These girls know not to take their game for granted – those who played before them, on their school ground, are true pioneers in developing Australian Rules for females across the region.

And now three Mount Clear alumnae are on AFLW lists, part of the first professional AFL national women’s league set for its ground-breaking debut this weekend.

Year eight student Kyla Thompson, who plays on the wing, said girls football had become more accepted, “not as weird”, even in the four years she had been playing.

There was no youth girls competition when Sally Riley (Adelaide), Kaitlyn Ashmore and Nicole Hildebrand (Brisbane Lions) played school football for Mount Clear. 

Hildebrand was often known by teachers as “the footy girl” because she always had a football in her hands. 

Ashmore joined the now-defunct North Ballarat Eagles women’s team while still at school, but soon after took her game to Melbourne to pursue it at a higher level.

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Riley was the key driver in lobbying for Mount Clear to join Ballarat Associated Schools’ competition to ensure more matches after the school was ousted in a first-round state knock-out competition. Until then, Mount Clear’s girls football team had played only by invitation against the BAS team with a bye. Now Mount Clear boasts about 40 teams across most sports in the BAS.

Before this trio, it was the likes of Emma Kent, Nat Basar and Sam Munari staking spot in the state football team. Mount Clear sports director Cameron Dole said he could only imagine what the professional path could have been like for these students, if it had existed.

“I didn’t ever think it would happen, for girls to make a living in the game – but we’re not quite there yet,” Mr Dole said. “We know female sport participation rates are not where they should be, but football gives girls more choice.”

Year nine student Poppy Ball, like many of her school football teammates, was not so much into traditional ‘girls sports’ like netball. She loved playing in a team and was inspired to finally see AFLW.

“I feel there is still a big gap between men and women in gender equality in sport, but this is a step in the right direction,” Poppy said. “(Female football) is more accepted.”

AFL Goldfields boss Rod Ward has started talks with Western Bulldogs in potential opportunities to strengthen pathways for females in the game.

The Bulldogs, an official City of Ballarat partner, will debut its AFLW team against Fremantle at Whitten Oval on Saturday night in the first national Australian Rules league for women.

Mr Ward has overseen the rapid, hungry demand for female football in his own region and said the AFLW launch reinforces the game for girls, with female role models.

“The pathway there is fanastic,” Mr Ward said. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how much the game has taken off for girls here. There are also now more opportunities for women in the game, like coaching and umpiring.

“AFLW kicking off that weekend takes it to a whole other level.

“It wasn’t that long ago we started with four teams in our youth girls competition.”

The BFL’s inaugural youth girls season in 2011 featured Golden Point, Redan, Ballarat and Sebastopol.

Mr Ward, who was BFL chief executive officer at the time, said it was largely in response to offer girls playing Auskick a chance to continue the game. Back then, girls could only play with the boys in under-12s.

This year, AFL Goldfields will boast at least 44 female teams across its region, stretching across Maryborough, Riddells Creek, Ballarat and the Central Highlands and with teams from neighbouring regions like Ararat.

For the first time, there will be separate youth girls and under-12 girls competitions in the Ballarat and Riddell District football leagues and possibly two open-age divisions.

Junior girls fixtures will be primarily Friday night to avoid clashes with netball.

In an historic week for the women’s game, AFL Goldfields’ first full-time female football manager Krista Woodroffe started work. Ms Woodroffe is employed under an AFL Goldfields and Rebels youth girl academy partnership to oversee competition growth and development.

Any girls wanting to play, or get involved in the game, can contact the BFL to help find a club.