Furphy hits the ground running with Bloods

MID-season recruit Bridgette Furphy has made the perfect first impression at South Bendigo and is now eager to play a big role in the Bloods’ BFNL finals push.

The silky-skilled goaler produced a strong debut in red and white in the Bloods’ statement-making win over reigning premier Gisborne at Harry Trott Oval on 21 June.

It was her first country football-netball league appearance in 2025.

Her arrival at Harry Trott Oval is serving a dual purpose, with Furphy – a Bendigo Strikers championship-listed player – keen to fine-tune and elevate her game ahead of a looming exciting first Victorian Netball League (VNL) series for the Central Victorian club.

The 28-year-old, who played with Geelong Football Netball League club Bell Park last season, missed a handful of Strikers games early in the season due to her wedding and honeymoon.

With plenty of planning to be done – and with the Strikers as her number one netball priority – Furphy was unable to commit to a season with Bell Park.

Having settled into married life and with the netball season more advanced, Furphy felt the timing was right for a return to the grassroots level.

“I had a bit of an itch that needed to be scratched,” she said.

“At the start of the year I was pre-occupied by the huge life event that is getting married, but now we are through that.

“After all of that, I thought it’s probably time to get my hands on the ball a bit more leading into VNL finals.

“I was definitely ready to get out there again on a Saturday.”

Surrounded by a swathe of new teammates – and the one conspicuous familiar face, one of her Strikers goaling partners Gabe Richards, – Furphy made it a Bloods debut to remember, playing a crucial role in the stirring two-goal win over the Bulldogs.

While she had heard plenty about the standard of BFNL netball over the past two seasons from her Strikers teammates, Furphy relished the opportunity to experience its strength first-hand.

“It was so much fun. I was just really looking forward to getting out there and enjoying it and getting around a new bunch of girls,” she said.

“What a great group – they’re awesome.

“I don’t know if it’s just (last Saturday) or every week, but there’s just a real presence in the group.

“It’s just so nice to get back to proper country football-netball. It was good to get a win as well.”

Furphy conceded it had taken a fair bit of convincing behind the scenes to get her to South Bendigo.

“In saying that, Loz (coach Lauren Bowles) has been awesome in the process – super-understanding,” said Furphy, who still travels to Strikers games and training, and now to South Bendigo, from her home in Geelong.

“It’s not a quick drive up the freeway for me, but she has been awesome.

“I’m certainly glad I said yes.”

Furphy, who anticipates being available for four or five more South Bendigo games over the second half of the season, believes her partnership with Richards could only be strengthened by more court time together.

“Our connection has been growing over the last five or six months, so it’s good to keep building on that with Gabe, particularly coming into VNL finals,” she said.

Furphy, who previously played VNL for Geelong Cougars before becoming a foundation Strikers player last season, has relished the change of scenery at the Strikers and the opportunity to be part of something fresh and invigorating.

Reaching finals in only the club’s second season would be a massive achievement, according to Furphy, who insists their results this season have demonstrated their ability to mix it with the league’s powerhouses.

“We’ve given both of last year’s grand finalists, Falcons and the Express, a run for their money,” she said.

“We went down by one goal to each of those teams but were leading for most of those games as well.

“We are certainly in the mix, and once we get our girls back from SNN Reserves, there will be no stopping us.”