Editing Australian rules football (section)

==Women and Australian football==
{{Further|Women's Australian rules football}}
[[File:Women's AFL match.jpg|thumb|Action from a women's match on the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]] between [[Bond University]] and [[Burleigh Heads, Queensland|Burleigh Heads]]]]
The high level of interest shown by women in Australian football is considered unique among the world's football codes.{{sfn|Mewett|Toffoletti|2008|p=2}} It was the case in the 19th century, as it is in modern times, that women made up approximately half of total attendances at Australian football matches—a far greater proportion than, for example, the estimated 10 per cent of women that comprise British soccer crowds.{{sfn|Hess|2008|p=66}} This has been attributed in part to the [[egalitarian]] character of Australian football's early years in public parks where women could mingle freely and support the game in various ways.<ref>Browne, Ashley (2008). "For Women, Too". In Weston, James. ''The Australian Game of Football: Since 1858''. Geoff Slattery Publishing. pp. 253–259. {{ISBN|978-0-9803466-6-4}}.</ref>

In terms of participation, there are occasional 19th-century references to women playing the sport, but it was not until the 1910s that the first organised women's teams and competitions appeared.{{sfn|Hess|Lenkic|2016|pp=1–6}} Women's state leagues emerged in the 1980s,{{sfn|Pippos|2017|p=191}} and in 2013, the AFL announced plans to establish a nationally televised women's competition.<ref>[[Samantha Lane|Lane, Samantha]] (27 March 2013). [http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-sees-the-light-on-womens-footy-20130326-2gsd1.html "AFL sees the light on women's footy"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823035633/http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-sees-the-light-on-womens-footy-20130326-2gsd1.html |date=23 August 2014 }}, ''The Age''. Retrieved 29 November 2014.</ref> Amidst a surge in viewing interest and participation in women's football, the AFL pushed the founding date of the competition, named [[AFL Women's]], to 2017.<ref>Halloran, Jessica (29 January 2017). [https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/stellar/how-afl-womens-league-will-level-the-playing-field/news-story/0a9ab8e7ff5b154bc6eb41f4902ee38e "Will the AFL Women's League level the playing field?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924105025/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/stellar/how-afl-womens-league-will-level-the-playing-field/news-story/0a9ab8e7ff5b154bc6eb41f4902ee38e?nk=3f9756af9fc22b2b78674ebd468edf65-1632480625 |date=24 September 2021 }}, ''The Daily Telegraph''. Retrieved 28 April 2018.</ref> Eight AFL clubs won licences to field sides in [[2017 AFL Women's season|its inaugural season]].<ref>Mark, David (17 June 2016). [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-15/afl-provides-pathway-for-young-women-to-pursue-sporting-careers/7513338 "AFL women's competition provides a pathway for young women into professional sport"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401102138/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-15/afl-provides-pathway-for-young-women-to-pursue-sporting-careers/7513338 |date=1 April 2018 }}, ABC. Retrieved 28 April 2018.</ref> By [[AFL Women's season seven|the seventh season]] in 2022, all 18 clubs fielded a women's side.