American football is gaining popularity in Logan with the recent investment of the hybrid product flag football.
But the Logan City Bears women’s gridiron side has been a staple of the region since 2012 when they were called the Logan City Jets under the Female Gridiron League of Queensland.
With the current season in full swing, the women’s Bears are making an impact, building on their strong squad and aiming for a spot in the Sun Bowl, the championship game of the Women’s Gridiron League of Queensland.
After a disrupted season with forfeited games and rainouts, the team has only played one game but has secured their place in the finals.
Logan City Bears President Chris Bradshaw believes they are one of the top teams this year.
“They’re probably the best, if not the second-best team on paper this season,” he said.
“It’s hard to really judge based on the one game played but we’ve got 15 players on the books, with a mix of really strong players.”
One standout recruit is Delnita Angiatasi, whose rugby union background has made her a powerhouse on the field.
“Delnita is an absolute weapon,” he said.
“It was awesome to watch her first game where she was just running over people.”
The team’s camaraderie is also a driving force, with many players bringing along friends, family, and colleagues to join the squad.
“It’s been great to see some of the girls being down their sisters or sister in laws to give it a go,” Mr Bradshaw said.
The Bears have their sights set on going one step further than last year when they reached the Sun Bowl but fell short against the Ravens.
“We played a really good Sun Bowl last year but one of our girls, Kellie Hopkins, tore an ACL in the middle of the game,” Mr Bradshaw said.
“We lost our way without her there and eventually ended up losing.”
Women’s gridiron in Australia continues to face challenges, such as limited professional pathways.
However, the growing popularity of flag football, particularly with its inclusion in the Olympics and the recent partnership between NFL and Logan City Council to expand the game and grow NFL Flag programs into high schools in Logan, offers hope for the future of the sport.
“The NFL’s investment in flag football is definitely creating opportunities for women to give it a go,” he said.
“Flag football allows players to understand the foundations of gridiron without worrying about getting hit, so it’s a step in the right direction for the sport.”
Preseason begins for the 25/26 season in late May.
