The depth and quality of the Central Victoria Football League Women's competition will be strengthened with the addition of a seventh team in the 2020 season.
Kerang Women's Football Club is the latest squad to join the league.
"This is a great step in the right direction as it gives us a chance to strengthen as a team and give our players the opportunity to grow," Kerang Women's Football Club president Rachael Booth said.
"It also opens up the door for under-18 Woorinen girls to play alongside us in the future, which provides further opportunities for women from our area to play football."
Kerang will commence pre-season training in the coming weeks, under the guidance of third-year coach Ash Wise.
The team's goal is to be as competitive as possible when they take to the field for the start of the 2020 season.
CVFLW board chair Norm Sheahan said the addition of Kerang improved the league.
"We had been talking to Kerang on and off for a while and we let them know the door was always open to join our league," Sheahan said.
"The great thing about the addition of Kerang to the league is that it won't impact the current number of players in Bendigo.
"A lot of the teams in the league are still quite new and as Kerang comes from a slightly different region than Bendigo, it won't impact the local player pool."
Sheahan said the league was growing "organically" with the introduction of another team.
"We now have seven teams in the league and our goal for the future was to see the CVFLW to continue growing," he said.
"We also have plenty of interest from other teams to join the league in the future...we want to grow and make it a sustainable competition for the long term."
Kerang is coming across from the Northern Country Womens League, a competition of which several current CVFLW teams once were a part.
In addition to the new squad, the CVFLW is also introducing a points program for the league in 2020 with the ultimate aim to create a level playing field among the teams.
"We're also implementing a points sustainability program to create equal opportunities within the league," Sheahan said.
The league is also pleased to have major naming rights sponsor Champions IGA continue with its support for the CVFLW.
The league was formed in 2018 as a way to provide a platform for women over the age of 18 to play football in central Victoria.
The teams entered for the 2020 season are Kangaroo Flat, Kerang, North Bendigo, Strathfieldsaye, Kyneton, Eaglehawk and reigning premiers Golden Square.
The Bulldogs capped off a stellar year in their inaugural CVFLW season with a 25-point premiership victory over the Roos.
The 2020 Central Victoria Football League Women's fixture is due to be released in the coming weeks.
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