Paul Makin

Journalist

The girls were doing it for themselves in Port Douglas as the inaugural Junior Crocs U17s AFL girls’ team had their first hit out at the Croc sporting complex.

It’s the first time in the history of the club that they have formed an all-girls team. The Junior Crocs President and Coach Darren Saxon was on hand to brush the cobwebs off some of the more experienced in the squad and encourage the 'newbies' to give it their best shot in a first season that's full of possibilities.

The first thing this reporter noticed was the good-natured attitude and support the girls had for each other. You can see a team forming in front of your eyes, so all goes well for the 2023 season and beyond.

Some looking to the future

Chatting to some of the girls it’s obvious they see this as a first step in eventually playing in the AFLW. That’s Australia's national semi-professional Australian rules football league for female players. The first season of the league was in February and March 2017 where there were eight teams, then the league expanded to 10 teams in the 2019 season, 14 teams in 2020 and 18 teams in 2022.

The AFLW is the most attended women's football competition in Australia and one of the most popular women's football competitions in the world. Its record attendance of 53,034 for the 2019 AFL Women's Grand Final was formerly the highest of any women's sport in Australia and remains the highest of any women's football in Australia. It’s no wonder some of these local girls are eyeing it off for a future tilt.

Just a reminder that supporters are back at the Central Hotel every Saturday from 11am for the Port Douglas Junior Crocs Central Hotel Raffle. Please help where you can and GO the Junior Crocs U17s AFL girls’ team!