It’s exciting times for Darley Football Club, with the Devils to field a women’s side for the first time next season.
Senior women’s football operations manager Mel O’Rourke said it was an exciting time for the club.
“We initially had a youth girls side four years ago,” she said.
“We extended it to junior girls and the natural progression is having a side for players graduating from the youth girls.
“We’ve had about 12 girls who have gone elsewhere in the last four years as we haven’t had somewhere for them to go.
“I believe a handful will come back as they bleed black and white.”
The club didn’t waste any time in appointing experienced Jack Hanneysee as the side’s first coach.
Hanneysee has coached both youth girls and women’s at Bacchus Marsh and this year he was an assistant coach at the Sunbury Kangaroos.
He was also a development coach with the AFL Goldfields women’s interleague side this year.
O’Rourke said they were lucky to have him.
“He’s a huge asset for the club,” she said. “He’s hit the ground running and has a really good skill-set.
“He’s got a tactical game plan and is great with the girls.”
The Devils have more than 20 players who have expressed interest in joining the women’s side.
O’Rourke said they are keen to have good numbers and are still looking for more players of all abilities. They are also after volunteers to help out in a number of roles and sponsors.
O’Rourke said there had already been a lot of community support for the side.
The side will play in the AFL Goldfields competition.
“We’ve been building partnerships with the community and schools,” O’Rourke said.
The Devils had their first training session on Friday. Their next training session is on Wednesday at Darley Park between 6-7.30pm. More information on the Devils women’s side can be found on the club’s Facebook page.
