The AFL has today launched the 2021 NAB AFL Women’s Competition, with representatives from all 14 AFLW clubs present at local community clubs across the nation.
Queensland came together at the Yeronga South Brisbane Football Club, which held special meaning for the day – home of the 2021 NAB AFL Premiership Cup Ambassador, Jamie Howell. {see the story}
Headlining the action was Brisbane Lions Captain Emma Zielke, Brisbane Lions AFLW Coach Craig Starcevich, Gold Coast SUNS Captains Sam Virgo & Hannah Dunn, and David Lake Gold Coast SUNS AFLW Coach.
Head of AFL Queensland, Trish Squires, who led today’s launch said she was proud and excited to see footy back, and thanked the Queensland community for supporting AFLW and the women’s game.
“The progress of women’s footbal remains a steadfast priority for the AFL, and even more so in Queensland where we are seeing remarkable growth in community football,” she said.
“Today, 42% of participants in Queensland are female and I can’t wait to see that number continue to grow.”
“Good luck to the Lions and SUNS for the 2021 season!”
The 2021 NAB AFL Women’s Competition will kick off on Thursday, January 28 with a blockbuster match between Carlton and Collingwood at Ikon Park.
The Gold Coast SUNS will play the Melbourne Demons in Round 1 on Saturday at Metricon Stadium.
The Brisbane Lions team head to Melbourne to face Richmond on Sunday afternoon.
About the 2021 NAB AFL Women’s Competition
Season five of the NAB AFL Women’s Competition marks considerable progress for the women’s game, with many new additions to the fixture this year to boost community connection and engagement.
In a significant step towards being a more inclusive game, Round Two will host the first-ever AFLW Pride Round, championing diversity and ensuring the game is a place of welcome for everyone.
In Round Five, the community will welcome the Inaugural AFLW Indigenous Round, in celebration of the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander players and their contribution to our game, those involved in the women’s competition, and Indigenous communities across the country.
The celebration of Indigenous culture has been acknowledged previously through specially designed AFLW guernseys, and the AFL is now looking forward to the increasing significance of this celebration across a dedicated round in 2021.
Round Nine will host the Toyota ‘Good For Footy’ Round which marks the first joint themed-round across both the men’s and women’s competition, focused on providing support for grassroots clubs around Australia.
The AFL has also introduced ticketing for AFLW matches, which not only showcases the commitment of fans through their support of the game but also allows crowds to attend in a COVID-safe environment. AFLW fans have embraced this with many matches in the opening round achieving record sellouts.
While the progress of women’s football remains a steadfast priority for the AFL and industry, it’s not only for the elite game but at all levels.
In 2014, there were over 194,000 recorded women and girls playing football in Australia. Fast forward to today, there are now over 600,000 female football participants recorded, coming from all walks of life, united by the game they love.
The AFL acknowledges that without the dedication and contribution of thousands of community administrators, players, and volunteers across the country, this remarkable growth wouldn’t be possible.
About NAB
NAB has supported the footy community since 2002, providing boys and girls with a clear pathway from NAB AFL Auskick through to the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program all the way to the big time.
In its fifth year as principal partner of the AFLW, NAB is proud to once again be supporting the competition in 2021, providing many women the opportunity of playing at the elite level and many girls across the country with something to aspire to.
