SOUTH Warrnambool feels its push to establish the first female football team in the region is perfectly timed.
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After months of planning, the club will hold its sign-up day next Thursday, with Geelong Cats boom recruit Paddy Dangerfield attending, along with Mitch Duncan, George Horlin-Smith and Nakia Cockatoo.
Daryl Fary, who will co-coach the proposed teams with Michael Crutchfield, said with the AFL female competition starting up next season, opportunities were opening up for female footballers.
“It’s just come at a perfect time, as the government now is pushing very hard to promote female sport,” he said.
“The pathways the AFL has and the opportunities at the moment are massive.”
Fary said the Roosters had been working hard to establish what will be a long-term program for female football in the area.
“One of the biggest issues with all of this is South Warrnambool wanted to do this properly,” he said.
“They want all the bases and all the foundations laid so this will be a long-term thing … not a one-off, so they (the girls) have got a future to look forward to.”
Thursday’s sign-up will coincide with a fun skills session, with the Geelong quartet running drills, along with senior South Warrnambool players.
Fary said 36 potential players have already expressed their interest, while more are expected on the day.
In its first season, the club is trying to establish a junior team for girls aged between 14 and 18, as well as a senior team.
Fary said having the Geelong stars along for Thursday’s launch would be a “huge boost” for the club’s recruiting drive.
“Geelong has been very, very supportive,” he said.
“Geelong are just keen to see women’s footy take off and they’re doing a lot to support it.”
The Roosters have already lined up a handful of potential games for the season, starting with a round robin in Ballarat in April.
“We’ve got sides from Geelong, Ballarat and Mount Gambier that are keen (to play us over the season),” Fary said.
“The Western Bulldogs are doing a women’s football thing down in Portland and asked us to play in a combined team.”
Fary encouraged anyone interested to register their name, even if they cannot train next week.
“If we want this to work and we want a competition, Thursday night is the night,” he said.
Registrations and drills will be held at Friendly Societies Park from 4.30pm to 6pm on Thursday, February 18.
