The debut meeting for the women’s open AFL squad on June 2 attracted 20 people with 18 committed to play, and several yet to come.

Organiser Sonia Martin said the enthusiasm was palpable, and said the door was still wide open for any woman, and no AFL experience is necessary.

“We have played a couple women's games before, but they’ve been a kind of a kick and giggle thing, very informal, sipping champagne at halftime kind of game,” she said. 

The interest was forming for many on the sidelines. Sonia said many girlfriends and partners of the male players have been spectators, itching to have a chance at the game.

“And gone, ‘Hey, now I get to have a go’, and that’s pretty cool,” she said.

She said the national AFL body will launch a women’s league in 2017, so the chance for youth, such as Macintrye High School’s AFL-keen Eleanor Ford, to embrace the game is perfect timing.

“There’s actually quite a pathway of opportunity there, like Elle has a really good go,” Sonia said.

“She’s only 15, and she made the top 44 for New South Wales, ACT, so you give her a couple more years of growing and getting stronger and developing her skills, and she’s got a real pathway in AFL.”

The women who arrived for the training session of ball-skills, passing, running, and learning the ropes of the game under coach Darren Pay’s experienced eye were of all ages.

“At this stage it’s open age, so we’ve got everyone from Elle who’s 15 through to me, who’s like a little bit older than that,” Sonia chuckled. She said the younger players were the most enthusiastic for competition.

“If it’s not a proper, serious game, they didn’t want to play.”

The new team trains Thursdays, 6pm at Varley Oval with a view to expanding the session.

“We’ll also have a Tuesday training, but I direct people if they have a look at the Inverell Saints Facebook page, that’s where we're doing all the updates.

Women will be a part of the coming Inverell AFL gala day on Saturday June 18 when sides from under 16 juniors though the seniors will face the Moree Suns at Varley Oval.

For more information, phone Sonia Martin on 0417 139 557.