Women Kicking Goals

April 07th, 2016

A new phenomenon is sweeping the nation and one local football club is about to be right in the thick of it as the football season fast approaches.

The Mount Lofty Football Club is fielding their first ever women’s football team and the club could not be prouder.

One of two female teams in the Hills, the Mount Lofty group had it’s beginnings over a cup of coffee and conversation about sporting opportunities in the region.

The team’s vice-captain Phoebe Rowberry said that she had tried almost every sport on offer throughout the Hills and was looking for something different.

“We were talking about how there wasn’t a lot of girls sports throughout the Hills apart from volleyball, netball and some soccer,” Phoebe said.

“Our coach Shaun then organised a team for us up here and we have been building our team ever since.”

While most of the girls have never played football, Phoebe and the girls were keen to establish some ground work about the way they wanted their team to operate.

“We really want a footy atmosphere in our team – everyone is mates, you stay after the game and socialise, that sort of thing,” Phoebe said.

“The club has been so supportive and helpful too.”

Player and inaugural captain Shae Pacifico-Hart has also spent time playing other sports in the region, including soccer.

“I have been playing soccer since I was 17 and it just wasn’t rough enough for me,” Schae said.

“I played for many years and got to the point where I wanted a change.”

While some teams in the league have been struggling to field regular numbers since beginning training with six players, the girls have now recruited more than the required 18.

“We just keep getting more and more girls,” she said.

“Everyone has come from a different sporting background, not many had played footy before.”

Coach Shane Gould has been impressed with the team’s willingness to learn and their accompanying enthusiasm and is looking forward to them hitting the field on Sunday.

“We had our first trial game against Christies Beach and we really didn’t know what to expect,” Shaun said.

“Everyone was really nervous on game day but at the quarter time break I asked how many of them had been tackled and they all put their hands up – they took to the game like ducks to water.”

His first time coaching an Austrtalian rules team, Shaun has previously coached volleyball at Heathfield High and has spent a lot of time watching and playing football.

“I have been at Mount Lofty footy club since I was five years old and have been entrenched in the club ever since,” Shaun said.

“I am really enjoying coaching the girls and while there is still a bit of work to be done they are all improving every week.”

Assistant Coach Mike Arnaul has been at the club for years on a number of committees and is heavily involved with list management of the men’s higher divisions.

He spends a lot of time watching football, also working as an Adelaide-based recruiter for AFL team the Gold Coast Suns after having previously worked for the Western Bulldogs.

Mike jumped on board to help Shaun and hasn’t looked back.

“I’m here to help Shaun and to help teach the girls the skills that they need,” Mike said.

“They all have sporting backgrounds and are athletic – they are all fit and have good hand-eye coordination too.

“I am really enjoying assistant coaching and it is great to watch this work in progress.”

The Mount Lofty Devils division 2 women’s team play their first match this Sunday, April 10 against Adelaide University at 12.30pm.

The girls first home game will be against Christies Beach at Heathfield Oval on Friday, April 15 from 7.30pm.

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