With a commitment to supporting pathways for elite female talent, Richmond is pleased to announce it has been granted a VFLW licence for the 2018 season.

The VFLW licence is a key component of Richmond’s preparation for entering the AFLW competition in 2020.

Richmond will focus heavily on engaging and developing talent within its Next Generation Academy zone, in particular Bendigo, where the Tigers have a partnership with Bendigo Thunder.

“This is a great opportunity for our football club and exciting news for our 75,000 members,” Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said.

“The Club will work closely with Bendigo Thunder, Bendigo Pioneers, Murray Bushrangers, AFL Victoria and its regional administration centres to continue to support pathways for elite female talent, particularly in our Next Generation Academy zone.

“It will also complement Richmond’s Boorimul program, which supports and nurtures young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent.”

The VFLW program will be overseen by Richmond’s women’s football operations manager Kate Sheahan and will be based at the Swinburne Centre.

“We are incredibly lucky to have Kate Sheahan overseeing the program,” Gale said.

“Kate has done a brilliant job managing a highly-successful VFL program this year and has already begun planning our VFLW and AFLW programs.”

Sheahan joined Richmond in May, after she was drafted to Collingwood for the inaugural AFLW season.

“This is an important step before Richmond enters the AFLW competition in 2020,” Sheahan said.

“We want to establish a highly competitive program where players and coaches want to be involved with the VFLW Tigers.”