Gisborne continues to show signs of improvement in the inaugural AFL Goldfields Women’s Football League.
The Bulldogs were a little unsure of how they would go this season, for them it was first about providing a pathway for the youth side’s from their junior club Gisborne Rookies.
Next was to continue to improve each week and hope that wins would follow.
On Sunday, the Bulldogs had their best match of the season, but still lost to Drysdale Hawks 11.9 (75)-6.1 (37).
Ashlee Knight and Francesca Stevens kicked two goals each for the Bulldogs, with Marnie Love and Knight named the best.
It was the Bulldogs’ first match of the actual season after a bye last week and two weeks of grading.
Gisborne played two grading matches against teams which have ended up in division 1 and coach Anthony Carrigg said it was hard to now judge where they sit.
“We got beaten, but we were really pleased with how we’re going,” he said.
“Only four or five players had played before and the signs are looking good.
“We spoke about it after the first game, that we didn’t know what to expect so they had to play their best straight up.”
Carrigg said it has been exciting to get the team up and running and the players were keen to learn.
They have 23 registered players and they’re looking for more.
Having enough players to field a full side was something Carrigg didn’t think would happen during the pre-season.
“The total numbers are good, but we have a lot of players who work on weekends. Having 23 girls is a lot better than four or five weeks ago [when] we had 12 or 13 girls and it was touch and go if we would get a side up.
“The last three to four weeks has been really good, a few girls have come down to training and enjoyed it and stayed around. If we could get a few wins everyone would be happy.”
He said Nat Dowdy, Bianca Zeinstra, Marni Love and Neve Carrigg were ones to watch this season.
In division 1, Sunbury Kangaroos had a 9.14 (68)-0.2 (2) win against Melton Centrals. Coach Danni Green was best on ground for a second straight week.
In the Riddell youth girls competition, it was the battle of the Gisborne sides. Gisborne Blue came out on top against Gisborne White, 10.17 (77)-0.2 (2).
Sunbury Kangaroos youth girls side had a 19.14 (128)-0.0 (0) win against Diggers Rest.
