World Footy News

Early last year two primary schools in Cairns, Queensland, faced off in the final of the Gold Coast Suns Cup. After a classic encounter, Freshwater State School defeated Gordonvale State School by a solitary point. After the presentations, the opposing coaches, Kristen Knight and Wesley Hull, floated the idea of a follow up.

The result was later dubbed the “1st Annual Women In AFL Challenge” match.

Whilst the official “Women In AFL” round is recognised nationally at the end of June, the schools could not play a game then as they were still on mid-year holidays. The decision was made to play the round in August, mid way through the school term, as a way of recognising the role of women in all aspects of Australian Rules football, whether that be as players, umpires, administrators, mothers, sisters or daughters.

The first edition in 2012 saw the Gordonvale girls primed to reverse their loss in the previous encounter, and did so to the tune of 19 points. The challenge was born. Earlier this year the two schools met again in the Gold Coast Suns Cup. Gordonvale again held sway.

Chapter Two was played out today at Freshwater State School on a beautiful Cairns winter afternoon, with a surprisingly good crowd there to watch proceedings. As it turned out it was the Gordonvale girls who got off to a great start in the opening term and kept going till the end. The final score of Gordonvale 9 9 63 to Freshwater 0 1 1 did not reflect the closeness of the talent on show or the level of effort shown by all girls.

The future will now see this game as a regular celebration of Australian Rules football for women. It will assist the local Cairns AFL to generate interest in girl’s competitions and provide a more permanent stepping stone for girls to pursue a pathway in the game.

Already boasting a strong women’s open age competition, the success of this year’s Under 16 girl’s competition provides the link for primary age girls to stay in the game through to open age without being lost to the other distractions and opportunities of the high school years.

Today was another step in the journey towards the ongoing development of women’s footy, and the girls from Freshwater State School and Gordonvale State School can be proud of their efforts and the role they have played.