THEY waited eight long months for this moment.

And it finally arrived for AFL North Coast’s junior players who started their seasons last weekend.

Round 1 saw matches played in Bellingen, Port Macquarie, Sawtell and Woolgoolga.

Jamika McAulay was one of the hundreds of juniors who took to the field for the first game of the season.

The Sawtell/Toormina Saints Under 17 Youth Girls player said she felt great to be back on the pitch playing a sport she has played throughout her teenage years.

“For the past five years footy has been my life, so it’s great to have the footy back and having two different age groups for the girls.”

“It’s great to be back on the field, as we’ve done a lot of training on the beach and synthetics because our grounds have been too wet to train on.”

Playing for both the Saints’ Under 17 Youth Girls and women’s sides, she said she felt honoured to be a part of the overall growth of women’s football.

“I feel like the Youth Girls competitions are part of the bigger movement of women’s football,” she said.

“With the momentum that the AFLW has and more girls playing football, it’s great to be a part of it.

“A lot of the clubs are getting behind it and supporting us, especially at Sawtell, and they are making us really feel a part of the club.

“Sawtell has really encouraged us, and the men’s seniors coach Nic Morgan has been a real advocate for female footy and makes us feel included.”

AFL North Coast features five junior competitions; Under 11 Mixed, Under 13 Mixed, Under 15 Boys, Under 17 Youth Girls, and the new Under 14 Youth Girls.

 

By Aiden BURGESS