On Saturday, Kiama Power kick-started the season with a 103-point win at Bonaira Oval, sending a strong message to six rival clubs in the AFL South Coast competition.
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Opposition Wollongong Saints didn't have a look-in, scoreless at the final buzzer.
"We wanted to test ourselves, play the best we could," Power's women's coach Glenn Haworth said.
"We had a good crowd supporting us, the men's team came down, and the girls were really fired up. They wanted to start the season strong. I'm proud of squad and the effort they put in."
The club retained most of its players from its debut year and recruited well in the off-season, registering 37 women's players, including under 17s, for 2019.
Haworth said the squad's depth was a result of club culture.
The women's squad trains with the men and are treated as equals.
"In their first year, it was good to see support coming from the boys to bring them into the club," he said.
"It's helped the guys to lift their standard of respect for the umpire and each other, it brings a new level of pride to our club. We want to be about hard, fast footy, respect for each other and for other clubs."
The nature of the sport has attracted women from other codes - soccer, hockey and netball - to the club.
"There's not much difference between women's and men's AFL, there's nothing softer about it, it's just as hard, just as much tackling, the same rules," Haworth said.
"They don't want special treatment."
Haworth is forecasting a rewarding season ahead.
"I have full confidence we'll have a good crack at it [the premiership," he said.
"They're a positive group of girls. The girls from last year really want to build on it.
"We have some standout players, and we saw today, a lot of those standouts [on ground] were new players."