A new sponsorship deal is helping sporting women in the west put their best foot forward.
Victoria University has cemented its role as one of the west’s leading supporters of women in sport by locking in as a sponsor of the WRFL’s new female football and netball leagues.
The move comes on top of the continuing sponsorship of the VU Western Spurs, the Western Bulldogs VFLW team, the Western Bulldogs and Western Jets.
WRFL chief executive Matthew Duck said the league was excited to be partnering with Victoria University as it kicked off its inaugural seasons of female football and netball.
“As an organisation renowned for its long-standing support of female sport, VU was an obvious partner for us, and provides a range of exciting opportunities for the entire league on a number of levels,” he said.
Debbie Lee, head of women’s football at the Western Bulldogs, said the support has been vital to the success and survival of the VU Western Spurs.
“The partnership has allowed the Spurs to provide more women and girls with the opportunity to play AFL,” she said.
“It has allowed us to provide more teams, resources and build a safe and inclusive environment for all.”
Victoria University has also been a partner of Netball Victoria and the Melbourne Vixens Super Netball team for a decade.
Victoria University vice chancellor Professor Peter Dawkins said the expanded involvement in female football will provide sponsorship from the grassroots to the elite level, signalling the “dawning of a new bright day” where women’s sport enjoys equal attention in the Australian sporting landscape.
“I am excited to see where this partnership takes us as a community.”
