Name: Ella Mooney.
Age: 16.
Junior club: Donvale.
Suburb: Warranwood.
How did you get involved with footy: I’ve just always loved footy.
How long have you been playing for: Since Year 6.
What do you enjoy about it: Just being with my friends, meeting people and socialising.
Any other sports you’ve played along the way: Basketball.
What are your ambitions with your footy this year: Just to go as far as I can.
AFL team: Collingwood.
Name: Marina Taverna.
Age: 15.
Junior club: Donvale.
School: East Doncaster Secondary College.
Suburb: Ringwood North.
How did you get involved with footy: I liked it because my friends started playing so then I joined and I did it as a social thing but then I found out I wasn’t that bad at it.
How long have you been playing for: Only a year.
What do you enjoy about it: It is really good to get down and dirty, especially when it is all muddy – it is very fun.
Any other sports you’ve played along the way: I used to play basketball but I just recently stopped that.
What are you ambitions with your footy this year: I’ve sort of already reached my goal because I’ve only played one season and I felt like it was really good for me to make Ranges. I want to play good in the games and try my best.
AFL team: Hawthorn.
Name: Maddie Edwards.
Age: 16.
School: Norwood Secondary College.
Suburb: North Ringwood.
Junior club: Whitehorse Colts.
How long have you been playing for: This will be my fourth season coming up.
How did you first get involved: I began with school footy and when I played I found out I really enjoyed it. One of my friends then played for an actual club so I thought I would join.
What do you enjoy about it: Just the hardness of it but also having fun and meeting new people.
Any other sports you’ve played along the way: Just basketball but not really seriously.
What are you ambitions with your footy this year: Literally just to become a better player, improving and keep getting better.
AFL team: Melbourne.
Name: Caitlin Vippond.
Age: 16.
School: Canterbury Girls Secondary College.
Suburb: North Ringwood.
Junior club: Knox.
How long have you been playing for: This will be my third season.
How did you first get involved: My friend, our brothers play together and the club wanted girls footy so we got a few of our friends together and that’s how we made the team.
What do you enjoy about it: I enjoy the intensity of it and playing with mates.
Any other sports you’ve played along the way: Netball but that wasn’t seriously.
What are you ambitions with your footy this year: Probably just improving my skills and hopefully winning the grand final this year.
AFL team: Melbourne.
Name: Lauren Szigeti.
Age: 17.
Suburb: Donvale
Junior club: Diamond Creek
How long have you been playing for: Since I was a kid.
How did you first get involved: I just always knew about Auskick and wanted to play and Dad wasn’t too keen on it because I was a girl but eventually I convinced him.
What do you enjoy about it: Just everything, the physicality mostly because you don’t get that in too many other sports and also the bonds you make with the people you play with, against and the coaches as well.
What are you ambitions with your footy this year: Just to be the best player I can be, improve my weaknesses and my strengths and just see what comes of that.
AFL team: Richmond.
Name: Bronte Rowlands.
Age: 17.
School: Melba College.
Suburb: Maroondah.
Junior club: I actually play for a senior club, Eastern Devils.
How did you first get involved: I did Auskick with my brother when I was little but I only did that until I was nine or 10 and then there was no football. Then in year 10 one of my friends started playing and got me along and I loved it.
What do you enjoy about it: I love the team spirit and the physicality and everyone is all together looking out for each other.
What are you ambitions with your footy this year: I’m going to put in for the draft this year because I turn 18 so I allowed to put in for the draft so we’ll see how that goes. I just want to build up my ball skills and ball awareness of what is happening around me when I have the ball so I can make quicker decisions.
AFL team: Doggies.
Name: Phyllisia Palipuaminnini.
Age: 16.
School: Worowa Aboriginal School.
Suburb: Healesville.
Junior club: Worowa.
How long have you been playing for: I played since I was little. My dad taught me how to play.
What do you enjoy about it: It makes me proud when I’m on the field and kick goals.
What are you ambitions with your footy this year: I want to be selected for Victoria.
AFL team: St Kilda.
Name: Abbey Goullet.
Age: 17.
School: Avila College.
Suburb: Mount Waverley.
Junior club: Blackburn.
How long have you been playing for: This is my third season.
How did you get involved: Just footy club and family. Dad was always down there and brothers were always down there so it was inevitable.
What do you enjoy about it: Just the fact, as everyone else says, the physicality of it and you can absolutely nail someone. Plus, it is the only girls sport I’ve been involved in that girls actually take seriously and are dedicated to it, which is awesome.
AFL team: Hawthorn.
Name: Paige Whitworth.
Age: 19.
School: I graduated last year.
Suburb: Monbulk.
Junior club: I don’t have a junior club because this is my first season but I am playing in an under-18s side for Ferntree Gully this year.
How did you get involved: I played netball and I’ve always just loved all sports and I saw Eastern Ranges had a try out for people to come from other sports. I tried out to give it a go.
What do you enjoy about it: I like the physicality and like being able to get rough on the field. I also think it is very social and you can get a whole group of girls from different places.
What are you ambitions with your footy this year: Probably just to understand the game a bit more and get a bit more experience and just take it as it goes.
AFL team: Richmond.
Last Modified on 16/03/2017 18:06