How good is it that we're regularly reading articles about Chloe Molloy & Izzy Huntington!
2 years ago I knew very little about
women's footy, I couldn't even tell you one single player! As a Western
Bulldogs supporter I am fortunate that my club & Melbourne FC were
proactive in getting behind the push to promote women's footy, also
think Susan Alberti might have been a tad influential. Consequently I
started to watch these exhibition games & found I thoroughly enjoyed
watching these women. Sure, they didn't kick as far as the men, but
they displayed the skills & courage that make our game great.
Roll onto the draft in 2016 & I
listened to every name called out, gutted when my favourite player
became a Magpie. Not only did she go to Collingwood, she captained them;
congratulations on that Steph!
As well as having heroes like the Bont,
Dale Morris & Jake Stringer, I now had other heroes to watch, Katie
Brennan, Ellie Blackburn, who takes no prisoners & Emma Kearney, but
as the season started & I went to all the games I could played by
the Daughters of the West, there were now other heroes, I found another
fav in Hannah Scott, I just loved the way she went about it! Little
speedy Kirsten McLeod, our first ever goal kicker from memory, Kirsty
Lamb, Brooke Lochland with her unusual kicking style & Nicky
Callinan.
But it wasn't only the Bulldogs players, I
watched every game & marvelled at the skills of Erin Phillips, how
could you not? Speaking of the Crows, what about Sarah Perkins! The
success story of the AFLW in my opinion. Chelsea Randall seemed to mop
up everywhere & what about Noffy, deserved winner of the Rising
Star.
I felt for Brisbane, the Grand Final
should have been the season's showcase at the Gabba, not on the Gold
Coast, hopefully that won't ever happen again, but how good were the
Lions! Highly unfancied, but well led by Emma Zielke, Emily Bates, two
outright speedsters in Kate McCarthy & Kashy & I soon found
other favourites in Sam Virgo & Sabrina!
It was an unbelievable start to AFLW with
a lockout at Ikon Park & the Blue Baggers trouncing the Magpies.
Again, names I'd never heard of were those I looked forward to watching
each week, Bri Davey, an absolute ball magnet, Darcy Vescio who looks so
laconic, but pounces with the speed of a striking cobra, Lauren Arnell,
a coach in waiting if ever there was one! Tilly Lucas-Rodd & Shae
Audley were other I enjoyed watching.
If you don't barrack for Collingwood
you're supposed to hate them, but how could you hate a team with Choc at
the helm? Anyone who watched the Collingwood doco wouldn't have been
touched by some of the stories, none more heartbreaking than Kate
Sheahan doing her knee. I was at that game & all the crowd went
silent, something I wont forget. I love the way Emma Grant goes about
it, never a hair out of place either! I'm sure Mo Hope was injured for
much of the season, hopefully bigger things to come. Millie Barden is as
tough as nails. Living in Werribee I always wish Jess Cameron well.
Going to be tough to replace two guns in Alicia Eva & Nic Stevens!
Melbourne were the team that got better
the longer the season went & don't they have some outright starts in
Daisy Pearce, Mel Hickey, Elise O'Dea & Karen Paxman, throw in
Alyssa Mifsud, Cat Phillips & the little terrior Lily Mithen. Bianca
Jakobsson with those dukes will be a handy acquisition. Who could ever
forget that win against Carlton when Rocky Cranston appeared from
nowhere to kick the winning goal?
GWS were hard hit by injuries & that
told on their season. Jess Dal Pos, Amanda Farrugia 'the fridge' &
Mai Nguyen stood out for me.
The Dockers, now, if they could only have
picked up some home grown talent who were marqueed by other clubs;
Chelsea Randall & Kellie Gibson at Adelaide, Sabrina Fredrick-Traub
at Brisbane, Emma King at Collingwood & Renee Forth & Emma
Swanson at GWS, how handy would they have been? Lara Filocamo was super
impressive, along with Ebony Antonio, Dana Hooker & Kirby Bentley
(how good is her sidestep?). At least Kellie Gibson is returning to WA
& will be a handy pick up.
So, what happened after AFLW finished? In
my case I decided I would like watching VFLW where I could. The Western
Bulldogs games take preference, so I'd try to go to as many VFLW games
as possible. I was a tad fortunate that this season my 19 year old son
Ryan made it onto the VFL list as an umpire. He's done TAC Cup games
& also VFLW, so I get to combine my love as a proud parent by
watching my son umpire & many of my new heroes at their local clubs.
The beauty too is I get to see many young players aspiring to reach the
next level & as I said earlier, it really is pleasing to see
articles written about potential number one picks, Chloe Molloy &
Izzy Huntington (I'd love them both wearing the red, white & blue).
I have no idea why but I've really
enjoyed watching Diamond Creek. When you're at their home ground it
really has a country feel about it. One of the more enjoyable games I've
seen is when the Creekers defeated the Muggars (I'm not too sure where
that comes from but I'm sure someone will tell me). Ash Riddell really
shone that day & she's another I'm looking to see hopefully drafted.
Another player who's also caught my eye for the Creekers is co captain
Tanya Hetherington, sadly she missed last season after doing her knee,
but down back she's led the Creekers defence well, even sneaking forward
to kick a goal. She's someone I think will fill a huge hole down back
for the Western Bulldogs. Prior to a game I heard Brittany Grech tell her
friends that she was starting on the ground & she was excited. She
then went & kicked the first goal of the day! Keep playing with that
smile on your face Grech!
I do also have a soft spot for the Spurs
as they're closely aligned with the Western Bulldogs & have Naomi
Ferres playing for them. I've known Naomi since she & my son began
playing footy & cricket together at Werribee Centrals when they were
kids. I'm hoping Naomi gets drafted also.
Geelong are another team I've enjoyed
watching, they're well lead by their AFLW players in Lily Mithen, Rocky
Cranston & Maddie Boyd. I can envisage the Cats being successful in
gaining admission to the AFLW for season 2019.
Exciting times ahead for women's footy.
For those responsible for where women's footy is & is heading, it's
important to thank them all for their dedication & unwavering
support. I truly appreciate what you've done & thoroughly enjoy
women's football. At 52, I know I'm not the target demographic, but who
says you can't love women's footy at 52?
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