Since the inception of Australian Rules football in the 1850s, women have been eager to be involved.

More than 100 years ago, they began taking to the field. However, their stories have largely been invisible idelined, ignored or forgotten.

Play On! is the first comprehensive history of women’s Australian Rules football and showcases the athleticism, hard work and resilience that has kept the women’s game alive.

Discover how competitive women’s football began with shop assistants at Perth department stores, how female footballers supported soldiers in both world wars, and how a few passionate women created state and territory leagues across Australia.

With schoolgirls’ competitions flourishing, state leagues growing, and a national league imminent, the women’s game has never been stronger. Talented, dedicated and proud women over the past century have made Australian Rules football a truly national game.