Tara Murray
Bacchus Marsh has seen some reward for hard work in the Ballarat Football League Women’s competition.
After just two wins last season, the Cobras have won their last two matches bringing plenty of confidence to the group early in the season.
Coach Alan Johnson said it was nice for the playing group to get the opportunity to sing the song.
“I think it’s just reward for hard work,” he said. “Since November they’ve been working really hard.
“It’s been a different game plan than in the past. We’ve worked hard on skills. It’s so pleasing to see them bolstering the song out, it’s just a reward.”
Johnson, who is in his first year at the club, said while he had looked at the results of previous years, he had never seen the side play before.
He said from what he’s been told there had been big improvement across the board.
“Getting Jacinta Reid and Jamie-Lee Speakman back into the side has been really good,” he said.
“Rita Azzopardi and Imogen Farrugia have come back to play again and there’s been a couple of others helping out.
“There’s some under-19s coming through into the side and getting some opportunities.”
The return of Reid has been a big one for Cobras.
The former Victorian Football League Women’s player is also development coach at the Cobras this season.
“She’s helping out a lot with the young girls as well,” he said. “She’s been working with the 19s and coming down before training and helping teach them how to kick, mark and handball.
“They are really learning and it’s following through into the women’s side.”
Johnson said while thrilled they have a couple of wins on the board, they don’t change their focus.
He said he, Reid and the under-19s coach Leigh Bradbury are all on the same page of what they want to achieve.
“We want to be competitive,” he said. ”It’s a journey that we are working on.
“We know it’s not just for this year, it’s a two or three year journey for us.
“We want to be a strong women’s club. We have a good group and have youth coming through.
“We want to improve on results from last year, that is the aim.”
The Cobras play a win less Carisbrook on Sunday. Carisbrook was the only team the Cobras beat last season.
