The VAFA Celebrates International Women’s Day

Today, on International Women’s Day, the VAFA recognises the many wonderful women throughout our football community that help make us what we are on and off the field.

As Australia’s largest senior community football competition, the involvement of women throughout the VAFA continues to grow, with a significant increase over the past six years.

With the 2023 season fast approaching, there are now more than 50 women in leadership roles within the VAFA community.

The number of women involved throughout the VAFA has grown at a significant rate, as the competition itself continues to expand.

Having been first established in 2017, the VAFA women’s competition has grown enormously and now boasts Australia’s largest women’s football competition, with 3,000 players across six divisions.

This year the competition will welcome the Coburg Lions into William Buck Premier Women’s, who will make their debut against the oldest club in the competition, Melbourne University Women’s on Sunday, April 16.

Not only within club-land but also at an umpiring level, Women continue to take up the opportunities in front of them. There are over 15,000 umpires officiating in community football matches each week and over 12% are female, a significant increase in line with the expansion of female football.

VAFA CEO Jason Reddick tells VAFA Media, “We are enormously proud of all the women involved in the VAFA competition, and the important roles they play. From Board Directors, Staff, Committee Members, Volunteers, Coaches, Players, umpires, and supporters, and we celebrate the contribution of each woman in our Association.

“The VAFA is focused on ensuring we continue to invest in and provide an inclusive and welcoming environment to attract more women into the VAFA, and allowing them to maximise their potential and their enjoyment of this wonderful Australian game”.

The Women involved in the VAFA have gone from strength-to-strength.

Jess Burger, coach of Kew in William Buck Premier Women’s, was recently awarded the opportunity to take part in the AFL’s newly created Women in Football Talent Program, designed to accelerate women’s participation and progression into key leadership roles within club football departments in the AFL Men’s competition.

Terri O’Reilly, Vice President of Melbourne University Women’s Football Club, was named Victoria’s Good Sports Volunteer of the Year in February, for making the club stronger and more inclusive, by going above and beyond the usual undertakings of a volunteer.

Vicki Durston is one of two women on the VAFA Board, she told VAFA Media, “I’m so proud to be working as a Board Member of the VAFA to enable a diverse voice, as we launch and lead a new strategy in 2023 that values inclusivity and growth particularly in women’s football.  As we celebrate International Women’s day in 2023, I would like to acknowledge the many women and men that inspire and promote women through sport both on and off the field and want to recognise their ongoing leadership as we strive towards a gender equal future.”

Returning this year is Women’s Representative Football. The VAFA Women are three wins from three games, and will look to keep the winning streak alive when they face the best of the Perth Football League on Saturday, July 15 at Elsternwick Park, while the 2023 home and away season begins on Saturday, April 15 – just 38 days away.

The VAFA proudly celebrates International Women’s Day, extending our recognition and thanks to all women on this day.