By Tara Murray
Keilor is backing in youth and has added some key recruits ahead of the Essendon District Football League women’s premier division season.
The Blues had a tough 2024 with only a couple of wins on the board and having to forfeit a couple of matches.
So far things have been tracking well under new coach Giovanni Castello.
“We have good numbers as well,” he said. “It’s nice and hopefully we’ll have a better year than last year.
“We’ve had a few under-18s that have come up and really complement the squad.
“We are full of confidence at Keilor at the moment.”
Castello, who previously coached the club’s under-18s, said they had five or six girls coming up from the under-18 side.
With three of their signings also in that same age bracket, it’s good signs for the future. Most of them have already played senior football.
Castello said they suited the age demographic of the club and they had all fitted in really well.
“They know what they are in for playing against senior women,” he said. “The bigger bodies and more experience has done them well.”
Former Calder Cannons Maddison Albrecht, who comes from Craigieburn, Ava Gerada, who comes from Westmeadows, and Chelsea Mcdermott, who has come from Collegians, have all joined the Blues.
Albrecht is also on Essendon’s Victorian Football League Women’s squad.
Joining the trio at the Blues is a couple of the EDFL’s stars,
Tegan Matthews, who was named the league rising star last season, returns to the Blues after one season at Maribyrnong Park.
She kicked 41 goals to finish second in the goalkicking in her breakout season.
“I coached her in under-18s,” he said. “It’s good to have her back in the fold at Keilor.
Liv Woods, who was best on ground in the division 2 grand final, joins the Blues from Coburg Districts. She was named captain of the EDFL division 2 team of the year and finished second in the league best and fairest.
Castello said the Woods was keen to test herself at the higher level.
“She is really keen,” he said. “She has been loving training and her fitness is right up there.
“She is the most excited out of all the girls and is up for the challenge.”
Practice matches will kick off in the coming weeks for the Blues.
Castello said they were keen to see how the girls gel with each other before the season.
“We are building,” he said. “Last year was tough.
“We’ll look to rebuild over the next few years.”
The Blues kick off their season on April 5 against Greenvale.
