Tara Murray
Women’s football is on the agenda in the Riddell District Football League next year.
The league announced on Thursday that it was launching a women’s competition in 2023, building on the league’s junior girls program.
Melton, Kyneton and the Mount Alexander Falcons are the first three teams to join the competition.
Melton crosses from the Ballarat Football League joining its junior girls teams in the RDFL.
Kyneton and Mount Alexander, which is based in Castlemaine, come across from the Central Victoria Football League Women’s.
League chief executive Jordan Doyle said they were thrilled to have a women’s competition in 2023.
“It has long been a plan for the league to offer a senior women’s and whilst we initially thought that 2024 was a more realistic option, we couldn’t be happier to launch in 2023,” he said.
“We would like to thank Kyneton, Melton and Mount Alexander for making the transition across to the RDFNL and we look forward to those three clubs joining some RDFNL senior clubs in the competition for 2023.
“This is a landmark event in RDFNL history and we are thrilled to offer all females in our community the same opportunity as the males for their football pathway.”
The league is encouraging all RDFL clubs to look at the option of senior women’s in the near future as it seeks to grow the league.
Former Melton president Brian McNabb said the whole club is excited to be returning to its original home base.
Kyneton football operations manager Natalie Korinfsky said the club welcomed the opportunity to play in a more localised competition.
“We see the RDFNL as a leader in developing female football pathways at the junior level and we are keen to work alongside the league and our fellow teams to help shape the new senior women’s league to be competitive, inclusive and sustainable into the future,” she said.
“We are excited to play local likeminded clubs and develop healthy rivalries with nearby towns such as Woodend, Melton and Romsey.
Mount Alexander president Alana Wearne said they are thrilled to have been invited to join the RDFNL’s new women’s competition.
Meanwhile, Kyneton’s junior boys and girls sides will also join the RDFNL.
The move is one the RDFNL has had in its sights for a number of years now and Doyle said they were pleased to see it come to fruition.
‘’The RDFNL is delighted that the Kyneton FNC junior teams are joining our junior competitions in 2023 and beyond,” he said.
“The RDFNL has long seen Kyneton FNC as a good fit for our competitions and the Board, staff and member clubs are looking forward to them joining our league and want to wish them all the very best for not only the 2023 season but beyond.
