Girls just want to make their mark

The East Fremantle Football Development District has named Riverton Football Club as host team to kick start football for girls.

The club will provide a pathway for girls wanting to play football from Auskick through to juniors, youth and then senior women's football.

It will host players living in the East Fremantle zone, which comprises the suburbs of Leeming, Bullcreek, Riverton, Shelley, Rossmoyne, Willetton and Canning Vale.

Riverton Football Club president Richard Brown said there was huge potential to allow girls to develop skills, get fit and make friends.

"Our success in developing a strong and sustainable girls team will auger well for the sport’s expansion and inclusion of teams from other areas within the district," Mr Brown said.

"By hosting this initiative, we will be hoping that there is sufficient interest to allow other clubs in the district to develop teams as demand grows."

In 2014, WA Football had 33,571 female participants across Auskick, club football, school football and AFL Year 9s.

Mr Brown said this was an increase of 14,470 participants from the previous year.

"The numbers of girls playing Australian Rules across WA indicate girls’ enjoyment of the game and that it is not exclusively a male sport," he said.

"In the past, opportunities have been limited, but now there is a very real option to increase the level of community club participation by developing a junior girls’ team."

The Riverton Football Club girls side will compete against Booragoon, Hammond Park, Bibra Lake, Fremantle City, and potentially Armadale, Kwinana and Kardinya junior football clubs.

The 10-week season, for girls aged 9-12, will start in June. Training is scheduled at Riverton Reserve on Thursdays from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.

For more information and to register, visit www.Rivoroos.com.au.