It’s not easy to get a new competition off the ground in local football.
Clubs have to run around like headless chooks trying to find players to fill teams, already thin umpire resources are stretched to the limits and I can’t imagine there’s a shortage of paperwork to be done for leagues and officials.
It’s hard work, no doubt about that.
But I’ll bet seeing the Peel Football and Netball League’s first ever women’s competition come to fruition over the weekend made it all worth it.
It’s no secret women’s footy has its critics, and to be honest, part of me expected them to come out in droves as the local girls hit the park for the first time.
But if you attended one of the two inaugural games on Saturday you were treated to nothing but a healthy dose of community spirit and pride.
The crowd at Falcon Oval made an already monumental occasion much more memorable.
South Mandurah and Pinjarra are two of the league’s more glorified clubs in terms of the history books, so it was only fitting to hear each supporter base spurring their team on every time they got a touch.
And if you’ve ever had the chance to get to a South Mandurah home game you’re well aware the word “bang” is a regular fixture, and you can rest assured it was delivered with gusto on the night.
I didn’t have the chance to get to Dwellingup Recreation Reserve for the Brumbies’ clash with Dwellingup earlier that afternoon, but everything I’ve heard suggests it was the same atmosphere there with each supporter finding their voice.
At the end of the day the competition is about opening doors for our local female athletes, so you know all the hard work the clubs and the league have put into it is pushing a good cause.
But it makes it a hell of a lot sweeter to see it embraced the way it was in round one.