A sport dominated by men transcended the gender boundary today as AFL Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick unveiled the clubs to compete in the inaugural AFL women's league.
Teams to make the cut included the Brisbane Lions, Adelaide Crows, Greater Western Sydney Giants, Carlton, Collingwood, Melbourne Demons, Western Bulldogs and Fremantle.
"Our game is on the cusp of changing forever and for better, today we name the teams who will be part of the inaugural season of the AFL Women's competition," Fitzpatrick said.
Western Bulldogs Vice-President Susan Alberti said it was a long time coming.
"I've waited nearly 55 years for this to happen, when I was 15 I had to hang up my boots and I've just lived, hoped and prayed that this day would come," she said.
"It's come and I can't take the smile off my face."
The number of female Australian Rules players has doubled over the past five years.
Western Bulldogs player Darcy Vescio said: "It's just unreal. Now we can talk in reality, not just hypotheticals and I'm just so thrilled for all the women and girls playing footy."
The move gives former professional male players a chance to pass on their legacy to their daughters.
Former Carlton player Andrew McKay said he's looking forward to his daughter Abbie following in his footsteps.
"There's a father-daughter rule coming in so obviously Abs is our oldest, so it's fantastic the girls have an opportunity to play AFL footy on the big stage, in club jumpers, it's ground breaking," he said.
Comments from detractors have been forgotten in the fanfare.
South Australian football legend Graham Cornes said women's Aussie Rules just didn't look right.
But, Adelaide Crows CEO Andrew Fagan said comments like Cornes' have long been drowned out.
"Whenever there's some change, I think it draws opinions from people, and the industry we're in, there's lots of people paid to have opinions," he said.
"But I think we've seen an overwhelming positive response."
The league will kick-off in February.
As a total of 13 clubs made submissions to establish a women's team, the AFL said it would work with those who missed out, with the view of expanding the league in years to come.
Marquee Melbourne Demons player Daisy Pearce said this indicated a new era for women, not just in football, but in society.
"To see women out there playing a really physical sport at our most powerful, it will be pretty changing across all of society not just in the industry of AFL footy," she said.
Clubs will get two marquee players before a draft is held in October.
AFL Game Development Manager Simon Lethlean said the league's success would be judged on it's ability to inspire more girls to take up the sport, not how much money it brings in.
The eight-week season will culminate with a grand-final in late March.
