The QFAW competition is set to introduce two new teams in Division 1 in 2024.
Four-time QFAW Division 2 – North Premiers Noosa, will be joining the competition, alongside back-to-back grand finalists Tweed Coast.
With Noosa and Tweed Coast moving to Division 1, the competition will progress to an eight team competition, with Redcliffe, Robina and Kedron moving to Division 2.
Consistent on field performances and strong finals series year-after-year cemented Noosa’s move to Division 1, with the side only losing two matches in the past three seasons.
Complimenting their strong senior performances, Noosa’s youth girls pathway has also grown from strength to strength, with their Under 17s featuring in finals and their Under 15s celebrating an undefeated premiership across the 2023 McDonald’s South East Queensland Juniors season.
With a robust talent pathway on the Sunshine Coast, female youth participation has grown 18% from 2022 to 2023, with a projected increase of 31% in 2024.
Down the coastline, after successive grand final appearances, Tweed Coast are eager to prove themselves in Division 1, going undefeated in QFAW Division 2 – South in 2023.
Tweed Coast have also built a substantial pipeline of young talent to compliment their senior success, with their Under 17 youth girls premiers and their Under 15 and Under 13 youth girls sides playing in the 2023 McDonald’s SEQ Junior finals as well.
This is on the back of a strong growth period for Tweed Coast, seeing an increase of more than 67% in their youth girls participation since 2019.
Competitions Manager – Queensland, Mitchell Simpson, congratulated the two clubs on their elevation.
“Both clubs have built very successful Youth Girls programs to underpin their future, so it is exciting to see them be rewarded with a QFAW Division 1 license after sustained success at the senior level in their respective QFAW Division 2 competition,” he said.
QFAW Division 1 will remain a 14-game season with a four-week finals series to be introduced.
