For many years a missing link in Australian football was a widespread non-contact form of the game played on smaller fields for smaller team numbers.  Such a style of game was common at club training, and has slowly crept in overseas, but in the sport's homeland it remained a rarely exploited asset to the game.

That changed a few years ago when the AFL launched Recreational Football (Rec Footy) as an 8-a-side version using tags to effect tackles and aimed especially at beginners, mixed teams and social players.

This year it has been re-launched and re-badged as AFL 9s.  The season is about to get underway so anyone in Australia who wants to keep playing footy over summer or dropped out due to injuries or time commitments, or anyone who always wanted to give the game a go but was afraid to try, this is your chance.

Why the enthusiasm?  This author is one of many who has long wanted to see such a version of the game and has seen many potential players drift over to similar concepts like touch football (touch Rugby), so I'm very keen to see this initiative succeed.  Having played a couple of seasons I thoroughly recommend it.  Certainly the smaller softer ball takes some getting used to, as does the inability to make body contact, but it's a fun alternative for someone who has retired from the full version of the sport.

Visit www.afl9s.com.au for local contact details.

The Essendon Women’s Network has awarded Sydney Swans’ Lesley McGrath the Football Woman of the Year (FWOTY) Award for her long term contribution to the game and for being a female ambassador to the football community as Sydney Swans’ Finance manger.

On congratulating McGrath, Sydney Swans CEO Andrew Ireland said how she had worked tirelessly in various finance roles, mostly as the club’s Finance Manager, and was a much loved staff member and team mentor. From her commencement in 1986 during one of the club’s more turbulent times, she has worked for the Swans for 25 years, making her the longest serving female employee of any AFL club.

The FWOTY Award is an annual award recognising women in football who have made a significant contribution to the game. The 2011 award is the 14th year the award has been presented by the Essendon Women’s Network to a prominent woman in the world of football. The award is open to any woman in football regardless of club or profession, but the recipient must demonstrate seven criteria:

Adding to the success of the Seniors at the Women’s Nationals in June, on Saturday 24th September in the Gold Coast, the Victorian defeated Western Australia by 7.4(46) to 5.6(36) to win their second Youth Girls National Championships title. Victoria also won the inaugural Youth Girls Nationals in 2010.

The Grand Final was held at Southport Sharks AFC on the Gold Coast. Victorian player Ellie Blackburn (Berwick Hawks) was named Best on Ground and was awarded the Game ball. This future female star was also named Player of the Carnival, was joint winner of the Golden Boot with Western Australia’s Sabrina Traub, and was awarded a well deserved place on the All-Stars team.