The Rise of Women’s Football
20 Mar, 2025
“I have always been passionate about playing footy. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the opportunity to play when I was younger as women’s footy didn’t start up in Denmark until 2020. So as soon as the chance came about I jumped on board. I love playing footy and the social aspect that comes with being a part of a team and border club and as long as my body allows and I’m enjoying playing I’ll continue to do so.” – Ebony Thompson, player for Curtin University Wesley Football Club.
96 years after its founding, The Perth Football League introduced its women’s competition for their 2018 season. The competition started with 16 teams: 7 teams in A Grade and 9 teams in B Grade.
The competition was successful, with its first two teams becoming the inaugural premiers after the first women’s premiership. In September 2018, University became the first A Grade premier after beating West Coast, while Cottesloe became the first B Grade premier after beating Rossmoyne.
Following its debut year the women’s competition continued to thrive, seeing a rise in teams from 16 to 25 in 2019 and then 37 in 2020. However, the best was yet to come when a sudden burst of interest came in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, with a rapid increase of 53 to 66 teams joining the league. The league hit its own record in the 2023 season reaching an astonishing 70 teams. This number has stayed steady since.
The only difference between the women’s and men’s games is the length of time played in each quarter. The men’s teams for 4 20-minute quarters, while the women’s are a little shorter at 4 18-minute quarters. These brilliant women play the same game as the men and play just as hard as them as well. With a profound passion for the game, the players put everything out on the field with the sole reward of playing a game they love. “When I’m playing I’m focused on doing what I can for the team while trying to achieve my own goals… When I’m on the field I can be a little nervous but as soon as I lay a tackle the nerves leave and it’s game time” (Jessica Schlaepfer, Captain at Canning South Perth).
Although gender stereotypes have improved in club organisations, the odd comment from spectators is not out of the ordinary but these women love the game they play so much that they focus on ignoring these insignificant comments. It’s important to realise that women’s sports have come a long way. “It makes me very happy to know that women’s football is being celebrated” (McKenzie Thompson, player at Canning South Perth).
These women have shown young girls, and even women their own age, that you can play football, whether you’ve played your entire life or have only picked up a ball for the first time last week. “There is something empowering about playing a sport that was so taboo for us to play. It is also the sport where I have felt the most camaraderie with my teammates, a level of support that is hard to articulate without experiencing it yourself” (Alli McArthur, player at Canning South Perth).
Kerryn Wilson.
