Codes have collided with Melton rugby and AFL players joining a statewide campaign to get more women and girls to play contact sports.
Western Districts Rugby Union Club, which represents Melton, Footscray and Brimbank, and Melton Centrals Women’s AFL club are calling for more players to get involved by attending a training session or getting down to a match as seasons kick off this month.
Footy player Alice Masters spreads her time between rugby union and AFL representing Western Districts and Melton Central clubs.
“There’s a strong push for female participation in sport, even at a government level, and we think that it’s important for us to put our support behind that,” Masters said.
“We’re calling for women who are interested in being part of a sport to come and have a go even if it’s in a sports administration role, managing, coaching, umpiring or training.”
Masters was one of nine Wildcats selected for the inaugural Melbourne Rebels women’s rugby squad that played in the national Super W competition earlier this year.
She said Melton’s Nicole Callinan, who plays for the Western Bulldogs AFL side and Rachel Jackson of Williamstown VFLW were also putting the municipality on the map.
Both local teams field female senior and junior teams and have home games scheduled for this weekend. Wildcats play at Melton’s Macpherson Park Recreation Reserve and Melton Centrals plays at Arnolds Creek Reserve.
More information on the teams’ Facebook pages: Western Districts Rugby or Melton Centrals Women’s Footy.
