History Making Gala Auskick DayTuesday, July 1, 2025 - 3:30 PM

It was an historic occasion for female football in WA on Sunday with the first ever All Girls Auskick Gala Day in the country. 

Des Penman Reserve in Nollamara hosted the first all-girls Auskick event in any state across Australia in what’s a milestone moment for female participation.  

More than 40 clubs and 450 players aged 5-12 from across the Perth metropolitan area took part, bringing together hundreds of budding female footballers for a fun, inclusive footy experience.  

All WAFL zones had community football club representation from their district attending. 

WA Football’s Women & Girls Community Football Manager Lisa Steane described the event as a landmark occasion for football in the State. 

Steane is also a former AFLW player and current WAFLW midfielder at Subiaco who’s helping the next generation of female footballers through her work in the participation space. 

“This is a landmark moment for footy in WA. It’s the first event of its kind in the country, and it’s amazing to see so many clubs come together to celebrate the power of girls in our game,” Steane said. 

“The turnout shows just how much demand there is for girls-only footy experiences. It’s not just about participation – it’s about developing a genuine, long-lasting love for the game. 

“That kind of connection starts with positive, inclusive, high-quality experiences like this, where girls feel supported, engaged and excited to come back each week. 

“We know that when young girls see female coaches, female players, and female role models front and centre, they feel like they belong – and that’s what this event is all about. 

“We’re seeing huge momentum in the women and girls’ space, and events like this reflect how committed we are to building a pathway that starts strong at the grassroots level.” 

The response from attending clubs confirmed the success of the event.

Ocean Ridge – “It was an absolutely awesome day, and the girls couldn’t stop laughing and smiling all morning! We can’t wait for the next one!”

Aveley – “The girls had such a great day, and it certainly has lit a fire for me personally [as Auskick Coordinator] to get more girls involved in Auskick.”

The event reflects the growing demand for girls-only football options at the Auskick level and showcases the AFL’s commitment to growing the women and girls’ pathway, starting from grassroots.  

Both Fremantle and West Coast’s AFLW sides had players attending to support the event as well as head coaches Lisa Webb and Daisy Pearce, a recent inductee into the Australian Football Hall of Fame and pioneer of women’s football, while several WAFLW players were also in attendance.  

We’ve seen strong and continued growth in Auskick for girls across WA in 2025, with participation increasing by 188 girls year-to-date—an 8% uplift.

Importantly, the number of all-girls Auskick offerings has nearly doubled, rising to 98 programs in total—an 88.7% increase from the same time last year.

These figures highlight the growing demand and ongoing success of dedicated spaces for girls to kickstart their footy journey. 

Click here to find your Link to find your nearest Auskick centre that has an all-girls offering