The AFL will celebrate and recognise the important role women play in the game this weekend, Women’s Round.

Women have made and continue to make a significant contribution to Australian Football, from grassroots level to the AFL executive. Of all (AFL) club members, 35 per cent are female. The Adelaide Football Club has a higher percentage of female members, approximately 40 per cent.

Another 35 per cent of Australian Football volunteers are women. There are more than 136,000 female participants, including NAB AFL Auskick, club and AFL 9s. Approximately, 5,500 women are coaches and another 2,000 are involved in umpiring.

The Adelaide Football Club appreciates the enormous contribution of its female staff, members and supporters. The Club has two female board members, Deb Miller and Kate Gould, and The Hon. Kate Ellis MP is the Crows’ No.1 Female Ticket Holder.

The theme for Women’s Round 2013 is ‘talent’.

Chairman Rob Chapman said it was an important round on the AFL calendar.

“I’m really proud of the way the AFL drives social issues, including diversity,” Chapman said

“The Adelaide Football Club shares this responsibility and endeavours to act accordingly and encourages the development of talent amongst our own staff.

“We appreciate and recognise the contribution of our female staff, members, supporters and sponsors – past and present – not only in this round, but every day.”

The highlight of the round will be the inaugural AFL Women’s Exhibition game that will be played as a curtain-raiser on the MCG at 5.10pm, Saturday June 29. It will be the first time AFL clubs have competed in an AFL sanctioned women’s match. The teams were selected at the first Women’s Draft conducted on May 15.