The 2017 Swisse Wellness VFL Women's season is now only four days away.
Callum O'Connor continues his season preview series with a look at Seaford and Diamond Creek before the teams meet in Round 1.
Seaford
Coach: Brett Alexander (2nd year)
2016 finish: 7th, 6-12
2016 Leading goalkicker: Emma Hall – 22 goals
2016 Best & Fairest: Sarah Hosking
AFL W players on list: 6
The Seaford Tigerettes finished seventh in 2016, the highest of the four sides elevated to the inaugural Swisse Wellness VFL Women’s competition from Division One in the VWFL. Their attack on the contest and structured, disciplined play gave them something to hang their hats on come the end of the season. Not only was there a plan in place but every indication was being shown that the Tigerettes were implementing it.
However, that’s by-the-by now. Seaford will not enter the 2017 season as underdogs with softened expectations. Coach Brett Alexander knows his side’s potential but also knows that any team looking to establish long-term success must move beyond the security of its limitations.
“I thought we adapted well to the pressure required as the season went on,” reflects Alexander ahead of his sophomore season at the helm. “We learnt to trust each other which is really important and we found a way to one, be competitive and two, get the scoreboard reward.
“I’d like to think there’s enough to build on already. We’ve lost a couple of experienced players and a couple of our AFL girls have got injured but there’s a few new girls from the Academy who’ll play,” says Alexander, pointing to Academy recruits Courtney Munn and Tilly Arthur, both of whom played in the All-Stars’ match for St Kilda against the ADF at Etihad Stadium on April 23.
Seaford claimed six wins in 2016 with their stunning win over Diamond Creek their zenith. Six Tigerettes were drafted to AFLW clubs with Sarah Hosking in particular starring at Carlton. Alexander himself was the Blues’ Development Coach, an experience which he says showed the benefits of consistent communication and building a rapport between coach and players.
However, Alexander concedes that 2017 may well be “back to square one” for his side: that history making AFLW season has hit Seaford hard with nuggetty midfielders Jess Hosking and Natalie Plane and key defender Kim Ebb expected to start Round 1 on the wrong side of the fence. Far from having a team building on a season of VFL Women’s, Alexander says the Tigerettes may be “even younger” this season.
Seaford were one of the youngest VFL Women’s sides in 2016, with a small group of experienced players bookended by promising TAC Cup Girls recruits. Whilst the absence of their AFLW players only lengthens the odds this season, Alexander says it’s up to his side to define themselves by how they face those challenges.
“The challenge is to be challenged and accept that challenge. When we’re against good sides, we’re going to be challenged on a one-on-one basis every single second of the game.”
Seaford will play Diamond Creek at RF Miles Reserve in Round 1.
CLICK HERE for the 2017 team lists
CLICK HERE for the updated 2017 fixture
Diamond Creek
Coach: Scott Gowans (1st year)
2016 finish: 5th, 9-9
2016 Leading goalkicker: Jess Cameron – 40 goals
2016 Best & Fairest: Steph Chiocci
AFL W players on list: 16
Diamond Creek went through a lot in 2016. After playing off in four straight Grand Finals, an injury plague of biblical proportions swept through the club. For the first time since the formation of Premier Division in 2008, the Creekers missed out on finals.
It was a testing season but Diamond Creek have now come out on the other side and are preparing to mount another siege on the top four.
Scott Gowans was appointed Diamond Creek’s 2017 senior coach before the 2016 season had even drawn to a close. Gowans, who coached the Dandenong Stingrays’ Youth Girls side to their 2016 flag and was backline coach for Carlton in the 2017 AFLW season, says taking charge of a club with a long-established culture and playing group offers both its opportunities and challenges.
“It’s about respecting that culture and throwing in my philosophy and coming up with something that looks like a well-made cake,” says Gowans. “The main thing is to have that communication. By doing that you’re opening the door that a player will be comfortable enough to give you a call.”
Gowans is taking the place of Creeker stalwart Tanya Hetherington. Hetherington coached in 2016 during her ACL recovery and will assume the position of co-captain and playing assistant coach upon her return to the field.
“We have a flat coaching structure where everyone’s got equal importance,” says Gowans of his crew, which includes Alex Veitch and Carlton assistant coach Jackson Kornberg.
After coaching seven Creekers at Carlton during the AFLW season, Gowans has hinted that his diplomatic approach to communication and hierarchy could see several members of his side play in new positions.
“People will tell you about a type of player who plays a shutdown role or out of the goal square but until you meet them and watch them play for yourself you need to get a feel for them and put them against players in certain positions.”
With women’s football numbers booming across Australia, Diamond Creek’s senior numbers have almost doubled in the pre-season. With Bendigo stars Emma Grant, Jess Kennedy and Bella Ayre among many potential VFLW debutants recruited to Diamond Creek, along with TAC Cup Girls joint best and fairest Chloe Molloy, Gowans has good reason to aim high in 2017.
“The pros are that you get a surprise in a match scenario drill and you get a look at a kid who can pick up cleanly, give the handball on the up, get it back and hit a target from thirty,” says Gowans.
“Part of my role is not just to win a premiership but to showcase talent. We want to be known as a relentless, really hard at it side around the contests, that plays quick exciting footy.
“The Diamond Creek reputation drew a certain level of player. At this level, you get some good footballers and it was a matter of fitting them in. We believe we are good, but we want to become great and then we want to become unstoppable.”
Diamond Creek face Seaford at RF Miles Reserve in Round 1.
CLICK HERE for the 2017 team lists
CLICK HERE for the updated 2017 fixture
RELATED ARTICLES:
PREVIEW: Eastern Devils v St Kilda Sharks
AFL W players in VFL Women's
Last Modified on 02/05/2017 17:40