Third edition of respectful contest nears

GEELONG schools Sacred Heart College and St Joseph’s College are warming up for the third addition of the Respect Cup, to be held next week.

The cup was established in 2021 to promote and support International Women’s Day and encourage respectful relationships.

The uniform of all four teams – Sacred Heart College and St Joseph’s College in Geelong and Loreto College and St Patrick’s College in Ballarat – include a touch of purple to acknowledge the signature colour of International Women’s Day.

The boys from St Joseph’s College and St Patrick’s will play as a curtain raiser to the main game between the girls from Sacred Heart College and Loreto College.

The Geelong or Ballarat schools with the highest combined score will take home the Respect Cup for the next 12 months. Ballarat won the first Respect Cup in 2021 and retained the trophy with another win last year.

Sacred Heart College has a growing reputation as a hotbed for future AFLW talent – its alumni include Carlton utility Lucy McEvoy, Geelong and Melbourne player Olivia Purcell, and Geelong VFL Women and Melbourne midfielder Lily Mithen – and is expected to field another strong side for the Respect Cup this year.

The Respect Cup alternates between being hosted in Geelong and Ballarat – it returns to Geelong in 2023, and will again be played at GMHBA Stadium, on International Women’s Day itself; March 8.

St Patrick’s College will play St Joseph’s College at 11am, and Loreto College will play Sacred Heart College at 1pm.

Entry is free, and gates at GMHBA Stadium open at 10.30am.

You can watch the games live through at pay wall on Clutch TV.