Pioneers showing the way

BAILEY Gibbs is the next generation Selina Goodman.

As Far North trio Goodman, Leah Kaslar and Breanna Koenen prepare for the first ever AFLW decider, the next crop of female footballers are being inspired by the 2017 professional pioneers.

The first season of elite female football has been more than a hit, with Cairns set to be represented on the final day between the unbeaten Brisbane Lions and Adelaide.

The inaugural AFLW decider — between the Queenslanders and the Crows — will be played at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast as a curtainraiser to the AFL Round 1 QClash today.

Families and friends of the Far North trio, including Bailey, are on their way down to cheer on the Lions to claim the first AFLW premiership.

Just four years old, Bailey is one the Lions biggest supporters and loves watching her godmother, Goodman.

Jo Butland, a former AllAustralian ruckman, who coached Goodman at North Cairns before she relocated south, said Bailey is clearly the Lions ruckman’s biggest fan.

“Now that Bailey is a bit older and can run around, she just idolises Sel,” Butland said.

“She has all the newspaper articles about Sel, heaps of photos, all laminated on her bedroom cupboard.

“She wears a Brisbane Lions guernsey, she adores Sel and footy in general.

“She is a bit young to play footy properly yet but she always wants to kick the footy in the back yard.” Kaslar played at Centrals Trinity Beach before moving south while Koenen is from Townsville originally but played two seasons at North Cairns.

Kaslar was yesterday named in the 40-woman squad for the AFL Women’s All Australian squad, with the final 22 to be announced at next Tuesday’s AFLW Awards in Melbourne.

The game is growing in the Far North on the back of the first season of professional women’s football.

AFL Cairns will have two grades of junior girls’ football this year instead of just one, with AFLCJ Youth Girls under-17.5 and under-14s scheduled to be held at Cazalys Stadium on Wednesday nights.

AFL Cairns Open Age Women’s football begins in May.

Picture: BRENDAN RADKE CHEER SQUAD: Jo Butland, with four-year-old Bailey Gibbs, will be in Brisbane cheering the Lions in the inaugural AFLW decider.