LAST week’s groundbreaking announcement that the Australian National Women’s football team, the Matildas, are coming to Geelong to bring the code’s first international representative game to Simonds Stadium is likely to set off a massive explosion in interest amongst females wanting to take up the game locally.

The code’s profile will be further boosted this weekend by the regional representative club Galaxy United’s participation in Women’s NPL Victoria Grand Final against state powerhouse club South Melbourne at ABD Stadium in Broadmeadows on Sunday.

The local Geelong Region league season drew to a close with last weekend’s highly successful Grand Finals’ series at Stead Park, but planning is already underway for the 2018 season and the early indications are that the region is set to experience another explosion in registrations next year.

There is speculation that Corio and Geelong Rangers are hoping to launch a Women's senior team in 2018 while after a year’s hiatus, the North Geelong Warriors are also keen on resurrecting its senior Women’s team.

Coupled with the incredible growth and increase in interest at newly promoted Division 1 clubs Bell Park and Golden Plains, who may well be aiming to field second (reserve) teams, it’s possible that there will be an extremely strong northern suburbs representation in Women's Division 2 next year.

On the other side of town, first year club FC Leopold just failed to field a Women’s team in its debut season. That is likely to change next year, while the region’s newest club Armstrong United FC is already attracting interest from locals wanting to be part of a possible Women’s team in its inaugural year in 2018.

With regards to the Junior grades, in 2016 there was only one Junior Girls’ division – the U14 category. Doubling to two divisions this year (U12s and U15s), the number of Junior Girls’ leagues locally is set to swell to three age categories next year (U12s, U14s and U16s).

PHOTO: An action shot from last weekend's Geelong Region Women's Division 1 Grand Final between Deakin Ducks (green tops) and Barwon. The region's top female's league will expand from eight to ten teams next season. (Picture: Tonci Prusac)