AFL Tasmania is imploring the next state government to pledge $10 million over six years to improve football facilities for women.
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The burgeoning number of women playing the game has now forced Tasmanian Football Council general manager Jackson Hills to upgrade grounds that have been male strongholds to become more female friendly.
“That ($10m) would make a serious dent in that issue in the state,” Hills said.
“That’s where we’ll be trying to structure up over the next six months leading up until the election.”
The Tasmanian government is set to call a state election by March next year.
Labor committed $4.8 million over three years to build or upgrade changerooms.
“We don’t think that’s enough; we want to encroach on that a bit higher and make a big case for it,” Hills said.
AFL Tasmania is teaming up with Cricket Tasmania over sharing amenities.
State numbers support the push with female cricket growth rising 26 per cent over two years, while football has increased 30 per cent year-on-year as AFL Tasmania’s competitions grow.
Launceston entered the inaugural women’s TSL competition this year, and the NTJFA female 13-17 years which started last year with six clubs has expanded to nine in its second year.
“That’s putting increased pressure on existing facilities and you want to maximise those sites,” Hills said.
“Like the condition of the ground and if the lighting up to standard to increase the load on facilities, but it’s also to ensure the amenities are suitable because they have been built for blokes with communal showers and troughs in the bathrooms.”