Tara Murray
History was made as the Riddell District Football League fielded a women’s interleague side for the first time on Saturday.
The league faced the Southern Football League on Saturday, marking a massive step forward for the women’s competition which is in its second season.
While it was a tough day on the scoreboard for the RDFL, which lost 8.11 (59)-1.1 (7) there were plenty of positive signs.
Coach Scott Caton said it was pretty special for everyone to be involved in the first game.
“It was a great experience for everyone,” he said. “Everybody was so proud to represent the league and shine on women’s footy in the RDFL.”
Caton, who also coaches Woodend-Hesket in the RDFL, said the group was a little bit overawed early in the game.
He said the Southern league was able to jump them on the scoreboard.
“We moved the magnets around a bit,” he said. “We were able to show later on that we could match it with them and we’re not that far behind.”
Woodend-Hesket’s Kat Bau was awarded the best on ground medal for the RDFL.
Caton said the Southern league showed what can happen after having a strong women’s program for a number of years.
“I spoke with their coach and they said five years ago they were in the similar position and were beaten well.
“The skills have grown over the last five years. Hopefully in the next two to three years we can fast track women’s football.
“We trained at a high level for a number of weeks and there were drills they weren’t used to that they were impressed with and some will take back to their clubs.”
Caton said with a strong junior program in the league, that having a women’s interleague side would only help them.
The team had players from all seven teams in the RDFL competition.
Meanwhile, in the senior men’s football it was heartbreak for the RDFL.
Tara Murray
