POMAFL women’s comp set

Sports

THE new season for the Moni Plus-sponsored Port Moresby Australian Football League (POMAFL) women’s competition kicks off this weekend at the Colts Oval.
POMAFL vice-president Mathew Pulah said so far, three teams had confirmed their participation while others were still sorting out themselves. The three teams that have confirmed their participation are reigning premiers Dockers, Koboni and new entrants West Eagles.
It is anticipated that the other clubs — 13 Plus Cats, Gereka Bombers, Gerehu Magpies and Hula rookies Alavana Swans — will have their women’s teams confirmed before this weekend’s matches. “We made it clear to all clubs at the start of the season two weeks ago that they must have a women’s team to promote gender equality in AFL,” Pulah said. “Women must be given equal opportunities to excel in AFL.
“We already have a national women’s team, Papua New Guinea Flames, who have so far competed in the two International Cup (IC) tournaments in 2011 and 2017 in Sydney and Melbourne respectively, alongside their male counterparts, PNG Mosquitoes.
“The Mosquitoes are the defending IC champions, having won the tournaments in 2008, 2014 and 2017 (back-to-back). They were the runners-up in 2002, 2005 and 2011 since the inception of the IC tournament in 2002.
“We need more women in AFL, not only to see AFL as a sport, but also to value it as a way of life and give meaning to community participation.”