AS women’s soccer, Australian Rules and rugby continue to surge, there’s another football code that’s been flying under the radar.
Joondalup-based gridiron side the West Coast Wolverines fielded their first women’s team earlier this month as part of the new female Gridiron West league.
No one in the Wolverines’ line-up had played the sport until 10 weeks prior to their first game, which they lost 12-6 to the Perth Broncos at Forrest Park in Padbury on October 7.
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READ NOWGridiron West women’s director Kellie Hopkins, who also plays for the Broncos, said it was “amazing” to see the launch of the competition.
“It’s important that we make sport accessible to all factions of society,” she said.
The season opener also featured the Wolverines’ U19 side for the first time and the men’s contingent.
Unfortunately for West Coast, it was a winless start, losing the men’s game convincingly 36-0 and the U19s a closer 38-24.
Club vice-president and women’s coach Ben Giff said it was a successful day despite the results, with more than 100 spectators turning out.
“I especially couldn’t be prouder of our ladies, who finally got their first taste of American football,” he said.
“All three squads performed well but we recognise that there is work to be done across the board.”
The women’s team has since won two games, with their next contest coming against Perth Blitz on November 11.
The men are winless from three games heading into their clash against Rockingham on Friday night.
The U19s have won one from two and also face Rockingham.
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