JUST a few female teams have earned the right to call themselves AFL Barwon premiers, and Melinda “Bindi” Murray was lucky enough to be a part of one of them.<\/p>\n
Bindi Murray’s previous years at Barwon Heads Football Club ended in a 2018 premiership and a runner-up club Best and Fairest in 2021.<\/p>\n
But given her sporting relationship with Newtown and Chilwell women’s coach Simon Cavallo and the location of the club relative to her home in Teesdale, Murray will be a Tonner for season 2022 and a force to be reckoned with in midfield.<\/p>\n
“Barwon Heads will always hold a huge part of my heart,” Murray said.<\/p>\n
“I have had some amazing coaching and played with some passionate and determined women. It was really hard to make the move to Newtown as I really respected my coach, Josh Bacely.<\/p>\n
“I’m excited to see what they bring to the games this year and will always support them.”<\/p>\n
Murray lives to run in her favoured ruck-rover position but still considers herself a new student to the game and is keen to continue to learn amidst a team pushing for glory this season.<\/p>\n
“Although the move to Newtown is really exciting, I love to challenge myself and I feel so welcomed by the girls and Simon,” Murray said.<\/p>\n
“I love the way Newtown play as a team and I look forward to what the season holds for us making new memories, setting new goals, and playing hard.<\/p>\n
“I feel like I am still learning a lot and as a player there is so much room for growth, as I only started playing a few years ago at 28.”<\/p>\n
The Towners made a run at the premiership last season finishing second behind Geelong Amateurs with seven wins from 11 contests heading into finals, then booking a place in the grand final before the season was abruptly cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions in mid-August.<\/p>\n
Newtown and Chilwell will look to return to the big dance as most teams dream of in the lead-up to Round One.<\/p>\n
“Of course, everyone is looking for that kind of success,” Murray said.<\/p>\n
“I’m lucky to have been in a grand final team the first year I played and that was really exciting.<\/p>\n
“At the same time, we will always be looking to have fun and do the best job we can each week and have a good season.”<\/p>\n
At the same time, Murray will also aim to be a role model to not only her family at the Eagles, but also to the junior up-and-coming players at the club.<\/p>\n
“I love seeing footy grow and develop every year, as the young girls come through” Murray added.<\/p>\n
“It will be great for the team and I to set the standard on women’s footy at a club that takes pride in its female junior program.”<\/p>\n
AFL Barwon Female Football is slated to return on April 2.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
JUST a few female teams have earned the right to call themselves AFL Barwon premiers, and Melinda “Bindi” Murray was lucky enough to be a part of one of them. Bindi Murray’s previous years at Barwon Heads Football Club ended in a 2018 premiership and a runner-up club Best and Fairest in 2021. But given […]<\/p>\n