This Saturday the 14th of May sees the beginning of the highly anticipated TIO Women’s Lightning Series in Darwin. The seven-round competition will run until August this year as curtain raisers to NT Thunder NEAFL matches played at TIO Stadium.
This Saturday the 14th of May sees the beginning of the highly anticipated TIO Women’s Lightning Series in Darwin. The seven-round competition will run until August this year as curtain raisers to NT Thunder NEAFL matches played at TIO Stadium.
Four squads will be included in the competition each featuring twenty players made up of State Academy and local NTFL club talent.
Games will be played as 16 a-side with shortened quarters down to fifteen minutes, and will feature some rules modifications including the last touch out of bounds, a ten metre protected area and the high density rule which requires two forwards and their opponents to remain in the forward fifty at all stoppages.
As well as new rules, the four teams will be donning the newly made Guernseys that will feature a custom fit ‘Racerback’ design that will ensure a sleeker fit compared to the traditional styled guernseys. The new jumpers will also show off the ‘Crow’ featured on the Adelaide Crows guernsey, representing AFLNT’s formal partnership with the Crows.
In addition the new Series, a newly formed Female Coaching Academy will take shape, with an aim to get more female players involved in leading roles in the Top End.
A Female Umpiring Academy, supported by the Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission, will also be present to increase female umpiring positions around the Territory.
AFLNT Chief Executive Officer Michael Solomon said it is a truly exciting time for football and for women in the Territory.
“With a national competition set for 2017, we are working hard to ensure our women have the best possible opportunities to develop on and off the field.”
“AFL is a big part of life in the NT and launching this exciting new series is more than an opportunity for our elite female players but is also a catalyst for the development of all women in the sport, including female umpires, administrators and training staff.”
“We will continue to work with the Adelaide Football Club in a formal capacity and present a joint proposal to the AFL in the near future.
“We would especially like to thank TIO for their willingness to commit to the TIO Women’s Lightning Series and to football in the Territory more broadly,”
TIO is the major sponsor of the Lightning Series, with Cazalys Palmerston Club, the Adelaide Football Club, and the Anti-Discrimination Commission also supporting the Series.
The Women’s Lightning Series begins Saturday May 14th at TIO Stadium in Darwin at 4.00pm.
Ticketing:
Adults - $5 before 5pm, $10 after 5pm
Concession/Kids - $2 before 5pm, $5 after 5pm
Thunder Members - Free