Girls wanted for Mountains youth AFL team

The competition is for girls aged 11-15, and currently the club has four girls interested in playing, but needs at least another five players, preferably more. 

Blue Mountains Kangaroos president Danny Croucher said last year four clubs took part in a trial competition, and this year there could be 10 teams entered.

Currently, younger girls play in mixed AFL games and the Auskick program, but there’s no avenue for them to pursue the sport once they turn 13.

Reagan Lloyd, who plays in the under 10s, but is almost 11, is keen to be part of a youth girls team.

“You don’t have to put up with the boys annoying us,” she said.

“It will be fun.”

Reagan does gymnastics, violin and contemporary dance, so AFL is a nice addition to a well-balanced extra-curricular schedule.

Blue Mountains Kangaroos Auskick co-ordinator Rosalyn Thomas said the field match-ups would be based on size.

This would be done intentionally so that younger, smaller girls wouldn’t be taking on older, bigger girls. Mrs Thomas said the older girls would be gentle on the younger ones, however.

Mr Croucher said the AFL was keen to build a pathway for girls to safely continue the sport into teenage and later years.

“It gives the girls loving it in their younger years an actual pathway at club level,” he said. 

Girls make up about a third of children taking part in Auskick programs.

The youth girls AFL season starts in March, but team nominations must be submitted in February.

Mr Croucher hopes the lure of team friendships and not having the same level of physicality as playing against the boys will entice some girls to give AFL a go. 

Registrations at: Bunnings Valley Heights, January 30, 10am-2pm; Springwood Town Square, February 7, 10am-2pm, and Winmalee Shopping Centre, February 27, 10am-2pm. Visit bluemountainskangaroos.com.au for more information.