CRESWICK is driving a push for a Central Highlands presence in the Ballarat Football League youth girls’ football competition this year.
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Creswick president Mick Alsop said with an increasing demand for a CHFL girls’ team, the Saints had taken up the challenge to form a side under the CHFL banner open to players from all clubs.
Having lodged an expression of interest with AFL Goldfields, Creswick is now focused on securing players and a coach.
Alsop said it was important to provide a pathway for girls in the CHFL now that the women’s game was taking off.
He said as it stood girls playing juniors with boys in the CHFL could not play beyond 14 years.
They have had to leave the CHFL if they have wanted to play on in the BFL youth girls competition.
“We have a few girls at the moment who play in Ballarat, but obviously if the opportunity was there they would love to play in their own league,” Alsop said.
He said the club needed at least 16 players and committed volunteers to ensure everything ran smoothly.
“Volunteers are already over stretched – so we would need more,” Alsop said.
Creswick netballers Tarni Hepworth, 14, and Tegan Mitchell, 14, have already committed to the new team.
“It would be fun, and a different sporting opportunity for girls,” Hepworth said.
The girls said they would be reluctant to join the existing Ballarat teams because they wanted to play in a team with other young people from the Central Highlands.
Alsop said Creswick was committed to being dynamic and ensuring their were options for all players.
“We want to have the team for the long term, so we need a good lot of people (to support it).”
If successful, the CHFL will become the 13th team in the BFL youth girls competition.
North Ballarat announced late last year it was also joining the existing 11-strong league.
The BFL launched the youth girls competition in 2011 with four teams - Redan, Golden Point, Sebastopol and Ballarat.
It expanded to seven in 2012 with the addition of Lake Wendouree, Bacchus Marsh and Riddells Creek.
The trend has continued.
Three more teams, Ararat, Darley and Gisborne, joined in 2013.
Maryborough Castlemain District Football League was next in line with a combined team - taking in all clubs across the competition just as the CHFL is doing now.
Lake Wendouree is the reigning premier, having last year ended Redan’s two-year run as the number one team in the competition.