Women in the Upper Great Southern and Wheatbelt are getting the chance to play football weekly, after a collaboration between three sporting groups has led to the introduction of a new competition.

The Upper Great Southern social women’s competition is being held on Thursday nights over seven weeks, after Narrogin Hawks Football Club partnered with Country Football WA and South Fremantle Football Club to bring the idea to life.

The new competition started on March 19 and halfway through, participation numbers continue to grow.

Female players can play in the mixed fourths grade of the Upper Great Southern Football League but there is no senior option for women after juniors in the region.

Narrogin Hawks president Scott Glassby said the town was steadfast on keeping women in the game and part of the club.

Open to women aged 14 and above, about 30 Narrogin players have registered for the weekly Thursday night game and there is a push to send a team to the country championships as well.

Glassby said there was about six girls in the fourths competition last year and the club wanted to keep providing them and other older women an opportunity to stay playing the sport.

“There’s an influx of girls coming through D-grade (fourths) and there’s interest in footy, we don’t want to have to turn them away when they’re too old — that’s been the main driver for this comp,” he said.

Glassby said the club was motivated to grow the women’s league and develop it into a proper competition.

Catering for all abilities, Glassby said the first week the group played touch football because some participants had never played football before, while others were seasoned athletes brushing up on their skills. Each week, more contact and development was introduced.

“We’re running about a six-week season to begin with, it’s all very early days and teething issues so far, but it’s been really good,” Glassby said.

“New girls are always welcome and we encourage you to come down and try something new.”

Player Jade Wyatt said that it was really important to get the girls together and was encouraging to see young girls from around town connect.

“I played footy when I was little, so it’s really good to have everyone here and get a bit of practise in game play and everything,” she said.

“It’s been pretty good, a good turnout each week.”

Fellow player Payton Callope said it was exciting to have an opportunity to play the game and socialise.

“It’s good to get out here and have some practise for country week and it’s just good fun getting around the girls,” she said.

“It’s good that footy can come into the community a bit more.”