Leeton’s girls-only Auskick keeps Crowing

In the AFL-mad town of Leeton in New South Wales has emerged a female football following which is growing in momentum each week.

NSW’s first girls-only Auskick centre has already grown from 15 to 54 participants since February and this weekend over 200-strong supporters will travel to Sydney as the girls take part in halftime Auskick for AFL Women’s Round.

The support from the community for the girls Auskick centre has been positively overwhelming. People new to the game are now getting involved as word spreads about the inclusive, fun and family environment that is NAB AFL Auskick.

Not only will 36 budding AFL juniors travel almost seven hours to Sydney on the weekend but so too will their family and friends.

An additional 100 tickets have been purchased to watch the girls play at halftime of the Sydney Swans and Richmond match at the SCG, on top of the 100 tickets already allocated to the centre as part of NAB AFL Auskick.

Leeton girls Auskick coordinator Travis Irvin, who was the architect in setting up the program, said the whole community is throwing their support behind the centre.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for the girls so people want to come along,” Irvin said.

“It’s an extension of what they do on Auskick night here on Fridays, we’ve always got 200 to 300 people watching and supporting the girls Auskick.

“This Auskick centre is providing opportunities and a product which is so attractive for families – it’s a safe environment, it teaches kids a lot of coordination skills … and it teaches the girls a lot of life skills as well so it’s a great way for parents to get their kids involved in safe, family-orientated, physical activity.”

Growing the game among females as players, fans, coaches, administrators and volunteers is one of the AFL’s priorities going forward.

More programs, activities, and girls-only Auskick centres will go a long way in the AFL reaching its vision of one million participants and one million club members in five years time.

Irvin said the girls-only Leeton Auskick centre is proof there is room to grow the game in NSW and all that’s needed is more time and resources dedicated to female football.

“I think there’s a number of building blocks in place that can make sure it continues to flourish,” he said.

“It is a viable sport if there are options. Until recently the only outlet for girls was the Riverina Lions … hopefully we’re establishing something now that can develop into something sustainable which I think it can.”

This week the best females from around the country are taking part in the annual AFL Women’s National Championships in Adelaide.

Although the nationals are many years away for all Auskickers now, to have a pathway, which now includes Youth Girls (for 13 to 18-year-olds), and top competitions will help keep females in the game.

“The nationals are really important. I know when I was growing up girls could play footy with you until 12 or 13 and then they were precluded from it so there was nowhere to go,” Irvin said.

“What I always said on a personal level to my wife is that I was never going to let my girls play a sport that they fall in love with and then when they turn 13 we tell them they can’t play it anymore.

“So it’s absolutely vital that there’s an outlet for the kids. Most sportspeople are aspirational, so if they see that there’s a women’s national carnival and that’s a place that you can go and ply your trade then that’s really important.

“Having things like the nationals are absolutely essential that, yes, we have the grassroots, but we’ve also got the pointy end as well.”

Images courtesy of The Irrigator.