By Tara Murray
The Western Football League women’s interleague side got off to a winning start with a convincing win against the Southern Football League on Saturday.
While it was a return to interleague for Western, it was the first time the league had fielded a senior women’s side.
With the majority of the stars of the competition putting their hands up, Western was able to put out a really strong squad.
It showed on the field as they controlled the game all day in the 6.8 (44)-2.7 (19).
Caroline Springs coach Alex O’Shea, who coached the Western side, said it was a big occasion for everyone who was involved.
“I quite enjoyed it,” she said. “It was a really enjoyable opportunity.
“There was lots of support from the league and they spoke about being transparent and making it enjoyable for the players.
“It was an honour to represent the league in the first interleague for women’s.”
O’Shea said it was difficult to pick a final squad of 25 with so many talented players putting their hands up.
She said there had been massive growth from the first training session until game day.
“For myself to have that new experience working with different players and coaches was really good,” she said. “It was a different preparation for us.”
On Saturday, Western won the toss and elected to kick with the wind in the first third.
They kicked three goals in the opening term, including an absolute beauty to Mariah Burton just before quarter time.
O’Shea said the goal was the goal of the day across all three matches.
Southern were unable to convert in the second term when they had the wind as Western maintained a lead at half time.
Western kicked the only goal of the third quarter before two teams went goal for goal in the final quarter.
O’Shea said the focus of the side was for the side to have fun out.
“We had never played before and played together as a team,” she said. “We wanted them to enjoy the experience and have fun and they did that in the first quarter.
“We believed in ourselves and carried it for four quarters.”
O’Shea said the Southern line up was a really competitive outfit and set up really well off the ball.
She said she was rapt about how her side moved the ball.
Burton and Caitlin Pretty kicked two goals each for the Western side.
Burton was named player of the match.
O’Shea said Burton was really clean with the ball all day.
Other standouts were Charlize Sindoni, who won plenty of the ball in the middle of the ground, while Keely Spiteri was busy on a wing.
The Basto sisters, Meghann and Lauren, both stopped a lot of ball in defence.
O’Shea said she was hopeful that women’s interleague would return again.
“Hopefully the league is keen to have it again,” she said. “I would love to be part of it again, it was a great experience.”
