More than 430 junior girls will kick start the Queensland Girls Secondary Schools Sports Association (QGSSSA) Junior Australian Football Competition this Saturday at Leyshon Park, Yeronga.
In March earlier this year, AFL Queensland, in conjunction with QGSSSA, launched the inaugural Senior Australian Football Competition and now, seven months later, junior girls in Grades 7-9, will have their first crack at participating in the new competition.
The four-week tournament will see nine schools and 29 teams competing at Leyshon Park, Yeronga over four action-packed weekends.
Since the launch of the senior competition earlier this year, participation has doubled, going from 15 teams in the seniors to 29 teams in the juniors.
The success of the Term 1 competition saw many senior students transition into community football after an enjoyable QGSSSA experience. AFL Queensland and QGSSSA hope this trend will be repeated in the junior space, following this competition.
Head of AFL Queensland Trisha Squires said she was excited to watch the junior players competing in Term 4.
“It has been fantastic to see this competition, QGSSSA, grow from strength to strength over the past twelve months,” she said.
“Last year we saw students from these schools compete in modified gala days and development sessions and this term we will see them properly compete against each other.
“Our aim is to see girls have an enjoyable experience in the QGSSSA and then be encouraged to sign on to their local footy club.
“The NAB AFLW Season 7 coinciding with this tournament is also great timing for our developing players to see the clear pathway from junior football through to the elite game as you can’t be what you can’t see,” she said.
Four Lions AFLW players came through QGSSSA schools to now compete at the elite stage.
Dr Peter Britton, Principal & CEO, Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School and QGSSSA President said the organisation was again delighted to partner with AFL Queensland for another season.
“The QGSSSA is committed to offering outstanding sporting opportunities to students in its member schools by providing a well-organised, high-quality inter-school sporting competition that fosters sporting excellence, participation, and character development in a safe and healthy environment,” he said.
“The QGSSSA is delighted to partner with AFL Queensland to achieve this goal.”
2022 QGSSSA competing schools:
Brisbane Girls Grammar School
Brisbane State High School
Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School
Moreton Bay College
St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School
St Hilda’s School Gold Coast
St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
St Peters Lutheran College
Somerville House
Brisbane Lions AFLW Players from QGSSSA Schools:
Dakota Davidson – Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School
Greta Body – St Peters Lutheran College
Kate Lutkins – Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School
Lucinda Pullar – Somerville House
For most information regarding the QGSSSA Junior Australian Football competition, including the competition schedule, please visit our Australian Football page.