Yes, clubs are actively recruiting! If your closest Master’s club does not have a Women’s team in 2024 there are still may be opportunities to train with the club. Contact a neighbouring club to join with an existing women’s team. Play as a fill in or join in with casual matches organised throughout the season.

2024 is likely to have 10 home and away games, played fortnightly Saturdays over winter, plus 2 weeks of finals.

Since the first competition in 2018, the women’s competition have enjoyed double headers and whole round at one venue. 2024 fixtures is likely to have 2 home matches for all clubs. The teams travel to each home ground for double headers or whole round at one venue if there are available ovals. The 2024 Fixture plans to minimise travel where possible but the comp is spread from Werribee, Mordialloc to Preston/Reservoir.

With only one age group at this stage, there is a lot of variety in players’ ages. To be eligible, a player has to turn 35 by 31 December. In terms of experience, there are many players over 35 who were not offered any football opportunities as a young kid. This means that the competition welcomes all players brand new to football with great enthusiasm. Estimates are 30-40% players have played footy before, and 60-70% of the comp are new to the game as an Over 35s player. There are brand new players in every team, some who played a bit and then retired, and a smaller group of players who have significantly more game time. 

Yes! The Over 35’s Women’s football community is super friendly and very ready to talk about footy. 
The objectives of the Women’s Competitions are ‘Footy for fun – a safe place for everyone’. Community sport which is safe and inclusive, and fosters positive experiences for the players, teams, clubs, supporters and community. Each month, the Women’s comp meet together in the Women’s Comp Sub committee, which aims to promote the comp as inviting and inclusive environment. Contact us for a chat!

Our competition has a lot of peer support and tips in this space. AFL has club help with some resources that can help with first impressions, inclusive language, female friendly facilities, coaching women. https://www.play.afl/clubhelp/women-girls/

Word of mouth, facebook and peer support has been effective for the clubs so far. Also try flyers and posters at local businesses, gyms, to hand out at AFLW matches or community footy games. Promote with parents at AusKick, or in school communities. Come and try days help people to check out your club with a view to membership. Also helpful to have women coaching and being visible in the club, so that women feel that the club is going to be supportive for a player new to footy.