A first for women’s AFL in NSW/ACT

(Photo by Craig Golding/AFL Media)

Women’s AFL continues to go from strength to strength in New South Wales and the nation’s capital after the teams were announced for the first Academy games on March 19 at Lakeside Oval.

The female players will represent either the Sydney Swans or the GWS GIANTS and will also play alongside their male counterparts for the first time in an exciting development for the code.

The talented athletes have been selected from all corners of the state including Western Sydney, Wagga Wagga, Newcastle and Sydney.

The ACT is also well represented with a strong compliment of players flying the flag for the Canberra region.

Click here for the teams.

The girls have been chosen from a group of 200 that are participating in the inaugural NSW/ACT Female Talent Academy.

The U18 Youth Girls open proceedings at 3:15pm followed by the Open Women’s game at 5:00pm.

The Open Women will meet again in the Female Football Exhibition Series on April 9 in a curtain raiser to the Round Three derby between Sydney and GWS.

The exhibition matches serve as a huge opportunity to impress coaches who are picking a NSW/ACT team to play against South Australia at Adelaide Oval later in the year.

Maddy Collier, previously drafted by the Western Bulldogs, is one of the rising stars in the Academy and will represent the Swans in the Open Women’s match.

“It’s a big opportunity for me to play at the elite level,” Ms Collier said.

“The Academy gives the girls and I a great opportunity to step up to the next level.”

Female footy is growing at a rapid rate.

It is the fastest growing area for participation in NSW/ACT.

In 2015, over 69 000 females played in the two states, a number which is expected to grow in 2016.

To begin your journey to elite AFL, visit play.afl or head to our women’s talent page for more information.