The Peel Football and Netball League will break ground when it holds the first ever round of its brand new women’s competition this weekend.
It will be history in the making when the region’s female footballers grace the turf for the inaugural games of the PFNL Women’s at Falcon Oval and Dwellingup Reserve, with clubs, players and the league embracing the excitement.
South Mandurah, Pinjarra, Dwellingup and Baldivis will all field teams in the competition’s opening season, with the Falcons taking on the Tigers while Dwellingup and Baldivis go toe-to-toe in round one.
It’s the first time the Peel region’s female football talents have had the chance to lace up their boots without trying out for a state level team.
Former Peel Thunderbirds talent turned Pinjarra midfielder Courtney Fabry will be part of the new era’s initial round, and said she couldn’t be more thrilled to be running out in a Tigers jumper.
“I think just to get the chance to be able to play with your friends, and I’m playing with my sister as well, that’s what really excites me about this competition,” she said.
“I’m sure some of the nerves of being part of the first ever game will kick in at bounce down, but really it’s just great to be able to play footy locally.”
While the competition has a steady focus on giving local women a chance to play footy, it won’t be without high-level talent.
Fabry herself has represented WA’s state sides on six different occasions, and captained the Black Swans once.
The 19-year-old spent the bulk of those years in a Peel Thunderbirds jersey, before the opportunity to play locally saw her donning Pinjarra’s black and gold.
Running out opposed to Fabry will be Mandurah Mail journalist and South Mandurah Falcon Caitlyn Rintoul, who jumped at the chance to be part of the inaugural campaign after playing footy as a junior in her hometown of Newdegate.
Rintoul’s journey through football came to an end in under 12s, when like most girls, she was told she could not progress any further with no women’s competition available.
Now the 24-year-old is thrilled to be back on the footy field, sporting Souths’ blue and gold.
“It’s just great to be part of something special like this,” she said.
“Really I’m just grateful [South Mandurah] have given me the chance to play footy again, and I can’t wait for the first game.”
The Falcons will take on Pinjarra at Falcon Oval on Saturday, 5.15pm, while Dwellingup and Baldivis square off at 3pm.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
