The 2015 AFL Youth Girls National Championships will be played in Western Australia for the first time following the WA Football Commission’s successful bid to host the event at Bendigo Bank Stadium in Mandurah.
The week-long tournament will be played in May with the support of the City of Mandurah, Peel Thunder Football Club and the Peel District.
WAFC female football manager Alison Moore said she was delighted that WA had earned the right to host the national championships.
“Our State 18 Youth Girls became the first female team ever to defeat Victoria at a national championship last year and now we have the opportunity to defend our title on home soil,” she said.
“We are also really keen to see the extra development opportunities for schools, female talent, coaches and umpires within the Peel region that this national event will generate.
“We’re determined to present a National Championships that everyone will remember especially when we showcase the best experiences on offer here in WA and the City of Mandurah.”
City of Mandurah Mayor Marina Vergone said it was fantastic to see female sport promoted and acknowledged on the national stage.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for developing athletes to gain experience and for our local youth to be involved in an event of this calibre,” she said.
A total of eight female teams from around Australia will arrive in Mandurah on May 3, 2015, with qualifying games being played on the Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. A general bye on Wednesday will allow for the players and coaching staff to give back to the game through coordinated development programs in coaching, umpiring, skills and talent development.
The Championships will culminate with grand finals and an inaugural national team dinner on May 8 at Bendigo Bank Stadium.
Local schools will be involved in raising awareness of the event by designing flyers and attending matches and skills programs.
State coaches will also present seminars and practical coaching sessions.
Umpiring groups in the Peel region will be offered coaching opportunities and support from both WAFL umpiring manager Darryl Sinclair and WAFC umpire development manager and current AFL field umpire Dean Margetts.
Several umpires will also be invited to officiate alongside some of the nation’s best young umpires to gain valuable experience.
National Championship sponsor John Dorazio of Walker-Wayland WA encouraged local businesses to support the championships as a great opportunity to give back to the community.
“Being a national competition provides us as sponsors an opportunity to expose our identity at a national level,” he said.
“We also expect this national exposure for the Mandurah region will help local companies to grow so we can continue employing locals.
“A significant additional benefit for us is to encourage young women to look upon accounting as a valuable career opportunity.
“We need to attract bright young women to a rapidly changing profession.”
Anyone interested in sponsoring the championships or volunteering for an organisational role is encouraged to contact Alison Moore on amoore@wafc.com.au
