Respect Cup comp returns

THE football games all about respect are returning to Mars Stadium next Wednesday.

Known as the Respect Cup, the day sees Loreto College take on Scared Heart College from Geelong to mark International Women’s Day, and to promote respectful relationships.

A match between St Patrick’s College and St Joseph’s College acts as the curtain raiser to the main event, with the Respect Cup going to the schools with the combined highest scores on the day.

This year marks Loreto’s first time hosting the cup which was first played in 2021.

Current team captain Bella Davies has been involved with the initiative since the inaugural game.

“It’s always something that I really look forward to as I was fortunate to be a part of the very first year as a year 9 player,” she said.

“It’s nice to have some home support, as much as we do like going down to GMHBA stadium, we’re really proud to be able to host it this year and put on a really good show.”

Davies said the game has an important message for the community.

“Having the event highlights that Loreto values building respectful relationships between all four schools and not only that but that they want young women and men to feel supported in whatever they do,” she said.

“It’s important that we have those conversations and that through football everyone is able to unite.”

St Patrick’s College player and student Ollie Hannaford said it was good to see the growth of women’s football through initiatives like this.

“It’s great to see the pathway getting better for the girls and it’s good to see some of the [Greater Wester Victoria] Rebels’ girls from last year and there will hopefully be some from Loreto in the years to come go up in the AFLW,” he said.

“AFLW has taken a long time to get up and running, and now it is up and running, I think it’s really important to appreciate how hard the girls have worked to get where they are.”

The Respect Cup is set for Wednesday 6 March, with the gates at Mars Stadium open from 10.30am.

The boys’ match gets underway at 11am while the girls’ games goes from 1pm.

Entry to the day is free.

All to play for: Ollie Hannaford from St Pat’s and Bella Davies of Loreto are set to take to Mars Stadium on Wednesday as competition for the Respect Cup returns to Ballarat. Photo: MICHAEL CHAMBERS