Spring in their step; Thunder playing stocks boosted

BENDIGO Thunder president Jason Maher says he is increasingly confident the club will field a side in the 2026 Central Victorian Football League women’s season.

After launching an urgent plea for players in late February, the club has garnered interest from up to a dozen new players, many of whom have joined the club’s existing core of players on the training track at Weeroona Oval in recent weeks.

Maher said while there was still a lot to play out, he was much more optimistic than he was three weeks ago of the Thunder of taking its place in the league.

“We have had a lot of people reach out and had probably 10 or 11 players come along and train and really boost the numbers up,” he said.

“I did a bit of a count up and we have around 24 players who could potentially play round one, as long as they are fit and firing.

“That’s really positive … but we are still on the lookout for some past players, or some experienced footballers.

“A lot of the group are new girls to the game, so we need a bit of support around them.

“And we still need a bit of support off the field as well.

“But players numbers are looking a hell of a lot better than they did last month.”

Maher lauded the appointment of coach Mick McInnes, who had previously informed the club of his decision to step away after the previous two years at the helm, as a massive boost to the player drive.

It’s a huge undertaking by McInnes, who travels from Echuca to Bendigo each week to take training and coach games, which this season will include a trip to Woodend following the entry of the Wedge-Tailed Eagles into the competition.

 

Maher has been further buoyed by the positive vibes from established players and newcomers alike on the training track.

“You can see the girls are really enjoying it,” he said.

“The girls who were with us last season are really relishing having the numbers; so it’s a two-fold effect where you have new girls who are enjoying running around and having a go at something different and the existing players have extra people around.

“It makes training a lot easier.

“The attitude is amazing at the moment, and if we can get a few more (girls) in over the next few weeks, it looks like we’ll hit the starting line.

“It will be tough, but we think we’ll get there.

“There will still be some hard work for players and volunteers and coaches, and some learning to do, but we’ll get out there and give it a go.

“At the end of the day, if there’s 24 girls who want to play football, you can’t really deny them.

“They deserve the opportunity.”

A trailblazer in women’s football, Bendigo Thunder was founded in 2011 and played in the Victorian Women’s Football League (VWFL) from 2011-16.

The club joined the Northern Football Netball League from 2017-20 and entered the CVFL in 2021 following an explosion of clubs in the region.

The club has produced more than a dozen AFLW players since 2016, including Emma Grant, Bella Ayre, Sarah Last, Jess Kennedy, Hayley Trevean, Kerryn Peterson, Ange Foley, Tiahna Cochrane, Kodi Jacques, Grace Campbell, Ainslie Kemp, Elise Hogan, Cassie Blakeway and Reni Hicks.

Maher said the club was still seeking volunteers to assist with match and non-match day duties and extended an invite to the club’s past players to get in touch or become involved.

The CvFL season is tentatively scheduled to kick-off on Easter Sunday (5 April).