West Australian Football

WESTERN Australia’s State 18s women’s team heads to the Gold Coast today for the AFL U18 Youth Girls National Championships from September 20 to 24.

Six teams will play five rounds of matches at the Southport Sharks Football Club in two pools. Pool A will include Victoria, South Australia and Victoria Development and Pool B will include Western Australia, NSW/ACT and Queensland.

WA will be keen to step up another level in 2011 after being defeated by Victoria by 15 points at the inaugural championships in 2010.

Games will take place at Southport Football Club oval from 10.30am – 4pm each day from Tuesday 20^th with finals to be contested on Saturday 24^th. Members of local Leagues will provide the volunteer force. The championships will also include female umpires and female assistant coaches mentored by male coaches.

Follow the action at www.aflfemalechamps.com.au or go to AFL KicksforChicks on Facebook and Twitter.

WA SQUAD

FIXTURES

Tuesday September 20

10.30am – Victoria v Victoria Development

12.30pm – NSWACT v Western Australia

Wednesday September 21

10.30am – South Australia v Victoria

12.30pm – Queensland v Western Australia

Thursday September 22

10.30am – Victoria Development v South Australia

12.30pm – NSW/ACT v Queensland

Friday September 23 – Semi finals – fixture TBC

10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm

Saturday September 24 – Finals – fixture TBC

10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm

AFL Female Football Development Manager Jan Cooper said the youth girls’ competition (girls aged between 13 and 18) is one of the fastest growing segments of the game.

“In 2010 female participation in club-based youth-girls competition rose by 60 per cent in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia,” she said.

“With 16 new competitions commencing in 2011, growth has continued as we develop the participation pathway for females from NAB AFL Auskick through to senior women’s' leagues.”