By KRISTEN ALEBAKIS
GIRLS footy will be front and centre in the Western Region Football League next season and over the next few weeks we will be profiling all the clubs who will be fielding teams in our standalone competition.
Today, we get to know the Melbourne University Women’s Football Club……
The Melbourne University Women’s Football Club has been involved with senior footy for the past 20 years and junior footy for 12 years and by any measurement have become a powerhouse club.
In 2017, the Western Region Football League will formally welcome Melbourne University to our competition.
Junior president Bridget Barker said the club was hoping to create more opportunities for young girls in the region to play footy.
“We feel that our partnership with Flemington Colts and The Huddle (based at North Melbourne Football Club) means that we are creating a truly diverse and inclusive pathway for young women in the inner west to be able to play AFL football and have a positive experience so that they can be the ambassadors and role models of the future for women's football,” Barker said.
“We are a club who prides ourselves on the values of unity, integrity, progress and support and are proud of the gender and cultural diversity that our club embraces from Auskick through to Senior VFL Women's football.”
Next year is shaping up to be a landmark year for the women’s football with the introduction of an eight team national competition.
Barker said she was excited about what the AFL Women’s competition would mean for local leagues and teams.
“Having a national women's competition that's already gaining so much positive media, will only further enhance the opportunities and momentum that's behind grassroots girls football,” she said.
“MUWFC has been involved in women's football for 20 years, and whilst 2017 feels like a dream come true for so many, it's also just the beginning and this is truly exciting.”
MUWFC had a total of 17 senior players drafted to AFL clubs, including Ellie Blackburn and Emma Kearny who were selected by the Western Bulldogs.
Barker said to have so many players picked was an incredible reward for all the effort put in by the club’s committee, coaches and teams.
“We are very proud to have had the most players drafted out of any club within Australia,” she said.
“MUWFC as a whole community is very excited for the AFLW season and all that comes with it.”
Currently, Melbourne University has three senior women’s teams, one in the VFL women’s competition, a team in the Premier Division and another senior team which will soon be entered into the WRFL’s inaugural senior competition.
“We have a partnership with Flemington Colts Junior Football club and will enter an Under 12's and Under 15's girls team in partnership with Flemington whilst of course our dual premiership team MUWFC Under-18's will also enter in to the WRFL in season 2017,” Barker said.
For more information about how you can join the club visit the MUWFC’s website or social channels, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Or contact Bridget Barker via muwfc.junior@gmail.com or 0422 360 113.
Last Modified on 03/11/2016 13:36