South Warrnambool's senior women's team hit with a rare problem

But that is the case for South Warrnambool's senior female football side, which currently has close to 50 players in its training squad for the inaugural Deakin University Senior Female Football League season.

Roosters coach Brenton O'Rourke said selection was a problem he would have to deal with but the number of players showing up to his training sessions showed the desire the region's women have to play the game.

He encouraged south-west clubs, who are weighing up whether to start their own programs, to come down to training to learn how they can implement a system to help establish a team.

"We are an open invitation team with new players, coaches or teams able to pop up on Monday or Wednesday nights to ask questions, get involved and help progress the women's game in the region," he said.

"Don't be afraid to come and speak to us and work with us because sometimes it's easier to have 40 players than two groups of 20 and that helps the drills work better and creates far more balanced groups.

"If you have 40 the opportunity for moving forward into one big training group, with two possible teams, helps support player growth across the board."

O'Rourke, a former Warrnambool footballer and first-time coach, said his best advice for clubs thinking of mirroring the Roosters' program was to "keep it simple".

"It's about having a go, incorporating lots of fun activities that have core skills in them that aren't just kick-to-kick or structured training drills," he said.

"That will retain players and friends will talk to friends and tell them about how they're having a good time and getting a free fitness session and it grows from there.

"That's the benefit of structuring it that way. We have to try and support all levels the whole time and it makes people feel comfortable and then they're willing to try something new. It's a no-pressure environment built to develop quick skills.

"We have got the numbers because they've felt welcome, stuck with it as they can pick up skills and understand the terminology quickly."

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South Warrnambool's senior female football program began in July last year with 10-15 members from a combination of new faces and players, which had graduated from the club's junior program.

In September the Roosters were eager for a senior competition to be created, which boosted numbers.

A secondary surge came when the four inaugural DUSFFL clubs - South, Hamilton Kangaroos, Horsham and Portland - were announced.

The current number of players training is 47 and with teams allowed to field 21 players - 16 on the field and five on the bench - half of those players will miss playing each week.

But the way O'Rourke is structuring his training will ensure the base of senior female footballers in the region will be game ready for when other clubs decide to join in following seasons.

"We have to keep in mind these players are leading the way for other women and it's about growing a sustainable league into the future," he said.

"With 20 people missing out on a game, at training we are trying to incorporate as many games as possible.

"There has been upwards of 32 at training every week so we play a game of touch footy to implement another quick way for the players to learn the rules, to work out the way to play and where to run.

"It means we are able to teach them the core things in an actual game and everyone gets the opportunity to play footy, which is what they are there for."

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