DARREN MONCRIEFF
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
FOOTY's reach extends far and wide and five Yolngu women from a small community in the Northern Territory will play for Australia against teams from overseas.
The women will suit up for the Australian women's Indigenous/Multicultural team that will play in the 2011 AFL International Cup, the three-yearly amateur-level football competition for countries outside Australia.
As we reported last month, a women's division has been formed to contest the international football competition for the first time. And given the low numbers of women's teams around the world, Australia will join in the mix. They will play against national teams from Canada, Ireland, Papua New Guinea and the US.
The Australian IM team, which will wear the jumper depicted to the left, has a squad of 24 players and will be coached by former Olympian Nova Peris.
There are several Indigenous women in the team from around the country.
The five Yolngu come from Galiwin'ku, on Elcho Island, just off the coast in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.
The players are Evelyn Dhamarrandji, Lorraine Dhamawangi, Melanie Garrawurra, Lucinda Marika, Delvene Munyarryun and Sheena Yangulupuy.
The Elcho Island Football League has six men's teams and has a small women's division (it's played during the wet season).
The International Cup begins on Saturday but the women's round of games start next Monday.
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 10/08/2011 15:10