This weekend will mark a historic step for football when the inaugural SANFL Girls Competition kicks off on Saturday.

Over 300 girls are expected to lace up the boots over the next month to represent SANFL clubs at U14 or U16 level.

The competition is a landmark move for the growth of the sport, with a large proportion of participants new to the game altogether.

Some players have completed their own mini pre-season in preparation for the four-week competition. Games this weekend will be played as curtain-raisers for the SANFL’s U18s competition.

The U16 and U14 leagues will be split into a Northern and Southern Conference comprising three rounds leading into finals on Saturday, September 12.

SANFL Female Football Co-ordinator Emma Gibson told the SANFL website the new local competition was be a fantastic move for the future of football in South Australia and beyond.

‘’The impact the SANFL clubs have had on the community has been great,’’ Gibson said.

‘’They have all made the girls feel comfortable to play football for the first time.

‘’The lure the SANFL clubs have in bringing new people to our game is certainly there but we also have a lot of new girls playing football in our state, feeding into our elite programs for many years to come which is very important.

‘’It is a great sign for the future.’’

Interest in female football has swelled in recent times. The AFL demonstrated its commitment last weekend by hosting a Women’s Exhibition match between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs which featured the best female footballers in the country.

Click here to register for the SANFL Girls Competition

SANFL GIRLS COMPETITION - ROUND ONE
Saturday August 22

NORTHERN CONFERENCE
Norwood v Eagles (Coopers Stadium)
North Adelaide v Central District (Prospect Oval)

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
Glenelg v Sturt (Gliderol Stadium)
West Adelaide v South Adelaide (City Mazda Stadium)