The growth of women’s football has continued in the region with Yarrawonga the latest club to join the local competition.
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The Pigeons have become the sixth team accepted into the AFL North East Border (NEB) Youth Girls League for the upcoming season.
Yarrawonga will be led by the competition’s first female coach – Pigeons netball stalwart and 2003 Toni Wilson Medallist Briana Cossar.
Cossar’s football involvement has ramped up after taking on the role of Murray Bushrangers’ Youth Girls team manager and assistant coach.
“I’m hoping I can instill some of the things I have learnt with the Bushies and knowing what it takes to get to that next level to help these girls achieve whatever they set out to do,” she said.
Cossar represented Yarrawonga in netball for more than 15 years, coaching and playing in a number of premiership sides, but admitted it could have been different if football was an option for women in the past.
“I definitely would have played footy if it was around 15 years ago,” she said.
“These girls don’t realise how lucky they are with the opportunity that is before them.
“Hopefully we can integrate it as part of Ovens and Murray football on a Saturday and who knows, there could be a seniors women’s league in the near future.
“It’s great that Yarrawonga has embraced girls footy and I hope down the track the rest of the Ovens and Murray clubs see it in their wisdom that they also embrace it.”
Yarrawonga will be spearheaded by local talent Elise Freeman who is in the Murray Bushrangers’ squad.
“She’ll bring a lot of experience to the side and be able to help the girls out along the way,” Cossar said.
“I think she could be drafted in another couple of years.”
Yarrawonga junior football president David Woodburn and Scott Pendergast got the ball rolling on the idea late last year and have been pleased with the response.
“We probably didn’t think we’d get it up and going because it might have been a bit too close to the season, but we’re glad we went to the effort to do it,” Woodburn said.
“We’ve targeted not just Yarrawonga, but the surrounding towns as far as Cobram-Barooga to get a few players as well.
“A lot of them are netballers and basketballers, so you can pick the ones out that have been playing other sports for a while.
“Girls could play in the AWJFL until under 14s, but not many went through into under 16s, so this bridges the gap a bit.”
Yarrawonga has had interest from more than 25 players so far, ranging from ages 14 to 17, with hopes to attract more before the season opener.
The Pigeons face reigning premiers Lavington in their first game on April 2.