VAFA Women Leading the Way in 2024

On Sunday 28 July, four Club leaders from the VAFA took part in the inaugural Lead Your Way Development Day at Marvel Stadium, presented by AFL Victoria.  

The VAFA were proud to have Tess Beagley (President, Williamstown CYMS), Alida Lipton (President, AJAX), Audrey Fithall (Player, West Brunswick) and Lara Cartwright (Secretary, Power House) attend the day as part of their selection in the 2024 Lead Your Way Program. 

Lead Your Way, introduced this year as part of the AFL’s Women and Girls Action Plan, aims to enhance the skills and network of women and gender-diverse leaders volunteering in community football clubs throughout Victoria. Only 50 leaders were chosen for the program this year, and the development day provided an opportunity for presidents, secretaries, football managers, treasurers, and committee members to meet in person for the first time. 

During the development day, opened by Head of AFL Victoria, Greg Madigan, participants engaged in workshops for their personal and professional development. These workshops covered topics like improving facility understanding, enhancing strategic development and tailored communications with the AFL Strategy team, maintaining good mental health with Performance Psychologist Kelly Docherty, and gaining insights into the state of play and goals for Women and Girls in community football. The day concluded with a keynote address from Debbie Lee, a trailblazer and the first woman to be inducted into the AFL’s Hall of Fame, who currently serves as the Women and Girls Football Lead at the AFL. 

The VAFA would like to congratulate Tess Beagley, Alida Lipton, Audrey Fithall and Lara Cartwright for leading the way and representing the VAFA community. We wish them well for the rest of the program in 2024. 

Lead Your Way 2025 – Get involved! 

If there is someone on your club committee who you think would make a great addition to next year’s Lead Your Way Program, applications will be opening in November via aflvic.com.au.  

To ensure that information about the 2025 program (and other opportunities relating to the Women & Girls Actions Plan) go directly to your club inbox, make sure you are signed up to the Women and Girls Community Football Charter by filling in an Expression of Interest here.