History will be made at 8am this Saturday, 19th February, when the first bounce of the inaugural Queensland Girls Secondary Schools Sports Association (QGSSSA) Senior Australian Football competition is made.
16 teams and 240 students from schools associated with the QGSSSA will take part in a four-week round-robin competition.
Head of AFL Queensland, Trisha Squires, said after successfully introducing the game to the Association last year, it was fantastic to have Australian rules football officially on board as a sport.
“Last year more than 1,200 girls from the QGSSSA got their first taste of Aussie rules footy – taking part in our development sessions and modified gala days, so I am thrilled we are now in a position to introduce our great game as an official QGSSSA trial sport for 2022,” she said.
“School sport is where some of the best friendships and footy memories are created. I am so proud AFL will make an impact on so many young women in the Association’s member schools.
“This term will see girls from Grades 10, 11 and 12 contest a senior and open division, before junior and primary grades get involved in Terms Three and Four.
“Women’s football continues to grow and gain momentum in Queensland, and this is a fantastic example of another introduction point for girls to play the game.
“Good luck to everyone involved in the competition. I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun throughout the season.”
Unique to the competition, all games will be played at centralised venues, bringing schools and students together on a weekly basis.
The Brisbane Lions AFLW new neighbourhood of Springfield will host weeks one to three of the competition at the Springfield Sporting Complex before week four of the competition is played at the Gold Coast SUNS AFLW home of Metricon Stadium.
Dr Peter Britton – Principal and CEO of Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School and QGSSSA President said this Saturday will be an historic moment for Queensland’s premier sporting competition for schoolgirls.
“In QGSSSA’s 114th year, students will proudly wear their schools’ new Australian Football playing strips and compete in Senior and Open Divisions,” he said.
“Over recent weeks, staff and coaches from the QGSSSA schools participated in online coaching development sessions provided by AFL Queensland.
“The QGSSSA and its member schools are grateful to AFL Queensland for providing them, their staff and the students with a wonderful introductory and well-resourced experience to Australian Football.
“The QGSSSA values performance, participation, tradition, and innovation and it is proud to partner with AFL Queensland to provide the schools’ young women with more high-quality, competitive sporting opportunities and pathways to professional sports.”
Brisbane Lions AFLW player and former Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School student, Kate Lutkins, will be on site to cheer on the 240 students this Saturday when the competition begins.
QGSSSA Schools taking part:
- 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