Tara Murray
A new era is set to begin at Romsey with the Redbacks set to field a women’s football side for the first time.
The Redbacks have been busy behind the scenes to start putting things together to form a side which will compete in the inaugural Riddell District Football League women’s competition.
Nicole Stewart is one of the main drivers behind the side.
Having played junior football in Gisborne, before playing elsewhere including Coburg last year, she’s keen to play in her own backyard.
“I’m excited to start training and I’ve been going for a couple of runs to try and get my fitness back up and get ready.
“I’ve played at a few different clubs before and I really haven’t found my forever club or anything like that.
“My boyfriend plays here as well and I live here. It’s been a positive reaction.”
Keen to get the side up and running, Stewart spoke with Michael Richardson, a long time coach and Romsey person.
Richardson, who has coached both Maddy and Georgie Prespakis while they were at Romsey, was keen to get on board too.
He’ll be part of the coaching panel, with that make up to hopefully be finalised in the next couple of weeks.
“I reckon even when netball came on board, it was football to netball and it helped the club expand,” he said.
“Your local sporting clubs should be for everyone in the town. This is another avenue that boys and girls who want to play sport, have the opportunity.”
Reaction to the new team has been positive with a lot of people already getting on board.
Stewart said they had about 17 players who had already committed and they were keen to get more on board.
“We’ve got players of all ages,” she said. “We’ve got a couple over 30 and a fair few who have played before.
“There’s a fair chunk of newbies who are starting out and I’m excited to get them into the game and teach them what they need to know.
“Just come down and see what you think. I’m not putting too much pressure on people… we would love to get as many players as we can get.”
Stewart said the idea of being in the first Romsey team and playing in the RDFL’s first women’s competition was pretty special.
Melton, Kyneton and Mt Alexander are other teams already committed to the competition.
Richardson and Stewart said they were keen to build a program that would have long term success.
“The culture that we want to bring to the place, from when you arrive we want to have a fun environment,” Richardson said.
“We want to be competitive and we want you to say at the end of it that, that experience was really, really worth while,
“We’re not so much worried about winning and losing, you’re better in August than when you started in February.”
Training starts February 7.
Anyone interested in playing contact Nicole on, 0497 381 002
