SWFL: Augusta-Margaret River Football Club signal intent to establish women’s team for 2025 season

Augusta-Margaret River Football Club has signalled its intent to enter a women’s team in the South West Football League for the 2025 season, with the club’s president calling the venture its “number one priority”. The Hawks field a number of junior girls teams and its masters women’s outfit made its debut at the weekend but is the only one of the 11 SWFL clubs without a senior women’s side. Club president Kris Longmore-Dodd said setting up a team would not be easy, but the club was prepared to put in the work to make it happen. “In terms of the strategic things that will move our club forward, it’s number one on the list,” he said. “It’s kind of a chicken and egg type (scenario). You do need to have a bit of momentum on the ground, in terms of a core group of players that will commit to playing for the side, but when we don’t have an actual team they can commit to, that makes it very hard to do that.” “It’s also a personnel thing. Being a small town, there’s only so many people with so much time that can volunteer.” The lack of a senior women’s team means girls at the club graduating from junior football need to head elsewhere in the region to continue playing, with West Coast star Ella Roberts — a local product who was forced to make her early forays into senior football with Busselton — a famous example. Mr Longmore-Dodd said the club wanted to see players they had developed be given the chance to wear a Hawks jumper. “A number of those young women still live in the town, we see them and we talk to them,” he said. “We all lament the fact that they have to play somewhere else to continue to play senior footy.” With the club seeking nominations for a newly created committee position focused solely on women’s football, Mr Longmore-Dodd said he was “confident” a Hawks team would be on the park for next season. “It’s not going to happen just by itself, it’s going to take a fair bit of work and effort,” he said. “I’ve got a fantastic committee who are very committed to that goal as well.” Expressions of interest for and more information on the director of women’s football role is available by emailing amrfc@thehawksfc.com.au.