Women’s Australian Football in Switzerland: A Proud Legacy and a Bold Future
Women’s footy has been a key part of AFL Switzerland since the league’s inception in 2018. In early 2026, Emilia Heufelder and Alina Pirkheim (both from the Bern Bears Australian Football Club) took over as Co-Heads of Women’s Football.
The duo have been instrumental in recruiting players and establishing the new women’s national team — the Swiss Lynx. Since their appointment, participation numbers have grown noticeably across the league.
2026 marks a major milestone: the Swiss Lynx will compete at the 2026 Euro Cup in Newcastle, UK. This will be the first time since 2023 that Switzerland sends both a men’s and a women’s team to the tournament.
In 2025, Molly Coleman — a Winterthur Lions player originally from country Victoria, Australia — was appointed Head of Women’s Football. With extensive playing experience in Australia, Vietnam, and Switzerland, Molly brought deep game knowledge and infectious passion to the role. She took on the challenge of rebuilding the women’s national team (the Swiss Heidis) after logistical challenges prevented participation in the 2024 and 2025 Euro Cups.
Molly’s efforts laid crucial groundwork for the program’s revival. In early 2026, Molly relocated to the USA for work, and we wish her all the best in her next chapter.
One of the pioneering figures in those early years was Ulrike Senti. Originally from Liechtenstein, Ulrike began her AFL journey with the Winterthur Lions in 2019 after discovering the sport while studying in Tasmania. She later played a key role in establishing the Zürich Giants and went on to serve as AFL Switzerland’s second president from 2021 to 2022.
Katherine Dellar, from Western Australia, was the Geneva Jets’ trailblazing women’s player. She co-captained the first Swiss Heidis and was runner-up in the Jets’ 2019 Reserves Best & Fairest.
Svenja Müller-Byrnes, a dual German-Australian national who grew up in Geelong, played women’s footy in New South Wales before becoming the first female player for the Basel Dragons.
Yaël Weissmann, from Switzerland, remains the only original 2019 women’s player still active in the league—now serving full-time as an umpire. In her playing days she played for the Winterthur Lions and still remains a dedicated member of her club today.
It’s important to note: without women players, there would be no AFL league in Switzerland. While there aren’t yet enough players to form a separate women’s league, AFL Switzerland has adapted its rules to ensure inclusivity. As a result, there is no men’s or women’s league—just one unified AFL Switzerland league.
Women players compete under standard AFL rules when playing against other women. When matched against men, modified tackling rules are in place to ensure safety and fairness. Male players may only perform a safe wrap to prevent a woman from kicking, handballing, or bouncing.
If a male player cannot execute this safely, tackling is not permitted. Under no circumstance may a male player tackle a woman to the ground. All clubs educate new players on these rules, and the system has worked seamlessly since the league began.
AFL Switzerland has a proud history of women’s involvement—not just on the field, but across all levels of the league, from playing to volunteering, supporting and the league’s presidency position. Some of the pioneering women who played in the inaugural 2019 season and represented the Swiss Heidis at the 2019 Euro Cup, include Ulrike Senti, Katherine Dellar, Svenja Müller-Byrnes, and Yaël Weissmann.
Have you ever dreamed of representing Switzerland on the national stage? We’re looking for passionate players to wear the red and white jumper at the 2026 Euro Cup in Amsterdam. If you’re interested, reach out to Molly at aflswitzerland@gmail.com for more information.
