TOPIC:

Tonight, along with many others from Community Clubs, I attended this event:

Good morning all,

Thank you for registering for the WAFC Football Forum - Female Football Focus tomorrow evening, Wednesday 9th August at 6.45pm at Claremont Football Club.

Please see below key timings:

6.45pm               Tour commences (If you wish to attend the tour of CFC’s facilities, please ensure that you arrive in    Reception off Davies Road by 6.45pm)

7.20pm               If you are not attending the tour, please also enter via Reception and make your way to Function Room 1

7.30pm               Forum commences (Gavin Taylor)

7.50pm                 Panel commences (Adam Selwood, Michelle Cowan, Jan Cooper)

8.25pm               Panel concludes

9.00pm               Event concludes

Refreshments will be served before and after the forum and drinks from the bar will be available at the conclusion of the Panel.

Parking is available in the Davies Road carpark opposite the building ( and also in a carpark adjacent to the railway line on Shenton road (A), 400m from CFC.

If you  have registered on behalf of others, it would be appreciated if you would forward this information on.

So, having been there tonight, what did we all find out?:

1. Claremont's new facilities are great.
2. We (the WA Football Commission) have written a wonderful report.
3. Participant numbers in junior football in WA are growing.
4. The West Coast Eagles want to have a team in the Woman's AF competition, but can't have one until 2019.
5. There was plenty to eat and drink.

What did we find out about woman's community football? What have the Football Commission done about Woman's Community Football?

Nothing - nada - not a bloody thing!!!

Pleasant evening, but a complete waste of time for the many Community Club representatives who attended.

The WAFC CEO did not even know that one of his Staff had organised, paid for and run a Woman's Football Carnival and is planning another.

Does he know I'm pissed off? Oh yes!!!!

A lot of their forums have been like that recently LOL.
They do a lot of talking about doing things for grassroots footy but this talk is more about WAFL and WAFL colts than community football. The majority of people would regard community footy as grassroots level and the WAFL as a level between grassroots and the AFL.

Their measure of 'success' is the number of people drafted.

The proud boast last night was 37 West Australians drafted in Woman's AFL. Their other one was the increase in the numbers of junior players - what they fail to acknowledge is that most of that increase is the increasing numbers of number of girls taking the game up.

If they don't start supporting community football, those draft numbers will dry up really quickly.

We had the local Year 12s train with us Tuesday, their coach told me there are only 23 Year 12 teams in the whole metro area!!! If that is the case footy is in serious trouble, no wonder Clubs are struggling for Colts numbers.

Last night, along with many others, I attended a WAAFL presentation on how woman's community football will proceed in 2018.

Basically, probably the biggest change in the WA football landscape since the AFL started in 1987 is about to occur in WA, if the experience of other states occurs is anything to go by.

As examples, Tasmania started an amateur woman's competition in 2016 with two teams. In 2017, there were 65.

In two years, the Adelaide amateur completion grew from nothing to 70 Clubs.

How many Clubs will participate in WA in 2018? Going on attendance last night, 2017 carnivals participation, Clubs that have indicated interest already, I anticipate 20-30 - and I would expect the number will (at least) double in 2019.

3 competitions, run by the WAAFL are planned.

1. A normal, full on competition, almost identical to the current WAAFL male competition, to be played on Sunday afternoons. Type 2 Permits from WAWFL Clubs permitted. This was strongly supported by those in attendance. Minimum age of players Year 12/aged 17.

2. A 'development' type competition, less serious, less players, modified rules - for those looking for a more social approach and ideal for new participants. Players who wish to encouraged to move up to the full competition when they want. Minimum age of players Year 12/aged 17.

3. A 'Masters' type competition for over 35's aligned with WA Masters.

What is proposed an initial format for 2018 is:

Mid February - 'Try it out' type carnival (date aligned with the start of AFLW).

Late February - team nominations submitted to WAAFL. Clubs able to nominate more than one team and to nominate which competition(s) they wish to enter.

7 April - Grading competion to allocate teams to different grades similar to current WAAFL Grades.

28 April - season commences.

After Round 3 - possible regrading of teams if required

August - Finals

There are huge changes occurring in Junior Football for females, with competitions in 2018 changing to Year 4/5, Year 6/7, Year 8/9 and Year 10/11. Hence the reason for Year 12/aged 17 for WAAFL woman's comps.

Some minor changes coming for Junior Football for males too, but male minimum age for WAAFL remains 16.

Possible major changes for the West Australian Woman's Football League (WAWAFL) too.

Please contact Allana Dickie (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) at the WAFC for full details.