The youth girls’ competition had eight teams in its inaugural season, which concluded with finals two weeks ago at Hamilton.

AFL Western District football development manager Alan Thompson said a questionnaire had been sent out to the clubs asking for feedback on the inaugural season as part of a review of the female football league.

A potential expansion with other clubs in the AFL Western District and Wimmera Mallee regions joining is one point on the agenda, as is the potential to introduce open age matches.

“That will be on the discussion table,” Thompson said.

“(Open age football) mightn’t be the same format as we see the youth girls at the moment, but certainly that’ll be on the agenda.

“If there’s a need there and clubs are expressing that at our meeting (in August), then we’ll look at the whens and opportunities for some competitions for our other females who might be interested in playing footy.”

The youth girls’ competition ran in a seven-week format this year, but may be expanded into a longer season next year.

Thompson said if that was the case, it was likely it would start sooner but finish around the same time as the commission was mindful of not clashing with Hampden junior and Warrnambool and District finals.

The female football league received big wraps from the clubs which participated in the inaugural season.

Hamilton Kangaroos coach Brandon Weatherson said female footy was “here to stay” in the town, and had been well embraced by the club and community.

Portland coach Tony Jackson lauded the first season as an “awesome” experience for all involved.

“All the community down in Portland have really got behind the football team and of course the footy club has got right behind it,” he said.

“For everyone down here, it was just promoted and it inspired my girls to play and just keep training.

“A lot of the girls in the team are wanting to still keep training every second week.”