By Tara Murray
It’s been an encouraging start for the Gisborne-Kyneton United side in the Essendon District Football League women’s division 2 competition.
After coming together just eight weeks ago, the side has started the season with two wins heading into the Easter break.
The Bulldogs were reforming a women’s side after not having one last season and have been joined by the players of the Kyneton Women’s Football Club, who didn’t have a competition to play in after leaving their former club.
Co-coach Bernie Marantelli said it had been really good so far for the group.
“We’ve been together for six to eight weeks,” she said. “Things are going really well and we have a really healthy list.
“We’ve been able to have lots of rotations which is something that I’ve never had in my entertainment involvement in women’s football.
“We train every second Monday together in Kyneton and every second Thursday in Gisborne.
“We all go to the selection together.”
Marantelli said it had been really good working with co-coach Phil Hawkes, who has come across with the Kyneton women’s side along with more than a dozen players.
She said she didn’t know any of the Kyneton players before they came across but it had been an enjoyable environment and there were some really good players among the group.
Marantelli said Gisborne had been one of the most supportive clubs that she had been involved with. Marantelli joined the club ahead of these season.
On field, the side has won two from two. They are one of two undefeated teams, along with Taylors Lakes. Marantelli she thought the Lions were the team to beat this season.
Marantelli said they didn’t play their best against the Sunbury Kangaroos, in their last match, but were able to get the job done.
“I’m looking forward to working with the group of girls that we have,” she said. “We’re working together and still getting things ironed out on the track.
“There’s things we can definitely work on and continue to build.”
Marantelli said Shannon McFerran would miss the first half of the season after having knee surgery but they were hoping to add her back into the squad in the second half of the season.
They were also hopeful of having signed another recruit last week.
There was a women’s wide bye on the weekend due to Easter.
Gisborne-Kyneton United faces East Sunbury this Saturday.
