Anthea Stathakis may not be able to take to the football field due to injury, but it isn’t going to stop her being involved with the Caroline Springs Women’s football side.
Stathakis, who played in the Lakers first season, has been named the side’s coach for next season, taking over from Terry Azzopardi.
Stathakis said she had a passion for football and wanted to stay involved in anyway she could.
“I’m a parent at the club and my son has been playing the past three seasons,” she said.
“I decided to join the women’s side and see how it goes and I started to enjoy myself.
“I need to have a knee reconstruction and Terry asked me what my plans were for my football. I said I want to eventually coach the side and it went from there.”
Azzopardi will still be involved with the side, becoming a mentor for Stathakis.
Stathakis, who played top level basketball, said she wished football had been around when she was growing up.
“I’ve always loved football and if women’s football was around when I was younger I would have headed down that path.”
Stathakis said after a first season which saw the side finish fourth and play finals, she’s hoping they can build on that next year.
This year the Lakers played in a combined Western Region and Essendon District football league competition, but all indications are the leagues will have separate competitions next year.
“Looking at the bigger picture, I can see great things happening with this team. We want to win premierships.”
The new coach said they were looking for new players to join the side next season. Preseason training will start later this month.
Meanwhile it was a big night for the Lakers’ women’s side at the Western Region Football League best and fairest night.
Krystyn Raymundo took out the league best and fairest in the inaugural Senior Women’s competition, while teammate Abby Gilmore finished equal second one vote behind.
