Polly Green and Zara Lilburne in  Dockers jumpers.
Darrian Traynor / Stringer
Camera IconPolly Green and Zara Lilburne in Dockers jumpers. Darrian Traynor / Stringer Credit: Supplied/Darrian Traynor / Stringer

Women set for Cockburn

Bryce LuffFremantle Gazette

On Wednesday it was revealed the Dockers would be one of eight teams competing in the inaugural season of the national women’s league in 2017.

Cross-town rivals West Coast were offered a provisional licence and could be part of an expanded competition as early as 2018. Harris said his club’s partnership with the City of Cockburn and Curtin University was pivotal to its successful bid.

The women’s team, like the men’s side, will be based at the new $109 million recreation centre under construction at Cockburn Central West, where the Dockers will have an elite training and administration facility.

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While the club is still waiting on details about the formation of squads and fixtures, a match at Cockburn ARC looks likely.

“We would certainly like to see at least one game each season played on the oval at our new home base at Cockburn Central West and one at Curtin University,” Harris said.

Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett said the new league should offer the many girls and women playing football in Cockburn the chance to take their sporting ambitions to the next level.

“The City would be pleased to support approaches to host the women’s national competition at the new Fremantle Football Club facilities,” he said.

The move could open the impressive facility up to other opportunities too. During a visit to the undeveloped site in 2013, former AFL chief executive officer Andrew Demetriou did not dismiss the possibility of pre-season matches for men and development squad matches being held there.

The AFL pre-season is considered a bit of a road show, with matches moved away from usual venues.

Fremantle prepared for the 2016 season proper by playing at Mandurah’s Rushton Park and Mount Barker’s Sounness Park.

Mr Howlett said no approach had been made by the Dockers yet, but opportunities could arise in the future.

He said the same for the possibility of WAFL matches being played at the venue.