An Essendon AFLW team would cater for the burgeoning demand for a pathway for female footballers in Melbourne’s north-west and the Top End, according to those already running programs in those areas.

Women’s junior football is experiencing rapid growth on the Bombers doorstep in the north-west corridor of Melbourne.

Participation numbers in the Essendon District Football League (EDFL) have more than doubled in the last 12 months at under 15 level and quadrupled at under 12 level.

The Riddell District Football League (RDFL) has also experienced significant growth since 2016.

“Over the last couple of years the depth of talent in the North West region has grown,” Sal Rees, Director of Female Football at Pascoe Vale said.

“All the clubs in the area have experienced the same interest in football.

“One of the great things that the AFL women’s competition brought to communities was that community spirt.

“Everyone got involved – the excitement around the games was fantastic.

“I think for Essendon to have a team in the AFLW would be so good for the growth of the area.”

Darren Flanigan played 130 AFL/VFL games for Geelong and St Kilda, but has spent much of the last two decades working in junior pathway programs.

He is now the Female Talent Manager in Victoria and said the timing is perfect for the expansion of the AFLW competition.

“The girls that are coming through the talent program now have a continuous playing history,” he said.

“The ones that are 23 or 24 years old have stopped playing footy at some stage because there was no opportunity for them to play.

“There are already some great programs set up - Calder Cannons, they are doing a wonderful job at that.

“The number of high end talent coming through those programs is huge.

“Their skills are outstanding, their fitness, speed and their understanding of the game is all super.

“These girls are going to be replacing the AFLW girls really quickly.”

If granted a license in the AFLW competition, Essendon would have a strong recruiting focus in its Next Generation Academy zones – including Tiwi Islands and West Arnhem.

Michaela Long, the daughter of Essendon champion Michael Long, has already spurned offers from other AFLW clubs in the hope of one day playing for the Bombers.

She said increased representation of female footballers from the North Territory would provide a different element to the competition.

“They are natural footballers,” Long said.

“A lot of the girls that you see come into the league now are athletes but these are just such talented footballers and they could be made into something so special.

“I can’t wait to watch my nieces play for the footy club that I love or wherever they chose to go – I can’t wait for them to play AFL.”

Those on the ground in the NT say a clear pathway from the Top End to Tullamarine will only grow an already large talent pool.

“It has that drive behind it and people in the community feel like they are really supported, so they can actually challenge themselves to get to that next level and there’s a pathway,” Aaron Dunster, the Regional Development Manager for   AFLNT said.

“I think that is the key to remote communities.”

There is also the opportunity to lure athletes from other sports and Essendon’s elite training facilities will only make that transition smoother.

“The thing we aren’t really sure of, if there are a number of AFL licences granted, how many other athletes from sports can we attract across – not just community level athletes but high-end athletes, as well as develop the talent from underneath,” Flanigan said.

“The AFLW is really well placed in the future.”