It’s been an enjoyable start for Westmeadows in the Essendon District Football League Women’s Competition.
The Tigers, who are fielding a side for the first time, have won two of their first three matches.
Their most recent win came against Sunbury Lions on Sunday.
Speaking before Sunday’s game, Tigers’ secretary Deb Williams said there was a great atmosphere around the side.
“We’re really keen to see how thing pan out,” she said,
“Round one we had a great win against Roxburgh Park in front of a big crowd. A few life members who were at the game said they hadn’t seen a crowd like that for a long time.
“Against Sunbury Kangaroos we didn’t perform so well. The girls now have an understanding that not every game will be so easy.
“They’re really enjoying it and there’s a good feel amongst them.”
Williams said interest in the side at the club and in the local community had been huge.
When they first expressed interest in fielding a side in August, they had 11 players interested in playing.
They now have 32 players on the list, ranging from 18-year-olds to 40-year-old mothers.
“Since school has gone back, they have come out of the wood work,” Williams said.
“It’s been really great that most of the girls have grown up in the area.
“It’s good to have an extra eight to 10 girls on the list with injuries and or work commitments.”
Several players from the Westmeadows Cricket Club have taken to the winter sport,
Williams said originally two looked at playing football, but nine members of the team had decided to play both sports.
That includes both Linton sisters.
Danielle Linton has kicked 10 goals in the first two games, while Natalie Linton kicked two goals in their most recent match against Sunbury Lions.
The two come from a basketball background like skipper Jacinta Scott.
Scott, played more than 300 Big V games, before retiring last season. Williams said all three were really skilled.
She said midfielder Liana Keenan was another one to watch.
Williams said they hadn’t put any expectations on this season and the focus was making sure they enjoyed themselves.
“Hopefully we get a few wins and make finals, that would be great,” she said.
“It’s about keeping the momentum going forward and having a pathway for the juniors.
”We have four junior sides this year.”
In other results on the weekend, Roxburgh Park got its first win of the season, beating Avondale Heights-Taylors Lakes 4.8 (32)-1.0 (6), while Craigieburn suffered a big loss to Sunbury Kangaroos.
