AFL North Coast’s junior competitions are set to expand again next year, helping to further strengthen the local pathway from Auskick through to open age footy.

Bucking the trend of three years of pandemic and wet weather, AFL North Coast will be adding a new Under 10 non-competitive age group as it embarks on a second successive season of competition expansion.

The new Under 10 competition means that local players can start in structured AFL a year earlier than has previously been the case, with the introduction of the new age group set to further strengthen the local pathway from Auskick through to open age footy.

With the introduction of Under 10s, all existing age groups in mixed and male footy will increase by a year (e.g. Under 11 becomes Under 12) so that the top age group becomes Under 18.

Community Football Manager Paul Taylor is excited about the tangible benefits for current and prospective junior and youth players across the region.

“This is a really positive step at both ends of the local pathway that will prove to be hugely beneficial in the continued growth of the game,” he said.

“At the bottom end, players will have the chance to move out of the Auskick program a year earlier and be introduced to structured AFL in a non-competitive environment where the focus is on learning the game and having fun.

“At the top end, players will have a further year of age group footy, meaning they can play with the peers for another twelve months rather than being fast tracked into open age footy before they feel physically and socially ready.

“The 2023 season will be another year of competition growth for AFL North Coast, with the introduction of the Under 10 age group to further strengthen the local pathway from Auskick through to open age footy.”

The expansion of the junior competition follows on from the introduction of the extremely successful Youth Girls 14 age group in 2022.

Girls flocked to this new age group, with over 55 percent of the players being new to the sport, highlighting how keen girls are to play AFL in a female only environment.

The changes to the age groups will not flow onto Youth Girls footy, with competition ages to remain at Under 14 and Under 17.

AFL North Coast’s junior competitions set to feature in 2023 include: Under 10 (mixed genders, non-competitive),
Under 12 (mixed genders), Under 14 (mixed genders), Under 16 (male only), Under 18 (male only, played on Saturdays within the Senior Competition), Youth Girls 14, and Youth Girls 17.

By Aiden BURGESS