SANFLW 2021 season start signals a big year for female footy

February 23

By SANFL Media

Ahead of this Friday night’s start of the 2021 SANFL Statewide Super Women’s League season, SANFL is pleased to report that female football participation in South Australia continues to ride a wave of popularity.

Latest SANFL figures show that female participation remains strong, despite the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 7,300 female club registrations in 2020.

Speaking at today’s SANFL Statewide Super League season launch at Adelaide Oval, SANFL CEO Darren Chandler said female participation figures were on par with 2019 – an outstanding result given the challenging environment for community sport last year.

“The high level of female football participation in 2020 was particularly encouraging given that the season was postponed for almost four months, with a number of regional leagues not playing football at all in 2020 because of the pandemic,” he said.

Mr Chandler said that at a junior level, female participation in fact rose by 8 per cent in 2020, with over 2,400 girls taking to the field in National Pharmacies SANFL Juniors competitions across the metropolitan area.

In a further positive sign for junior female participation growth this year, SANFL had already received registrations for the 2021 National Pharmacies SANFL Juniors season from 1,900 female players – 300 more than at the same time last year.

“Clearly, the strength and growth of SA’s elite Statewide Super Women’s League and AFLW are inspirational for the next generation of female footballers,” Mr Chandler said.

“We are also extremely proud that our dedicated female talent programs and the Statewide Super Women’s League have become a pathway for many aspiring female footballers.”

Statewide Super Chief Executive Tony D’Alessandro said Statewide Super was delighted to see SANFL growing female football in South Australia and leading the way by securing funding for new female friendly facilities across the State.

“With more than 20 projects finalised in 2020, and $16.2 million allocated to a further 48 football facility projects, SANFL is showing its commitment to growing and fostering female footy talent and to ultimately build the strength of the Statewide Super Women’s League,” Mr D’Alessandro said.

Round one of the SANFL Statewide Super Women’s League, now in its fifth year, kicks off at The Parade on Friday night with the 2020 Grand Final rematch between reigning premier North Adelaide and runner-up South Adelaide.

The competition’s 2021 fixture has increased by one match this season to 11 rounds, concluding on May 15, followed by a three-week Finals Series.

As a sign of the League’s growth and professionalism – and what is an historic first for South Australian women’s football – all four Round 6 matches will be played at Adelaide Oval on Easter Saturday.

Entry to all SANFLW matches is free, while all matches will be live streamed on SANFL Digital Pass. To subscribe, visit www.sanfldigitalpass.com.au.

SANFL Statewide Super Women’s League – Round One

Friday, February 26

North Adelaide v South Adelaide | Coopers Stadium | 6:00pm

Norwood v West Adelaide | Coopers Stadium | 7:45pm

Saturday, February 27

Sturt v Glenelg | X Convenience Oval | 10:10am

Central District v Eagles | X Convenience Oval | 11:55am