Collingullie-Glenfield Park will field a team almost completely made up of new players to the sport when they line up for their first Southern NSW Women's AFL game on Friday.
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The Demons are one of two clubs to field a women's team for the first time in 2021, with fellow newcomers Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong set to take on Charles Sturt University in the expanded eight-team competition.
Collingullie secretary Nerida Cook has been instrumental in organising the side, which the club had been thinking about for a while.
"I just basically decided it was time," Cook said.
The club has been thrilled with the response from players, with 23 players registered to start the season.
About 20 of them have never played Australian Rules Football before.
Among the newcomers to the sport is inaugural captain and Collingullie-GP netballer Bettina Goolagong.
Goolagong is one of the oldest in the side, and is hoping to encourage younger players to take up the sport.
"I'll have a go at any sport, so I'll have a go at AFL," Goolagong said.
"If you put your hand up, it encourages the younger girls to also put their hand up and makes them feel more comfortable to do it."
As a netball coach with the club, Goolagong is hoping to play alongside some of her under 17s players.
With the majority of the side made up of the club's netball players, avoiding injuries ahead of the netball season is a priority for the new team.
Beyond that, she said the girls were looking forward to going out, having fun and learning as they played.
"We get to training and we have a great laugh, so I think the girls are excited to get around and have a good laugh on Friday night," she said.
This season, all games will be played on Friday nights.
The Demons kick off their campaign at Narrandera against the Eagles.
ROUND 1
- Charles Sturt University v Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong, 6.30pm at Gumly Oval
- Griffith Swans v North Wagga Saints, 7.30pm at Griffith Ex-Services Club
- East Wagga-Kooringal Hawks v Brookdale Bluebells, 7.30pm at Gumly Oval
- Narrandera Eagles v Collingullie-Glenfield Park, 7.30pm at Narrandera Sportsground
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