Women’s AFL is one of Australia’s fastest-growing sports. There was a more than 15 percent increase in participation across the country last year despite Covid-19-related restrictions. The sport is smashing participation and attendance records, as well as TV ratings. In the Illawarra/Shoalhaven, it has the fastest growth rate in Australia, with more than 800 juniors and 475 seniors having registered in 2020. To think there was not even a junior or senior competition in 2016.
The Northern District Tigers Club is driving the sport’s growth in the Northern Illawarra. The club now has three junior girls’ teams: under 13s, 15s and 17s. Girls can play in mixed teams from Auskick (6-8 year olds), and from U9s to U12s. It is not only the junior girls having a kick though – the growth in the open-age women’s has the Tigers now registering two senior women’s teams in 2021.
The ground-swell of support started with an idea of Tigers men’s senior coach, Illawarra Sydney Swans Academy Coach (and Austi resident) Leigh Forsyth and myself (then juniors president and now senior women’s coach) to run a Tigers Academy for boys and girls to try AFL. More than 20 junior coaches and senior players volunteered their time to ensure the ratio of kids/coaches was very small to enable a lot of team coaching, but also one-on-one coaching and skill development.
Initial estimates were that there would be about 30-40 kids in attendance, but over the four-week period more than 120 kids had a run. Over 25 girls took part, and they formed the basis of the first U15 team. Great work was done by Austinmer’s Turner family – Adam, Kath and daughter Jemma – to recruit players. The 2018 season was more of a series of Friday night exhibition games before a proper girls season took off in 2019.
I was proud to announce that, as a result of all of the hard work of so many committee people and parents, every young girl in the Northern Illawarra now had the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of their fathers and brothers. Sibling rivalry was ‘rife’ in many households, with many girls boasting that they are now “the best footballer in the family”. New players wanted to be the pioneer in the family and be the first to play AFL in this “rugby league heartland”.
In 2018 the South Coast AFL launched its inaugural women’s AFL competition in which the Tigers included its AFLW team. This side was very inexperienced – only a handful of them actually had any AFL background – and it was a learning experience for all the women who loved trying this new sport.
The U15 players graduated to the newly formed U17 competition in 2019 and, under the tutelage of Mick George, won the inaugural premiership with a come-from-behind victory against Kiama.
In 2020, I was privileged to be announced as coach of the U17 girls and, despite Covid, the South Coast AFL did a magnificent job in getting the season up and running and, despite many road bumps along the way, a shortened season was played. Again Kiama and the Tigers were the top teams and faced off in another thrilling grand final. The game remained up for grabs until the last minute when the Tigers ensured back-to-back silverware. The U15 girls, under the guidance of Josh McLarnen, also had a great year, culminating in a premiership.
In 2021, the junior Tigers will again field three teams. The women’s team, with a host of players graduating from the U17s and with new recruits, will have the numbers to field two sides.
Taking on the senior women’s coaching role, I am greatly assisted by former senior coach, Andrew “Chook” Osadczuk. Together, we have brought in a new training regime and game plans to the team. Initial pre-season training has already shown that the Tigers will be a very competitive outfit this year. On-field success has been limited, but I am not too focused on the win/loss column.
The team has gelled a lot quicker than I thought, with all the new players and the graduates from the U17s. By the end of the year if we have earnt the respect of each other, the club, our opposition and the competition, then I know we have been a success. My main aim is for all the players to have fun, whilst improving their skills, and the new game plan will ensure we are pretty competitive. If we play to our potential, we will give every game a pretty good shake and, at the end of the day, the scoreboard will take care of itself.
We welcome new sponsorship from Austi residents Alan and Carroll Love (via their Aquatech AxisGo company), along with Corrimal businesses House2Home and Contemporary Smiles. Two new sets of jumpers will be ready for round one.
Pre-season is well underway with round one scheduled to start mid-April.
Training is on Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm at Hollymount Oval in Alice St, Woonona.
Any boys or girls interested in playing AFL should call Jack Killarn on 0468 315 942. Any women or men interested in playing AFL should call Tony Ryan on 0400 186 100
