Young Kimberley girls pick up Auskick in record numbers in 2025

Kimberley football has had a big rise in Auskick-aged girls picking up the sport with new figures from WA Football showing a 37 per cent increase in participation.

Some 306 girls took part in the Auskick program this year while Auskick boys’ registrations also increased by 17 per cent to 511.

Broome Auskick co-ordinator Adam Goedecke said the massive uptick had been readily apparent on the field.

“We started an Auskick group for Year 1 and 2 girls this year and that increased our numbers straight away. The numbers just keep growing each year,” he said.

“We had had some really good coaches with daughters of their own engaging the girls from an early stage so that also helped kick it off. Plus, in general, girls’ footy is becoming more popular.

“We also had Fremantle Football Club up here for an engagement session at the start of last year that targeted girls to see if the interest was there and it was extremely well received. That has fed into our girls only Auskick group and also girls playing junior footy as well so it’s flowing through.”

Kimberley junior footballers also had the opportunity to play at half-time during the western derby in 2025, with 88 Kimberley kids travelling down for the event, contributing to participation.

“That went gangbusters,” Goedecke said.

He said the West Kimberley Junior Football League was looking at starting a small girls’ only competition for Year 3 through to Year 7 girls in the coming year.

“We’ve already planned to do a come and try day again with the support of Fremantle well before the start of the 2026 season to target Auskick-aged girls and also the older ones leading into our potential junior footy girls’ competition as well,” Mr Goedecke said.

Overall participation in Kimberley footy had also increased by 29 per cent to a total of 3285 registration across various leagues and age groups.

The State overall has also had record participation in the sport.

WA Football chief executive Michael Roberts said he was proud of this year’s groundbreaking participation.

“To break through the 90,000 mark for the first time is an outstanding achievement from everyone involved — from players to coaches, umpires, volunteers and parents,” he said.

“There’s been some amazing highlights along the way — from women and girls’ participation numbers jumping 8 per cent this year and Superkick rising a whopping 57 per cent.

“We look forward to building on these remarkable achievements in the new year as we gear up for an exciting 2026.”

AFL game development executive general manager Rob Auld said the record numbers reflected both the strength of the game and the deepening connection Australians continue to build with footy.

“Reaching 625,000 participants this year is a remarkable achievement and a powerful reminder of how footy continues to bring communities together across the country,” he said.

“As more Australians find their pathway into the game, our focus remains on making sure footy is welcoming, inclusive and accessible as we strive to have one million participants by 2033.

“Encouraging people to find their way to play — whether it’s through NAB AFL Auskick, NAB AFL Superkick, community football or AFL Nines — sits at the heart of that vision, driven by the 10 per cent enshrined investment into game development that supports programs and participation across all levels of the game.

“To sustain the game for generations to come, we need a strong foundation. These results are driven by the thousands of people who give their time, energy and passion to footy every week.”