Queensland female football will have a different look in in 2014, with the creation of a new league structure.
The new makeup of female football will consist of two leagues, the Queensland Women’s Australian Football League (QWAFL) and the Queensland Women’s Amateur Football Association (QWAFA).
With more than 40,000 females participating in football in Queensland, a 446 per cent increase on the last six years, and the establishment of two separate leagues aims to accommodate this growth and foster further opportunities for women of all abilities and experience levels.
Female football across the country continues to grow rapidly and in recent years it has seen major developments with the establishment of the first national women’s draft and the appointment of women to high-profile coaching positions.
The QWAFL will be the state’s premier female football league, consisting of teams from Coolangatta-Tweed, University of Queensland, Yeronga, Wilston Grange, Zillmere, Griffith Moorooka and Coorparoo.
Played over 16 rounds, the QWAFL season kicks off on April 26.
Twenty-five fixtures have been aligned with existing men’s fixtures, meaning spectators can check out the action of Queensland’s talented men and women at one venue on one day.
The QWAFA will act as a development league, enabling clubs to establish the foundation of their women’s teams.
This competition is likely to consist of teams including University of Queensland, Coorparoo, Western Magpies, Carrara, Caboolture and Griffith Moorooka.
Played over 14 rounds, QWAFA teams require a minimum of 12 players per side, with a focus on developing players’ skills and continuing to enhance their familiarity with the game.
This new structure has enabled a 44 per cent increase in teams from last year, which was one competition consisting of nine teams.
