Female Talent Features at Kirby Bentley Carnival

The growth of the Kirby Bentley Cup continues with five teams competing in this year’s event at UWA Sports Ground.

150 players from the Perth metro WAFL Zones took part in the event, with South Fremantle and Swan Districts playing off in the Grand Final.

Joseph Ugle, Aboriginal Program Specialist at the West Australian Football Commission, was impressed by the level of competition.

“The standard of play was relatively high throughout the day.

The best skills of the day came in the Grand Final between South Fremantle and Swans, a match the Bulldogs narrowly won,” he said.

Continuing to support women’s football is a priority for the WAFC.

“It’s critical that we engage with Indigenous footballers to provide players with opportunities to connect and support them through their footy journey,” Ugle said.

The Kirby Bentley Cup is a 12-a-side round robin tournament for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls aged 13-15 years old.

With the growth in female football and the arrival of AFLW, the event provides young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with an opportunity to showcase their skills, be linked to female football clubs and potentially be identified for the state talent pathway.

The event is named in honour of Kirby Bentley, who is regarded as one of the greatest females to have played the game.

The inaugural Kirby Bentley Cup was played in 2014.