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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Renee Valentine

City Women's Day puts spotlight on the growth of the female game

AS ONE: Newcastle City's Samantha Thompson, London Ashcroft, Simone Wood, Casey Eacott and Kate Handley. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

Player, coach and committee member Kate Handley is proud of the fact that no matter what the ability, all females are welcomed into Newcastle City's AFL club.

Female participation numbers have exploded since the club entered a team in the inaugural Black Diamond Cup Women's in 2015.

And it is not only on the field where City's female numbers are strong - women also have a presence in the coaching ranks and on the committee.

That is why they are holding the first City Women's Day at Hawkins Oval on Saturday.

"We're calling it City Women's Day rather than Ladies Day because we want to push for it to be more like International Women's Day," Handley said. "To put more of a focus on achievements of women rather than just the traditional sort of thing.

"Ladies Day has always been more about thanking the mums and partners that might run the canteen. We're launching this because we're not just running the tuck shop any more.

"Casey Eacott is co-president of the club with Courtney Knight and nearly half of our committee is female now. There's basically the same amount of female members now as there is male members because we've got the two women's AFL teams and the three netball teams as well."

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Female junior participation has also improved from 13 players to over 140 in seven years. Each of the club's 11s, 13s, 15s and 17s girls' teams have female coaches. At senior level, City have 65 women registered across two teams who play in the Black Diamond Cup and Plate.

"In our female teams we allow all players to play, regardless of ability," Handley said. "We pledge at the start of the season that we will give everyone game time and we're committed that we want everyone to have a go and participate."

The club are also using City Women's Day to raise funds for Jenny's Place, a not-for-profit community-based service which provides direct relief and support to women and children who are experiencing domestic violence and/or homelessness.

Newcastle City will play five senior games at Hawkins Oval on Saturday from 9am. City play Killarney Vale at 1pm in Black Diamond Cup Women's. In Black Diamond Plate Women's at 11am, City take on Muswellbrook.

In other round-eight action of Black Diamond Cup Women's on Saturday, Warners Bay are at home to Wyong Lakes, Lake Macquarie host Terrigal-Avoca and Cariff play Maitland at Pasterfield Sports Complex.

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