The Geelong Cats will enter a team in the VFL Women’s competition next year following an announcement this week.
Club chief executive officer Brian Cook described the move as a major step into the future.
He said the team would kick-start female participation in the Barwon region and provide a career pathway for women in football.
“This will give young females in our region currently the opportunity to pursue their passion for football by playing with the Geelong Cats.”
The Cats will become the first AFL club to establish a VFL Women’s side when they assume the current Geelong Magpies’ licence.
Mr Cook said the club would establish a women’s academy in 2017 which would have “lasting and positive impact” on the region.
The club would recruit most of the players locally, he said.
The VFL Women’s competition will begin soon after the AFL Women’s competition.
Features of the 2017 fixture will include double headers with the VFL men’s team and games at venues throughout Geelong.
Deakin University will officially sponsor the team, which will train predominantly at the university’s Waurn Ponds sports precinct.
Deakin vice-chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander said the university was delighted support local women.
“We are particularly passionate about inspiring women to achieve at the highest level possible in whatever they do,” she said.
“Deakin and the Cats have a proud history of working together to support our communities since 2008, when the first intake of our sports science interns began at the club.”
