SANFL celebrating record Auskick participants

By ZAC MILBANK

SANFL is celebrating a record number of Auskick participants across the state in 2023, with girls and children from multicultural backgrounds fuelling the encouraging increase.

As many as 11,761 children have donned the boots in an Auskick program throughout South Australia this year, a significant seven per cent rise on last year’s overall figures and two per cent lift on those from pre-Covid levels in 2019.

With the popular AFLW and SANFLW Leagues now offering females a genuine pathway to elite level, more girls are continuing to give footy a go with an increase of 16 per cent registering in the past 12 months and 17 per cent more than those who took part in 2019.

The introduction of all-girls Auskick centres in SA has contributed to this rise while the introduction of Auskick as part of the curriculum offered at five Islamic and several other Multicultural schools has resulted in a 15 per cent participation increase for children who speak English as their second language.

In an initiative this year, SANFL – responsible for the management of the AFL’s Auskick program throughout the state – has run several all-girls and multicultural Auskick games at half-time of AFL matches at Adelaide Oval.

“This is a huge achievement and paints a bright picture for the future of footy in South Australia, with more young Auskickers playing than ever before,” SANFL Executive General Manager Football, Matt Duldig, said.

”To see such a significant rise in the number of young girls pulling on the boots at Auskick, as well as more participants from multicultural backgrounds, highlights that our game is for everyone.

”We look forward to seeing some of these 11,761 participants take part in activities across the upcoming SANFL Finals Series and a lucky 22 presenting the Premiership Medals.”

2023 Total Registrations Year To Date = 11,761 (+7% v 2022, +2% v 2019)

2022 Total Registrations (end of year) = 11,077

2019 Total Registrations (end of year) = 11,634

2023 Female = 2824 (+16% v 2022, +17% v 2019)

2022 Female = 2440

2019 Female = 2405

2023 English Second Language Year To Date = 743 (+15% v 2022)

2022 English Second Language (end of year) = 647