That is the belief of Black Diamond AFL football operations manager Garry Burkinshaw.

The BDAFL women’s competition enters its third season this Satruday and the competition has expanded to 12 teams for 2017.

There were six teams in 2015, 10 last year and this year Muswellbrook and a second Newcastle team will join the league.

Burkinshaw does not expect the extra teams to dilute the quality of matches.

“Our competition is only in its third year and it continues to grow and the talent we’ve been able to attract to the game is outstanding,” Burkinshaw said.

“It’s more than filling a void,” he said. “It’s actually standing on its own.”

Burkinshaw said the women’s game was enjoyable.

“The first year people were watching because of the novelty value, now people are watching because it’s watchable,” he said.

“[With AFLW], you sit and watch and you’re glued to it.”

Craig Golledge, the AFL NSW/ACT development manager for the Hunter and Central Coast, echoed Burkinshaw’s sentiments.

“[Nelson Bay player] Lisa Steane is on the [GWS] train-on list, so she goes down on a weekly basis to train with the squad and she was named as an emergency for one of the matches as well.” 

Lake Macquarie hosts Newcastle City at Tulkaba Park, Teralba, at 10am this Saturday.