The Goldfields’ first representative game will be played as a curtain-raiser to the VFL clash between North Ballarat Roosters and Essendon.

AFL Goldfields will draw on the best talent from its new two-division competition, which takes in the Ballarat, Riddell District, Maryborough Castlemaine District leagues, and Geelong.

This is also a first for the VAFA, with its women’s competitions having only been formed this year.

 AFL Goldfields female football manager Krista Woodroffe said the representative fixture was a major step forward for the sport in the region. “It’s really exciting...awesome.” 

She said she had been most impressed by the way players had embraced the historic match.

Woodroffe said only a handful of players from 40 invited to be part of the initial squad had not accepted.

The final team of 24 is made up of a cross section of ages, ranging from players not long out of youth girls to women with an extensive background in the sport.

Jeff Whittaker is head coach. He also had the role this year of coaching the Greater Western Victoria Rebels in the inaugural TAC Cup Girls season.

He is being assisted by Shane Darroch (Ballarat), Shannon Knox (Geelong) and Alicia McLean (Geelong).

Whittaker said this was a great opportunity for the region’s girls to showcase their skills and hopefully for some of them to be noticed and have a chance to take their football to the next level.