Stephen Alomes is an Associate Professor at Deakin University, with particular interest in sport and culture.  Below is an article published in J. Senyard & P. Burke eds, Behind the Game, Maribyrnong Press, 2008.  It looks at the role women have played in Australian football since its inception, both on and off the field.  Although a weighty academic article it is a thorough lead in to an upcoming article by Tobietta Rhyman about the future of women's footy.

Since Australian Football’s beginnings women have always been involved in the game. This gender difference distinguishes it from other forms of football:  the traditional all-male crowds at many English and European soccer matches, and the massive male predominance at rugby league and rugby union matches. At the same time, women have been on the margins, outside the sacred turf found inside the boundary line, or not allowed into the inner sanctum of the male clubrooms. 

The following is a press release from the Western Bulldogs

The Western Bulldogs are pleased to announce Integrated as our new Multicultural Partner in the lead up to this weekend’s inaugural AFL Multicultural Round.  The first of its kind in the AFL, this new partnership confirms the Western Bulldogs as the ‘Community Club’ of the league.

Two community focused organisations, the Western Bulldogs and Integrated share a commitment and a passion to provide opportunities for people from a diverse range of backgrounds to be included in our community.  The new association will support the Bulldogs to build on the Club’s ground breaking work with multicultural communities in Melbourne’s West.

“The Western Bulldogs Football Club is passionate about community development and view AFL Football as a tool we can use to help improve the lives of thousands of children and adults throughout the Western Region of Melbourne,” Simon Garlick Western Bulldog’s Chief Executive said today.

The World XVIII has finished the 2011 NAB AFL Under 16 Championships with a hard fought win over international rivals the South Pacific.

World XVIII 11.7 (73) defeated South Pacific 10.5 (65)

Goals:
World XVIII - Abdallah 4, Dau 2, Gamakhulu 2, Aneet, Aliir, Molelle
South Pacific - Beno 3, Collins 2, Malbak, Siuta, Vesikara, Johnson, Pauli

Best:
World XVIII - A. Saad, Masaki, Anett, Abdallah, M. Saad, Jalloh
South Pacific - Gavuri, Beno, Heatherley, Stegman, Nao
 

NAB AFL Most Valuable Players:
Tasmania: Thor Boscott
Queensland: Isaac Conway
Northern Territory: David Richardson
NSW/ACT: Lloyd Perris
World XVIII: Adam Saad
South Pacific: Brendan Beno

Queensland’s Jordon Bourke was named the Alan McLean Medallist.

Queensland won the Division Two NAB AFL Under 16 Championship Cup.
 

South Australia has won the Division One NAB AFL Under 16 Championship Cup back-to-back with a hard fought 20-point win in the final game against Western Australia. Captain Luke Dunstan accepted the Championship cup. Coach of the South Australian side is Darel Hart.

Results from the 2011 NAB AFL Under 16 Championships Round Three Division One matches played today at Blacktown International Sportspark in Sydney. 

 South Australia 10.12 (72) defeated Western Australia 7.10 (52)

 Goals:

 South Australia: Aish 2, Northeast 2, Evans, Dijksman, Reynolds, Wilkie, Scharenberg, Simister

Western Australia: Humphries 2, Sokol 2, Martin, Hodgson, Abbott

 Best:

South Australia: Aish, Davidson, Neal-Bullen, Combe, Northeast, Scharenberg

Western Australia: Sheed, Loo, Hogan, Martin

AFL ‘Multicultural Round’ 17 celebrates the community engagement of Australian Football on a backdrop of the diverse cultures that make up Australia, as well as the many players from multicultural backgrounds in the AFL.

The highlight of Multucultural Round will be Sunday’s game at Etihad Stadium where North Melbourne will take on the Western Bulldogs. The day kicks off at 2:00 pm with an exhibition game at North Melbourne’s Aegis Park (Arden Street oval) between the Multicultural Academy and the Inidgenous Academy.

The NAB AFL Under 16 Championships Division Two are on in Sydney's western suburbs.  The two international sides were not part of Round 1 but had both wins in Round 2.  Today saw Round 3 at Bruce Purser Reserve and both the World XVIII and South Pacific suffered small losses.

The World XVIII went down to Queensland by 18 points in a close tussle.  Earlier in the day the South Pacific played the combined NSW/ACT squad, being defeated by 21 points.  The results show that their previous wins were no flukes and they deserve their spots at the Championships, but that they are probably still a little behind their Australian compatriots, given a slight age advantage to the international teams.

The two international sides head back to nearby Blacktown to end the tournament on Saturday, with a match against each other.  Queensland are undefeated and look set to win Division Two.

Pictured is exciting South Pacific player Brendan Beno from PNG.

NSW/ACT 12.6 (78)
South Pacific 8.9 (57)

Queensland 11.6 (72)
World 8.6 (54)

Results from the 2011 NAB AFL Under 16 Championships Round Two Division One matches played today at Blacktown International Sportspark Sydney.

Goals:

Vic Country: Willsmore 5, Impey 2, Pearson 2, Bourke 2, Tsitas, Mangan, Taylor, McCartney

Western Australia: Martin 2, Acres 2, Dawson, Garstone, Loo, Abbott, Jones

Best:

Vic Country: Tsitas, Dreher, Willsmore, Leslie, Miller, Taylor

Western Australia: Martin, Chatley, Grescos, Kennedy, Sheed

The next round of matches for the World XVIII and South Pacific in the NAB AFL Under 16 Championships are as follows:

You can also read more about their first round here:  International teams in upset wins on the AFL website.

Pleasingly we can confirm that many of the truly international (still based outside of Australia) players selected did indeed play in the World team's win over the Northern Territory. Specifically, there were 8 internationals played: 3 Canadians, 2 South Africans, 1 from USA, 1 from Scotland and 1 from Ireland.

Interesting interview with Collingwood's recruiting manager Derek Hine and how they look at the juinor carnivals and looking outside the usual recruiting sources. Gives a good indication of why it is so important for the World XVIII and South Pacific to be at the Under 16 Championships as part of the talent pathway.