By Tara Murray
Craigieburn is hoping to get its second win of the Essendon District Football League Women’s premier competition this weekend.
In what has been a tough season for the Eagles, with a massive gap between the top and bottom sides, the Eagles have just one win and are in bottom place.
Eagles team manager Mandy Frost said many of the players were in their first season.
“We are struggling big time in premier division,” she said. “The girls are trying their hardest, but are being smashed by 100 points.
“It’s a shame, as we have a lot of new players who have never played before. Some games we’ve only 15 players due to injury.”
Frost said that despite the challenges, there had been good improvements in the playing group.
She said Naomi Heatcote, Breanna Meadows, Natasha Campbell, Anastasia D’Cruz, Chloe Jonkers and Jemayne Albrecht had been among the standouts.
The Eagles, who had the weekend off with the split round, have three games remaining.
The Eagles face second bottom side Pascoe Vale this weekend, with both teams having had one win for the season.
The Eagles’ only win came against the Panthers back in round two.
Frost said they were hoping that they could get that second win to help give the side a confidence boost.
This season will be the last season for coach Johnny Albrecht.
With his young daughter playing well at junior level, he’s decided to step back to spend more time watching her.
While the senior side has had a tough year, the Eagles’ under-13 and under-15 girls teams are doing well and could play finals.
Frost said there were some talented young players coming through.
In the women’s premier competition, Westmeadows lost to Hillside.
With both teams fighting for a finals spot, it was a crucial match.
Hillside got the win 2.9 (21)-1.1 (7).
The Tigers remain in fifth spot, with Hillside just two points behind them.
In division 1, Roxburgh Park beat Greenvale 7.8 (50)-2.3 (15).
Tullamarine plays this week in the split round.
