As the Black Diamond AFL women’s competition prepares to enter its third season, Newcastle City player Meaghan MacDonald believes “the secret is out”.
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The 28-year-old has played AFL since it began in Newcastle in 2015 with six teams and this year features in the Black Diamond’s advertising campaign for the women’s competition.
“I found it unlike any other team sport,” MacDonald says in the inspiring promotional video.
She has seen the game grow in popularity and skill, and is keener than ever to take the field this season buoyed by the added interest in the sport she has fallen in love with since the inception of the women’s national league.
“To me it feels like the secret’s out a bit,” MacDonald said. “Since it started I’ve just been obsessed with AFL and loving it.
“It is exciting to play this season now having watched the women’s season, seeing their skills and the intensity of their games.
“And it’s not just exciting as players now; it’s really opened up professionally for sports trainer and coaches and physios and women just feeling like they now won’t be out of place in that realm. That’s what I find exciting.”
Women across the Hunter region are poised to kick off the BDAFL’s third women’s season on Saturday.
It started with six teams in 2015. Last year there was 10 and this year it has expanded to 12 with the addition of a second Newcastle team as well as a side from Muswellbrook.
MacDonald has played since the inaugural season and was part of Newcastle City’s championship-winning team in 2015 then the beaten grand finalists last year.
She readily admits to being “sports obsessed” and came from a soccer background but cannot see herself leaving AFL.
“I always wanted to play AFL and a few years ago I looked into what opportunities there was and there wasn’t anything,” she said.
“The only thing you could do was travel down to Sydney to play. As soon as I heard they were starting a competition in Newcastle I just had to do it, I didn’t even think twice. I haven’t looked back, I love it.”
In the BDAFL women’s competition this year there will be first-timers, experienced players, mother-daughter combinations and a common theme is that they are all hooked on the sport.
“The thing that got me hooked straight away from a game point of view is you get to do everything - kicking, catching, running, and it’s a bit more physical,” MacDonald said.
“It’s kind of got every aspect of sport involved, so straight away I just loved that … and the club was just amazing.
“I’ve been playing team sport my whole life and have never really experienced a club like it. It’s a got a massive community feel, and is very supportive and encouraging for absolutely anyone to get involved.”
The BDAFL women’s competition begins with six games on Saturday.
Three games will be filmed and full replays as well as highlights will be available on the Black Diamond AFL website (websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-916-0-0-0) next week.
BDAFL Women’s Competition – Round 1 (Saturday, April 1)
Wyong Lakes v Gosford, at Don Small Oval, 9.45am;
Nelson Bay v Warners Bay, at Dick Burwell Oval, 10am;
Singleton v Killarney Vale, at Rose Point Park, 10am;
Lake Macquarie v Newcastle City, at Tulkaba Park, 10am;
Cardiff v Newcastle, at Hillsborough Oval, noon;
Maitland v Muswellbrook, at Max McMahon Oval, noon.
