It’s all go for Roxburgh Park in the Victorian Women’s Football League this season. All they need now is a coach.
After introducing a youth girl’s side last season, the club has now decided there’s enough interest to field a women’s team as well.
Magpies’ club president Jason Bolitho said they had enough players but were still unsure what division they would be in.
“We have about 14 players and that’s enough to get a team up and going,” Bolitho said.
“We’ve got about the same number in under‐18 youth girls.”
Bolitho said the club had a coach lined up but the search had to start again after he had to step down because of work commitments.
He said having the girls around the club last year had been a positive and the club wanted to encourage female participation.
“The girls lifted the aura around the place last year,” he said.
“They’re a breath of fresh air.
“They come to functions and come to watch the boys play. They want to be involved.”
The Western Youth Girls competition will have three age groups this year, under‐18, under‐15 and under‐12, but Roxburgh Park has decided not to expand its female youth program this season..
“We decided to stick with under‐18s as we had a lot of girls around that age,” he said.
“It was our intention to have three junior sides, but we didn’t have enough girls for three teams.”
On the men’s side, Bolitho said the senior side had a point to prove after losing in the preliminary final of Essendon District Football League division 2 last season.
“I think some of the players are still smarting a bit,” Bolitho said.
“We thought we would be around the mark.”
The club will continue to look to its young brigade to step up and lead the way.
Reigning division 2 league B&F winner Matt Walker has left the club, as has Harley Short.
“They are trying themselves at a higher level and we hope we can cover them with new players coming up the ranks,” Bolitho said.
Former Keilor Park coach Luigi Oppedisano has come across to the Magpies to play, while Aaron Szwedyc returns to the club from Burnside Heights.
Former Calder Cannon Josh Flower has switched from Greenvale.
Bolitho said the club still had a few more players’ clearances to come through.
Anyone interested in coaching the women’s side or playing in Roxburgh Park’s women’s or under‐18 girls’ side, contact: 0448 816 172 or 0416 777 374.
