By Tara Murray
Melton’s senior and junior football clubs are working together to further develop female football at the Bloods.
The two clubs are hoping to field sides from under-13s up to women’s this year, in a big development for the clubs.
Bloods junior female co-ordinator Jessica O’Loughlin said they were planning to add an under-18 side as there were a number of girls too old for under-15s. She said Beau Beck from the senior club had approached her about helping to set up a women’s side.
“We’ve had under-13s and under-15s for the last couple of seasons and a lot are going up into under-18s,” O’Loughlin said.
“Beau contacted me about possibly starting a women’s side.
“We’re working together to fill that gap and have somewhere where the girls can play.
“The senior team is getting a lot of interest.”
The Bloods have had two come-and-try days already, with plenty of support across the four sides.
O’Loughlin said while they were still waiting for confirmation from AFL Goldfields about fielding all four sides, they were confident they had the numbers to be accepted to play under-18s and senior women’s sides.
She said the teams would play in the AFL Goldfields competition and they hoped the games would be kept local.
“The biggest thing is, the juniors are excited they don’t have to stop at junior level and then go elsewhere to play.”
While the junior sides already have coaches, O’Loughlin said they were still after coaches and officials for the women’s side.
The expansion of the program comes after a big year on and off field for the Bloods’ girl’s sides.
Off field, they got to play at half-time of the Ballarat Football League senior men’s grand final, while Melton Toyota selected the club to have some of the girls walk in the AFL grand final parade.
For more information on joining the Bloods, contact Jessica (for juniors) at femalefooty@meltonjfnc.com.au or Beau Beck (for seniors) on 0433 879 935.
