The Sunbury Lions have reset their mindset as they head into the Essendon District Football League women’s division 2 season.
Last season was a tough year for the Lions, who won just two games and were relegated in the off season.
Coach Matt Tremellen said it had been really good off season and they were excited for the season to get underway.
“It has been really good,” he said. “We’ve got a fresh mindset amongst the group and we’ve had some good commitment and buy in from the girls.”
Tremellen said regardless what division they were in this season the group needed to reset their mindset and renew their commitment to the game.
“We needed to look at what we wanted to get out of football,” he said. “We’re going in with a different attitude and it puts us in good shape for this year.”
Tremellen is in his second season in charge. Last season he shared the role with Jaimee-Lee Wilson.
Wilson will play this season while coaching once of the junior girls teams. The club will have under-14s, under-16s and under-18s this season.
Tremellen said he had learned a lot last season about the group and the club.
“Last season was a learning year and we want to build on that,” he said.
“We had a shared focus last year, this year I’ll work on where they can improve.
“We have a strong game plan around contested ball and we want to build on that.
“Jaimee-Lee will still be around which is important.”
Tremellen said they had managed to keep the core group together from last season, with Tara Quigley and Renee Whelan the two main outs after stepping away from football.
Bianca Pepper returns to the Lions, while Brianna Spratling and Amy Clendenning are two new recruits.
“They are all forwards,” Tremellen said. “It will help with a better balance.”
The Lions kick off their season on Saturday, facing the Sunbury Kangaroos.
Speaking before the match, Tremellen said playing the Kangaroos was the one game they looked forward to the most each year.
“There’s a good healthy rivalry,” he said. “It changes every year and we’ll have fun out there.”
