Rapid growth in women and girls playing football drives WA participation to record heights

Rapid growth in women and girls playing football has driven participation numbers in WA to new heights. A record-breaking total of 90,017 people played the game around the State in 2025, which is up from 87,155 last year. The increase was fuelled by the number of women and girls participating in the game growing to 17,238 — a year-on-year increase of eight per cent. Another major driver of the growth was a 57 per cent uptick in participation in the AFL Superkick program, which was launched in 2023 to help bridge the gap between Auskick and junior football. WA Football chief executive Michael Roberts said the numbers were a testament to the efforts of players, coaches, umpires, volunteers and parents. “To break through the 90,000 mark for the first time is an outstanding achievement from everyone involved,” he said. “We’re delighted that we continue to set the benchmark as the game for all Western Australians. “We look forward to building on these remarkable achievements in the new year as we gear up for an exciting 2026.” Participation in football around the country grew from 580,000 people in 2024 to 625,000 this year, a seven per cent year-on-year increase. AFL executive general manager of game development Rob Auld said the record numbers were a “remarkable achievement and a powerful reminder of how footy continues to bring communities together across the country”. “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,” he said. “We know there are challenges in local footy and there is still work that needs to be done to help clubs, but to our clubs, coaches, umpires, volunteers and parents who make all of this possible, thank you and we’re incredibly grateful for everything you do.”