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Moonee Valley City Council has welcomed the announcement of Essendon Football Club’s AFLW licence, with the news seen as offering a number of opportunities to revitalise the Windy Hill precinct.

The AFL has announced that it will field an 18-team NAB AFLW competition from the 2022-2023 season onwards, with four clubs - Essendon, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Sydney - all granted AFLW licenses to enter in what will be the seventh season of the competition.

Port Adelaide and Sydney had not previously applied for a licence, while Essendon and Hawthorn first submitted applications ahead of the 2019 intake.

Currently, Hawthorn and Essendon field sides in the VFLW competition (coached by Bec Goddard and Brendan Major respectively), while Port Adelaide and Sydney run junior academy programs (led by Naomi Maidment and Jared Crouch).

Moonee Valley City Council is looking forward to discussing opportunities for elite female football at Windy Hill with the football club, particularly given that Council is committed to delivering a community hub in Essendon, as part of their long-term MV2040 strategy.

Moonee Valley Mayor, Cam Nation, said the announcement was exciting news and would present a number of opportunities to return the Bombers back to their ‘spiritual home’.

Mayor Nation noted “the announcement of Essendon Football Club being granted an AFLW licence is a massive win for female football in Moonee Valley.

“It also presents a once in a generation opportunity to revitalise the club’s spiritual home at Windy Hill, and to ensure the Bombers have a permanent on-site presence at Windy Hill for decades to come.”

Mayor Nation also noted that the site is currently home to a number of tenants, and that any redevelopment would need to factor in their needs.

“Windy Hill is home to a range of other sporting clubs and a potential redevelopment may also enable these clubs to work with Council or other levels of Government to look for future opportunities either onsite or at alternate sport-specific locations.

“There is such a strong sporting culture here in Moonee Valley, and this news presents another opportunity to bring elite female sport to the heart of our city.”

Moonee Valley City Council also expressed an interest in partnering with the Essendon Football Club, AFL, State Government and Federal Government, to deliver the best possible outcome for female sport in the area.

“This announcement presents such an exciting opportunity for all levels of government to work in partnership with the Essendon Football Club and the AFL, to secure a future for the Windy Hill precinct and to allow the Essendon Bombers AFLW side to play right here in Essendon where they belong.”

Image courtesy Essendon Football Club. Credit: AFL photos

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