Tara Murray
There’s a new beginning for female football in the Ballarat region.
The Ballarat Football League has announced that they will have a women’s competition for the first time next season, which will be called BFLWomens, or BFLW.
Previously clubs in the region had played in the AFL Goldfields women’s competition which was run by the region’s governing body.
Both the BFL and neighbouring Riddell District Football League have made the decision to step away from AFL Goldfields from next season.
BFL general manager Shane Anwyl said it made sense to align the women’s competition with the existing men’s, junior and netball competitions.
“It will be one of the leading competitions in regional Victoria,” he said.
“It will have its own identity and structure and it will help clubs be able to recruit players.
“It’ll be a very strong competition.”
Anwyl said two clubs had already expressed interest in joining the competition.
The new competition is open to all women’s teams that were involved in the AFL Goldfields competition.
Melton, Melton Centrals, Gisborne, Bacchus Marsh and Darley were all part of that competition and have been invited to the new competition.
In consultation with existing clubs, the competition structure, by laws and rules will be developed to ensure a long term and sustainable BFLWomens.
The league will also have junior girls competitions. Anwyl said they were in discussions with the RDFL in regards to what they plan to do in regards to junior girls competitions and where teams would fall.
