It brings the Cats in line with a model their president, ex-AFL commissioner Colin Carter advocated five years ago when he said there should be a minimum of two women serving simultaneously on every AFL club board.

Geelong's is now a nine-member group with Spargo joining Diana Taylor, who joined in 2010 and also has a legal background, as the second female representative in the hierarchy.

Housewife Jill Pettifer was the first woman elected to the Geelong board when she ousted club legend Bill Goggin in 1986, while Helene Bender won a seat in 1998 when Frank Costa came to power. Bender's nine-year tenure did not cross over with Taylor's.

"For many years I have been interested in the approaches that sporting teams have in applying business principles and practices to the administration of elite clubs," Spargo said.

"The clubs, such as Geelong, that have done this well are now looked at by other business for insight into how to run a successful operation.

"I have long loved football, and after spending time in Geelong in 1971 it was quickly evident that the Cats were the club for me."

One of eight Victorian clubs vying for a women's team licence from season one, Spargo's appointment was announced the day after bids were due at Carter's president function before Geelong hosted the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday night. The appointment was formalised at Geelong's board meeting last week and she will take up the role immediately.

The Cats' pitch for a women's team in the inaugural season emphasised a whole-of-club desire to embrace the major undertaking.

Geelong employed the Boston Consulting Group to help steer its pitch and submitted a video presentation featuring the key pillars of its football hierarchy: senior coach Chris Scott, CEO Brian Cook and Carter, star players Jimmy Bartel and Patrick Dangerfield and pioneering sports broadcaster Kelli Underwood.

Geelong describes itself in its written pitch as "a safe, logical and strategic choice for the AFL in granting its licences". Excerpts of the submission seen by Fairfax Media say:

• "The AFL can rest assured that a NWL (National Women's League) licence in Geelong will be nurtured, developed and established to succeed.
• "Our financial strength and potential, that we continue to invest in, should provide comfort to the AFL that a licence with Geelong is in safe hands.
• "Our women's team won't be viewed as an after-thought or a distraction."

The club cites established support "from all levels of politics" and commercial partners Cotton On, the Geelong Advertiser, K-Rock, Deakin University, AFL Barwon, and Regional Development Victoria in the pitch. It is also understood to be the only Victorian club offering an AFL match venue, Simonds Stadium, for the staging of women's AFL league games.

Geelong intends to align its Next Generation Academy, overseen by academy pathways manager Simone Bellears, with a women's team.

The written submission to the league quotes projections from AFL Barwon that participation will boom if the Cats receive a women's team licence. The club has valuable reach through Greater Geelong, the Surf Coast, and western Victoria and the pitch document projects:

• a 1233 per cent increase in (female) senior players, 
• a 373 per cent increase in local  (female) junior/youth teams, 
• a 450 per cent increase in junior/youth (females) players, and
• a 348 per cent increase in female Auskick participation.

Hawthorn and Essendon are the only Victorian clubs not applying to establish women's teams from the inaugural season of the competition next year. Port Adelaide, Sydney and the Gold Coast Suns are not applying.