GANMAIN-Grong Grong-Matong is entering their maiden AFL Southern NSW Women's season in strong shape, with coach Tania Lenon admitting player demand could force her to make some tough selection calls.
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The Lions and Collingullie-Glenfield Park are set to field women's teams this year, further expanding the league after it grew to seven teams last season.
Although a couple of teams are struggling for numbers, the Lions have attracted strong interest, in particular from the club's established netballers.
Lenon said it's important more teams and opportunities are available for players to accommodate the influx of youngsters coming into the sport, thanks in part to the ever-growing exposure of the AFLW.
"Don't worry, in a few years there'll be plenty of numbers because AFL has been pushing it for a number of years now," Lenon said.
"As the young ones are coming up there's going to be more numbers, the more teams who are interested the better.
"We've had a lot of interest but we've only got a small handful who have played before, the rest are basically netballers."
Lenon played for the Riverina Lions when they first entered the Canberra competition, before playing for a few years in Sydney.
She has coached the Lions' netball team in the past, but this will be her first foray into football coaching.
Lenon will be assisted by Lions first grader Luke Walsh.
"He's very excited about it and has been showing them the finer details of the game, but we've been highly impressed by the way the girls have picked up the skills.
"If we can't fit everyone in it might be a case of a few of the girls playing at other clubs (with less numbers) to help them out."
Narrandera, East Wagga Kooringal and North Wagga joined the competition last year.
The Saints looked set to battle with CSU for the premiership, but the COVID pandemic put paid to any hope of playing a grand final.
The Lions are still looking to settle on a first grade netball coach after they ended their finals drought in last year's revamped AFL Riverina Championship.