Tara Murray
Keilor is back fitter and stronger ahead of the Essendon District Football League women’s premier division season.
Having won the last two premierships, the Blues core group remains as it aims for another strong season on and off field.
Blues coach Brooke Surgeon said it had been a really good off season.
‘We’ve got a couple of new girls that we are blending into the team and teaching them about the set up,” she said.
“We’re looking stronger and fitter and the motivation is super high.
“We’re not complacent by any means. We were the hunted last year and teams will come for us again this year.”
Surgeon said that the only players they had lost were to retirement, which was a good sign that players wanted to remain at the club.
They’ve picked up four new players this season, two of them familiar faces.
Shenay Thomas returns to the club and will provide plenty of experience. Eleanor Cornish, who is on Essendon’s Victorian Football League Women’s list, also returns to the club.
Thomas’ former Sunbury Kangaroos teammates Sophie Pettman and Olivia Lacey have also come across.
Pettman will add to the Blues midfield, while Surgeon said having played basketball with Lacey, she was keen to get her across.
There will be opportunities for players to step up, with Surgeon saying they weren’t expecting to see their VFL players often.
Joining Cornish on a VFLW list is Olivia Manfre, Lauren Caruso, Laura Wright and Kaitlyn O’Keefe.
In good news for the Blues program, the club will have an under-18 team this season.
The Blues haven’t had one since 2019.
Surgeon said it had been a really big focus of the club.
“We have a full side, that is massive,” she said.
“We’re seeing 50-50 top age and bottom age and it’s looking pretty healthy.
“We’re seeing some up and coming midfielders for sure.
“We’re training with the 18s and they train with us every week. There’s their youthfulness and spirit and then the leadership from the senior girls.”
Surgeon said the success of the club’s program remains making sure they have the best program they have and people want to be a part of it.
“We want to win and the club wants to win games, but it’s about looking after people first.”
The Blues start their season on Good Friday against Strathmore.
The two teams will play four games on the day at Joe Brown Reserve, with the women’s match to be the fourth of them.
