WAFLW scraps reserves competition in blow to women’s football development as East Perth joins WAFLW

Women’s football is arguably the fastest growing sport in Australia with no better example than the AFLW completing a full 18-team roster in just five years since its inception. However, it is perhaps growing too fast for some with the WAFL deciding to scrap the women’s reserves competition for the foreseeable future. The reserves competition was on the chopping block last year following a recommendation from the league but the WA Football Commission stepped in at the final hour following a ground swell of support and a petition that garnered more than 14,000 signatures. At the time it also had the backing of four clubs in the competition although there was a provision put on the decision stating all clubs must field a reserves side by 2024. However just a year on from that decision it has been scrapped and it is understood when the clubs were surveyed at the end of the season, only two of the eight wanted to field a reserves side next year. Unlike last year it seems to have gone out with a whimper, announced last week at the meeting of club CEOs on Wednesday morning to no major pushback. Only five clubs fielded reserves sides this year with East Fremantle and Claremont dominating the competition. The commission is open to reintroducing the reserves competition and will review the decision in 2024. The focus for the WAFC is the development of talent, across the Rogers Cup and league to ensure a sustainable State league competition and pathway for up-and-coming talent. It will be a blow for the development of women’s football with the only options now being league or Rogers Cup for players aged 15-17. Olivia Bidwell, Brooklyn Cullen and Aaliyah Jones all turned out for the reserves this season and with other Mid West stars such as Tayah Palmer about to tick over 17 they will be locked out of representative football unless they can break into the league side. It makes the pathway to WAFL football and beyond much harder and will no doubt see a reduction in representative footy and development in that age bracket where some of our best stars currently sit. It comes as the commission granted East Perth a licence to join the women’s league competition next year leaving Perth as the only WAFL team without a women’s side.