Members of the Altona women’s footy team at training. 76234 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By MICHAEL ESPOSITO
ASSISTANT coach Wayne Seaward has high hoped for the recently formed Altona women’s footy team.
Despite having not played a game yet, Seaward is already talking about promotion to the premier division of the Victorian Women’s Football League– the elite women’s footy competition in the state.
But this year, it’s also about being competitive in the north-west conference, and there’s plenty of buzz surrounding the first senior women’s side in Hobsons Bay.
“There a lot of girls living in this area that have been playing for other clubs. We’re looking for people to come home to Altona and play here,” Seaward said.
“We’re the only senior women’s team in this catchment area.”
The two other Western Suburbs teams in the VWFL – the VU St Albans Spurs and Deer Park – are Brimbank based.
The team is affiliated with the Altona Football Club, whose men play in the Western Region Football League, and is looking for more women to join its ranks. Anyone over 16 is eligible to play.
The formation of the senior women’s team was inevitable with several members of Altona’s Youth Girls team, established four years ago, too old to play in the junior competition.
“Our long term goal is to be successful this season and looking at moving into the premier season in the next two to three years. We believe we have the capability to take the flag in the next one or two seasons in the north-west division and that’s our focus, to build our team to do what the rest of the Altona football club does and be very successful,” Seaward said.
The team, led by captain Belinda Ousley, has begun training twice a week, and is welcoming anyone who wants to come for a run, even if they are new to the game or have not decided whether they want to play footy.
For information about joining the squad, call team manager Anne Risci on 0416 187 252.
