The AFL North West season has been slated for a mid-April kick-off while the venues for the finals series will be decided differently this year. AFL North West president Sonia Martin said the league was set to play a full season - roughly 16 games depending how many teams nominate - in 2021. The season is set to kick off on April 17 with the Crossroads Cup likely to be played the weekend prior. READ ALSO: And in a first for the AFL North West - and possibly the state - the finals series will follow the women's competition, instead of the men. "Where the grand final-hosting rights would normally go the men's winner of the major semi, this year it will go to the women's winner of their major semi," Martin said. Not only will the women's teams get hosting rights for the finals, they will also have "prime billing" during the finals and play the last game of the day. The hosting rights will then swap from the men's competition to the women's competition each year. "I think what it does is shows how seriously we take the women's competition," Martin said. The league is also pushing to get a youth girls competition off the ground with Northern NSW development manager Matthew Crawley to coordinate the youth girls sub-committee. "We're really keen to work with any club that is interested in getting youth girls playing footy," he said. "Even if it's not a full, legitimate competition, we at least want girls to get together and play some footy." For women, men and juniors alike, AFL North West was looking at "exciting options" for representative football in 2021, Martin said. One option for the seniors was a June long weekend carnival where AFL North West would take on other leagues. Meanwhile the league was looking toward the junior carnival in the July school holidays for the younger players to get some representative football in. Martin said it all made for an exciting season ahead. "We're pushing ahead for a really fantastic season," she said. "We are also looking for sponsorship. If there's an organisation out there as keen on promoting women in sport as we are. We'd love to chat to them." Martin can be contacted at aflnwpresident@outlook.com. Also anyone looking to help get the youth girls competition up and running can contact Matt Crawley on 0431 877 173 or matthew.crawley@afl.com.au CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE ARMIDALE EXPRESS TO ACCESS ALL THE NEWS
And in a first for the AFL North West - and possibly the state - the finals series will follow the women's competition, instead of the men.
"Where the grand final-hosting rights would normally go the men's winner of the major semi, this year it will go to the women's winner of their major semi," Martin said.
Not only will the women's teams get hosting rights for the finals, they will also have "prime billing" during the finals and play the last game of the day.
The hosting rights will then swap from the men's competition to the women's competition each year.
"I think what it does is shows how seriously we take the women's competition," Martin said.
The league is also pushing to get a youth girls competition off the ground with Northern NSW development manager Matthew Crawley to coordinate the youth girls sub-committee.
"We're really keen to work with any club that is interested in getting youth girls playing footy," he said.
"Even if it's not a full, legitimate competition, we at least want girls to get together and play some footy."
For women, men and juniors alike, AFL North West was looking at "exciting options" for representative football in 2021, Martin said.
One option for the seniors was a June long weekend carnival where AFL North West would take on other leagues.
Meanwhile the league was looking toward the junior carnival in the July school holidays for the younger players to get some representative football in.
Martin said it all made for an exciting season ahead.
"We're pushing ahead for a really fantastic season," she said.
"We are also looking for sponsorship. If there's an organisation out there as keen on promoting women in sport as we are. We'd love to chat to them."
Martin can be contacted at aflnwpresident@outlook.com.
Also anyone looking to help get the youth girls competition up and running can contact Matt Crawley on 0431 877 173 or matthew.crawley@afl.com.au
