Cup comp all about respect

FOOTBALLERS from Ballarat’s Loreto and St Patrick’s College will take to the field next week as the two schools seek to defend the Respect Cup.

Now an annual fixture on the schools’ pre-season calendar, the special matches see Loreto and St Pats take on their Geelong counterparts from St Joseph’s College and Sacred Heart.

Played at GMHBA Stadium in Geelong to mark International Women’s Day, the boys match acts as a curtain raiser to the girl’s game.

The cup was first contested by the schools in 2021 and aims to promote respectful relationships.

Loreto College players Laila Lappin and Molly Davies said they are excited to take to the field.

“It’s amazing to get the experience and play against an all-girls school and get to know them as well as learning some skills and having a really fun time,” Davies said. “The confidence is really building around it, it’s just amazing.

Participation in the event has increased rapidly over the last two years.

“The numbers for the girls who want to play has just multiplied by so many every year,” Lappin said. “This year we had to have try outs with over 60 girls whereas in the first year they barely got a team together.”

The Respect Cup is decided by the combined scores of girls and boys teams.

Leah Irving from St Joseph’s College has been involved with the Respect Cup from the start, and said the 2023 edition would be the biggest and best yet.

She said International Women’s Day celebrations at St Joseph’s College had previously just involved the college’s female staff, but this was thought not to be inclusive of the students or the community.

“We thought, ‘how can get the community to know what we’re doing?’ We do teach respect and consent, but how do we get the community to know, and how do we get the students to realise this is not just part of the curriculum but needs to be embedded in their everyday life?” she said.

Ms Irving said the male and female students from all four schools had considerable input into how the Respect Cup would be set up and run on the day.

“It’s a hope-filled future when you actually get around these young people,” she said. “They’re bringing ideas to you, it’s not us saying, ‘this is what we’re going to do’, they’ve actually shaped the whole day.

“And not just the footy players, it’s the student leaders, it’s the staff, everybody’s got a say.

“It’s amazing to get four schools together to do anything, really.”

St Patrick’s captain Lachie Charleson and vice-captain Josh Huxtable said they are proud to be part of an event working to increase respect for women.

“It’s a great initiative to be the curtain raiser for the women’s game and showcase how far women’s football has come,” Charleson said.

“We’re keen to play our game but more keen to get off the oval and cheer both Loreto and Sacred Heart.”

A special guernsey for both schools has been designed for the event that combines elements of the Loreto and St Pats regular strips.

“We’re excited to wear the jumper because it has a lot of meaning with the joint Loreto and St Patrick’s emblems and colours,” Davies said.

“It also has indigenous symbols to show we are coming together as a team on Wadawurrung country.”

Entry to the Respect Cup is free with the games set for Wednesday, 8 March. Gates open at 10.30am with the boys playing from 11am before the girls go at 1pm.