Melton Junior Football Club is taking the next step in growth of its female junior football development program.
After having one team this year, the Bloods are looking to field three age groups next year.
The club will again have a junior under-13 girls side, along with an under-15 and under-18 youth girls side, all playing the AFL Goldfields competition. This year AFL Goldfields had only two age groups.
Bloods vice-president John Lennon said the committee was determined to make the commitment to put in three teams.
“The club really supports female football and wants to be a part of it,” he said.
“We had an under-13 girls team and were looking to have under-17s, but they’ve changed age groups and added an extra one and we’re looking at having teams in both.
“We’re starting from scratch with the program.”
Lennon said they already had player interest in all three sides.
They had 18 players in the junior girl’s team this year and already had about 10-12 players interested for next year. They also have a similar number of players interested for the under-15s and under-18s.
Lennon said they were looking for players of all abilities to join the three sides.
“We’re looking to fill the gaps,” he said.
“We’ve started to put together a list of girls who have been just playing school football,” he said.
“We’re looking for a mixture of girls. Some who have played school football and don’t have a club and are considering playing outside the school system, and we’re also looking for new players who want to join a good family club.”
Lennon, who is also the girls co-ordinator, said they hoped that playing three girls’ sides would eventually lead to the senior club establishing a women’s team.
“It’s one step at a time and we’re happy to do the groundwork and development of it,” he said. “We want to get that continuity happening.”
The Bloods are looking for coaches for both the under-15 and under-18 sides. The coaches of the junior girls’ side will again lead the side next year.
On Tuesday, December 5, the Bloods are having a come and try day for any players who are interested in joining.
Lennon said they would have more come-and-try days in the new year for players who can’t make this one. The come-and-try session will be held at Blackwood Drive Reserve’s second oval between 5 and 6pm.
For more details, contact John Lennon on femalefooty@meltonjfnc.com.au or 0414 445 798
