IN PICTURES: Inclusivity championed in Pride Round of 2025 Great Southern Football League Women’s competition

Rainbow flags were the order of the day at the Great Southern Football League Women’s Pride Round at Retravision Stadium on Saturday, as crowds celebrated the third year of the special round. Marking the start of the annual Albany Pride celebrations, which officially run from February 20-March 3, the day started with two youth games and an exhibition intraclub match by Claremont Football Club’s women’s team, who later passed on their expertise to the benches of the GSFLW teams. Tables of merchandise for both Claremont and Albany Pride were available, as well as information stalls for attendees to learn about LGBTQIA+ issues, upcoming events and football opportunities. The triple-header GSFLW fixture had the six league teams in action throughout the afternoon, with each team except Railways — who wore Pride jumpers — donning rainbow socks, and goal umpires marking each score with a wave of the Pride flag. Albany Pride festival organiser Millie Reid made short speeches before each game, thanking the players for making the sport an inclusive and vibrant place for members of the LGBTQIA+ community to thrive. After the Mt Barker and Railways game, a panel consisting of Tigers captain Kathryn Slattery, and Claremont players Matilda Husband and Megan Green fielded questions from Albany Pride sports co-ordinator Jasmine Heslop about what they had gained from the sporting community, as well as areas where inclusivity could be improved.