By KRISTEN ALEBAKIS
GIRLS footy will be front and centre in the Western Region Football League next season and over the next few weeks we will be profiling all the clubs who will be fielding teams in our standalone competition.
Today, we get to learn more about the Wyndhamvale Football Club…
Wyndhamvale has paved the way for girls to play football in the west for more than 10 years.
The club first fielded a Youth Girls team every year since the Western Bulldogs Forever Foundation Cup back in 2005 and in 2017 the Falcons’ girls program looks set to get even bigger.
Administrator Duncan Ettles said as a result of the AFL Women’s competition launch, the club has received several enquiries regarding girls footy.
“The club aims to field a side in Under-12, Under-15 and Under-18 competitions next year, as well as re-establishing a Senior Women’s team to provide a complete female football pathway at the club,” he said.
Wyndhamvale has had great success over the years, with their girls teams winning back-to-back premierships in 2005 and 2006.
“The Youth Girls have made regular finals appearances since 2012 to 2016,” Ettles said.
“The 2015 WRFL-EDFL season saw the girls go through undefeated, only to lose the Grand Final to Melbourne Uni.
“2016 saw a rebuild of the team, as top age players moved on to senior football.
“Despite the rebuild and having no player over the age of 16, the girls still managed to make the finals, which was a great achievement in the Under-18 competition.”
Wyndhamvale has also been able to produce some players that have gone on to play representative football, with one young star selected in last month’s AFL Women’s draft.
“Several girls have played representative football for both Interleague and state over the years,” Ettles said.
“Eight girls from the 2016 side have been selected in the Western Jets 2017 Youth Girls Academy squad.
“Collingwood draftee, Jess Cameron was both a junior premiership player in 2005 and 2006, and senior premiership player in 2014 for the Falcons.”
Ettles said the club had already begun pre-season training with coaches expected to be finalised shortly.
Training is held each Monday at Wyndhamvale Reserve at 5.45pm.
For anyone interested in joining the club please contact Duncan Ettles on 0487 922 741 or email wyndhamvalefc@gmail.com
People can also get up-to-date information about the club by following the Wyndhamvale Falcons Youth Girls Facebook page.
Last Modified on 09/11/2016 13:54