The Victorian Government is delivering for female footballers by supporting top-quality facilities from grassroots to the elite level, so more women and girls have the opportunity to get involved.

The Victorian Government is kicking in $5 million to make the Casey Fields project happen, providing cutting-edge facilities for Melbourne Football Club’s AFLW team and grassroots pathway programs.

The project will also incorporate a new canteen for supporters at the Cranbourne East ground, which has been Melbourne FC’s women’s base since the inception of the AFLW in 2017.

The Government’s $5 million commitment is part of a $45 million investment in women’s football, to support the current crop of AFLW stars and the generations that will follow in their footsteps.Grassroots clubs in the south-east of Melbourne and beyond will benefit through development programs run at Casey Fields by Melbourne FC.

Women’s football is booming in Victoria with the state recording a landmark 1,000 female teams in 2019, up from just 58 female teams in 2010.

The AFLW started with eight teams in 2017 but will become a 14-team competition in early 2020 when St Kilda, Richmond, West Coast and Gold Coast join the league.

The $45 million Victorian Government investment in female football has also included $20 million for works at Ikon Park, a $13 million development at Moorabbin Oval, $5 million for Whitten Oval and $2 million for Victoria Park.

The City of Casey and AFL are also contributing to the Casey Fields works, which will begin shortly and are due for completion by mid-2020.