By Jamie Salter
Nar Nar Goon Junior Football Club is making history by fielding two female teams for the first time in 2022.
As the popularity of women in sport continues to grow, so too has the demand for the female-only teams.
This year the club has formed two girls teams, under 12s and under 14s, with about 20 players on each team.
Club president Rob Dobin said this was the first year the club has offered football purely for girls.
“We’re finding we’ve got a lot more involvement from girls in all female teams rather than our mixed teams,“ he said.
“We wanted to be able to have girls coming to Aus Kick at five or six years old and have them progress and stay with the Nar Nar Goon Football Club.“
He said establishing the female teams was a way to keep families with daughters involved with the club, rather than having them venture further afield.
“There wasn’t really anything for females past Pakenham and we are so excited to have girls football – the club got right behind it.“
Graeme Coombs has put his hand up to train the girls football teams which will be playing this season in the West Gippsland Football League against teams including Drouin, Warragul and Longwarry.
Last year there were four female teams in the league compared to seven teams in 2022.
“There’s definitely an increase in participation of girls playing football and it’s one of those things that will just grow and grow,“ Mr Dobin said.
“Having more girls in football just makes football better – it makes clubs more inclusive and enjoyable to be around.“
He said having the female clubs would help lead players towards professional football in AFL Women’s League.
“Girls can now see a pathway for them with the AFLW, so what we can do as a club is get more girls involved,“ Mr Dobin said.
“We need more girls to get down and join the team.“
Nar Nar Goon Junior Football Club was formed in 2014 and this is Mr Dobin’s second year as president.
To contact the club, email nngjfcpresident@gmail or visit the Nar Nar Goon Junior Football Club Facebook page.
