By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Labor has pledged to help Hallam Senior College cater for the popularity boom in female Aussie Rules.
If it wins government, the ALP will provide $40,000 towards upgraded female-friendly changerooms for the school’s AFLW program.
Bruce incumbent MP Julian Hill said the upgrade would allow more young women to play AFLW.
“(It is) fostering team work, and improving levels of exercise and fitness needed to assist in the improvement of academic performance.”
The $60,000 project would include extra changerooms, showers, toilets and a medical room, as well as extra storage space for equipment.
They would be used each school day, as well as after-hours, for training and games.
The changerooms are hoped to be open in time for the footy season starting March/April 2020.
Principal Gregory McMahon said the current changerooms were too small and limited to accommodate female Aussie-Rules sides of up to 25 players.
“They don’t reflect the change in the women’s sport.
“We run a very big sports pathway program, including AFL womens for about 40 players. It’s probably the biggest AFLW girls program in the southern-metro area.
“It’s booming. For our girls, it’s fantastic to be playing a reasonable level of representative footy.”
The school set up its human-movement program and Sports Academy to provide pathways and opportunities for students with sporting-career aspirations.
