two new female leagues across northern and south-west Victoria in season 2017.

Five AFL Victoria Region Commissions have united to form the new leagues, with AFL Goulburn Murray, AFL Central Victoria and AFL Central Murray combining to create the Northern Country Women’s League, while AFL Wimmera and AFL Western District have launched the Deakin University Female Football League.

Eight teams have been confirmed for the inaugural MBMC Northern Country Women’s League including, Benalla Saints, Bendigo Thunder, Echuca, Kerang, Kyneton, Mooroopna, North Bendigo and Shepparton.

AFL Goulburn Murray Region General Manager Martin Gleeson congratulated the clubs on embracing female football.

“We have had a great response to the new competition and it’s exciting that we will have an eight team league up and going in the first year,” he said.

Open to females aged 13-18 years old, the Deakin University Female Football League will complete the pathway for female footballers in Victoria’s south west region, and act as a selection ground for the Western Rebels Football Club.

Teams included in the inaugural league are South Warrnambool Roosters, Horsham Saints, Horsham Demons, Warrnambool Blues, Portland Tigers, Hamilton Kangaroos, Old Collegians and Stawell Warriors.

AFL Western District Region General Manager Lachy Patterson said the response from across the region had been outstanding.

“Our expression of interest process has led to eight high quality teams confirm they will participate in the inaugural Deakin University Female Football League and we couldn’t be happier in the first year,” Mr Patterson said.

“We felt having these clubs aligned with existing senior clubs provided them with a high level of necessary support and the action we have already seen from these teams is extremely positive.

“Coaches have been appointed, team managers have been busy getting lists of players together and jumpers are being ordered, it really is exciting.”