The opening round fixture between the two teams was marred by player shortages with Stawell only having 10 troops available.

Old Collegians lent its counterparts players so the teams could take to the field for six 10-minute quarters on Sunday.

Couch said player shortages was an issue with all clubs in the region.

Timboon Demons, North Warrnambool Eagles and Ararat pulled out of junior competition on the eve of the season, forcing the league into a last-minute fixture shift.

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Bibby said it had been a tough task getting a side up for the season but is hopeful it can turn a corner in coming weeks.

"It has been a struggle to even get a team up after COVID. It's been difficult in a lot of leagues and a lot of levels," she said.

"We have next week off now and there was a couple who couldn't come this week and then we have a home game.

"We are going to get the players up but it is a struggle, which is disappointing because the girls did really well."

Couch says more is needed to be done to promote the women's game at grassroots level with clubs across the region struggling.

"COVID didn't help but maybe the promotion of the game isn't really big. There needs to be a little more promotion form AFL level," he said.

"It is good at AFLW level and it floats down but it doesn't seem to get as much attention at grassroots level so promotion would be a big thing."

"I'm not sure if it (shortages) is a time issue or is it a problem that people don't want to give up Sundays to play footy. Girls are studying or working and don't want to give up that so not sure how we get around that."

Bibby said she wasn't sure football was the first choice sport in the country yet for females.

"Girls think they need to keep another sport and football is another choice if they can fit it in. Often they can't and until it becomes a first choice sport it will always be a little bit like this. It will change with AFLW happening," she said.

"I was in melbourne for a few years and our competition in youth girls went from 10 teams to next year having 36 teams so in melbourne it is boom town. We had girls coming through who hadn't played another sport and there is a pathway here and it's starting and it's a little trail at the moment but I can see a pathway and that's what you have got to have so girls can play from day dot."

In the WVFFL's other junior games reigning premiers South Warrnambool kicked off its premiership defence with a strong win over Terang Mortlake at D.C Farren Oval.

The Roosters defeated the Bloods 8.3 (51) to 2.7 (19).

Horsham Demons handed Warrnambool a first-round defeat in both seniors and juniors. The Demons won 13.9 (87) to 2.0 (12) in juniors and 6.15 (51) to 3.4 (22) in seniors.

Hamilton Kangaroos started its 2021 season with a thumping victory over Portland. The Kangaroos saluted 14.18 (102) to 0.1 (1).

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