Game on for senior women’s squad

ONE of the region’s football netball clubs will be adding to their on-field presence this season with their first-ever senior women’s footy team.

Members of the Bannockburn Football Netball Club have been trying to secure a senior women’s side for about three years and found their numbers filled earlier this month.

The club’s female football coordinator Jodie Bukofsan said it’s “so exciting” to achieve the goal.

“It’s what the club needs and to see the girls out on training the other night was beyond words,” she said.

“This will boost so much for women’s football in the region. This is an area that every club need to be going down.

“We had a solid group of about 10 people since last year. We’ve had juniors in under 12s and under 15s, 16s for a couple years now. It’s just strengthening that side and bridging that gap.

“We hope now the seniors are here, we’ll just keep going from there.”

With about 30 members registered, the senior’s team have expanded their weekly training schedule to include Monday evenings as well as their usual Wednesdays.

Bukofsan said forming an under 19s team is next on their agenda.

Kirra Beckley has been part of the club’s three-year senior women’s initiative since the beginning and will serve as captain of the team.

She said their sessions have been incredible to be witness.

“Everyone’s putting everything into this,” she said. “New friendships are forming and the excitement’s really obvious.

“This has been a real emotional rollercoaster. There’s been a lot of complexities with players being young mums juggling work, relationships, things like that.

“I’d never played football before this. I got involved because growing up, there were no pathways for girls playing.

“I have a daughter myself and I love watching football and being around it, so girls should have those opportunities to get involved.”

The senior women’s first game will be in late April.