Craigieburn will need a minor miracle to make finals in the first season of the Essendon District Football League Women’s competition.
After starting the weekend’s round sitting in eighth, the Eagles slipped to ninth with a loss to Westmeadows 9.5 (59)-15. (11).
It leaves the Eagles four points outside the top eight, ahead of a clash with ladder leaders Pascoe Vale in the final round.
Speaking before the match, Eagles team manager Mandy Frost said while they would like to make finals, it wasn’t what will define their season.
“It’s not a failure not making finals,” she said.
“Its about learning the game and they’ll still walk out there with a smile on their face.
“To get where they are is fantastic.”
Frost said they had made massive inroads in just their second season as a side.
She said everyone who had taken to the field had taken steps forward.
“We’re doing really well and have a really strong side,” she said. “Everyone gives it their all every week. There’s some really good sides out there and we do our best to try and keep up.
“There’s been massive improvement.”
Frost said they had added six to seven new players this season and they had fitted in perfectly.
“There’s a range of ages from 16 to about 36,” she said.
“There’s a good range of ages and the girls are playing a lot better and know how to compete.
“They know how to play with each other.”
Frost said Samantha French, Breana Jenkins, Breanna Meadows, Shawna Cooke and Kayla Glazebrook were some of the standouts for the Eagles this season.
Meadows is the youngest player in the Eagle’s side at just 16.
Johnny Albrecht has again coached the
side, and continues to push the side to that
next level.
The women’s side is one of two female side’s at the club, with the club fielding an under-13 team.
That team is sitting second on the ladder.
Frost said they were already looking at expanding the female presence at the club next season.
“We’re looking to have four sides, under-13s, under-15s and youth league sides next season, to go together with our women’s side.”
The win for Westmeadows keeps them sitting fifth heading into the final round.
Other winners on the weekend were Aberfeldie, Strathmore, Sunbury Kangaroos, Sunbury Lions and Burnside Heights.
