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 Williamstown Juniors Football Club…
The Williamstown Football Club is one of several clubs in the west who is set to field teams in the WRFL’s inaugural standalone girls’ competition next year.
For many years, girls haven’t been able to enjoy the excitement of playing footy in their own team, however for the Williamstown Juniors, this is all about to change.
“As Williamstown has a strong Lacrosse, Gymnastics, Dance, Netball and Basketball following, it has been difficult to establish female football teams,” club president Michael Furlong said.
“The club is respectful of how difficult it is for other sports clubs and has never wanted to be seen to be pulling girls away from other sports simply to build our numbers, however the introduction of female football by the AFL has now meant that there is a clear pathway for the girls to play.
“The club is incredibly excited about next season, with plans well underway for two female only football teams in 2017.”
At the end of the 2016 season the club was proactive, running a six week Junior Girls Auskick clinic to gauge an interest in the sport from the community.
“Over the course of the six weeks there were about 45 primary school age girls that joined, with a core group of 30 who were there almost every week,” Furlong said.
“We understand the need for the club to work directly with our Auskick centre to encourage more girls in primary school to consider AFL Football as one of their preferred sports.”
Williamstown Juniors will begin pre-season training on Wednesday between 6pm and 7.15pm at Bayside College, with girls aged between 15 and 17 encouraged to attend.
Junior girls will kick-off their pre-season training early next year.
For more information about the Williamstown Juniors Football Club contact -
Playing, Registrations and General Queries: Anthony McDonald, 0402 951 113, admin@williamstownjuniors.com.au
Coaching applications and questions: Marty Bokma, 0432 322 269, footyops@williamstownjuniors.com.au
For all the latest Williamstown Juniors news, you can also visit their Facebook page.
Meanwhile, the club is in the early stages of their Player Development Program.
This year the club has enlisted the help of Dylan Conway from Performance Club in Williamstown to create a footy fitness training program for all Under-15 and Under-17 players.
“At Willy Juniors all of our registered players will be offered a chance for an assessment, then a personalised Footy Fitness Program tailored for the player, and then a chance to do a session directly with Dylan before the player is allowed full access to the gym for December and January as part of their pre-season training,” Furlong said.
The development program is aimed at providing ever player on their playing list with a chance to be in the best physical condition they can be.
The club will be having another session at Performance Club this Sunday.
Last Modified on 29/11/2016 14:14