Setting up a senior women’s football competition for 2023 with the inclusion of Kyneton, Melton and Castlemaine-based Mount Alexander Falcons is a landmark event in Riddell League history, according to chief executive officer Jordan Doyle.
“We are thrilled to offer all females in our community the same opportunity as the males for their football pathway,” Doyle said.
“All current Riddell League clubs were asked to vote on the proposal and the decision was unanimous.”
In recent years the RDFNL has made no secret of its desire to expand and gain additional clubs.
After rebranding and moving to a stand-alone competition in previous seasons, the league had a junior and youth girls’ competition last season.
This coming season the inclusion of three new additions that prospect becomes a reality.
Doyle said the league was “filled with excitement” about launching a senior women’s competition for 2023.
“It has long been a plan for the league to offer a senior women’s comp. And whilst we initially thought that 2024 was a more realistic option, we couldn’t be happier to launch in 2023.”
Thanking Kyneton, Melton and Mount Alexander Falcons for making the transition, Doyle said the league looked forward to these three clubs joining some RDFNL senior clubs in the competition.
The league is encouraging all RDFNL clubs to look at the option of senior women’s teams.
Doyle said the league was committed to growing, and wanted the senior women’s competition to thrive.
“A big thanks to RDFNL football operations manager, Aaron McLean, for his work with the junior and youth girls’ competitions for the last two seasons, and the work that was put into the transfer of the three clubs who are joining our league in 2023.”
‘EXCITING NEW OPPORTUNITY’
Kyneton football operations manager, Natalie Korinfsky, said the Kyneton Tigers saw the RDFNL as an exciting new opportunity as a more localised competition, playing neighbouring teams like Woodend and Romsey.
“We also see the Riddell League as a leader in developing female football pathways at a junior level,” she said.
“We are keen to work alongside the league and our fellow teams to help shape the new senior women’s league to be competitive, inclusive and sustainable into the future.”
Korinfsky said the Tigers were also excited to be play local like-minded clubs and develop healthy rivalries.
“We are also looking forward to continuing our relationship with the Mount Alexander Falcons and fixturing games with our senior men and netballers to build our one-club approach.”
Falcons’ president Alana Wearne said the club was thrilled to have been invited to join the RDFNL’s new women’s competition.
“We listened to our members and ultimately felt that there is solid alignment with the league and our club values in creating a safe, inclusive, friendly and competitive environment for women and gender-diverse people,” Wearne said.
Wearne said the club looked forward to growing and developing alongside the league as all prepared for the 2023 season.
“The Melton Football Netball Club women’s committee, coach and players are excited to be returning to their original home base,” club president Brian McNabb said.
