Gisborne will join the growing number of football clubs fielding women’s football sides next season.
Having fielded a youth girls-side under the banner of Gisborne Rookies the past four seasons, the two Gisborne clubs, senior and junior, plan to have women’s, youth-girls and under-12 or 13 sides between them, all to play in the AFL Goldfields competition.
Bulldogs’ Darren Mitchell said the timing was right to expand.
“It’s about girls and women wanting to get involved in a team environment,” he said.
“We’re looking for women and girls who might want to get involved and haven’t had the chance before.
“We have four girls who have graduated to play senior football, and there will be another four next year.
“The girls don’t want to stop playing so having a senior side will give them opportunities to keep playing.
“It’s not about winning games, it’s about the collaboration of teamwork and improving skills.”
Mitchell said the introduction of the women’s side and an under-12 or 13 team would provide a pathway from Auskick through to senior women’s football in Gisborne.
Anthony Carrigg has been appointed coach of the women’s side, and training is already under way. Currently, the women’s side has five players.
“Anthony has been in Gisborne his whole life,” Mitchell said. “He was an assistant coach with the youth-girls and his daughter is graduating out of that team. When we started youth-girls we had only two girls. We’ve already got 25 training for next season. Last season we had 24 girls play.”
Mitchell said the senior club had been fully behind forming a senior women’s team.
Senior vice-president David Williamson enjoys the prospect of having a senior women’s footy team join the football and netball club.
“Women’s football is certainly on the rise and the GFNC welcomes the opportunity to give women the chance to take part in this great game,” he said. “A women’s team adds a new dynamic to our already-strong club. The interest it’s generated among supporters and sponsors has been fantastic.”
Anyone interested in playing with either of the three sides, should call Darren on 0412 335 554 or at d.mitchell7@bigpond.com
