Keilor Football Club will join the ranks of football clubs establishing women’s teams.
From next season the Blues will field a senior women’s side, along with their existing under-12, under-15 and under-18 girls’ sides.
Club president Brad Bult said it had been an easy decision to form a women’s team.
“At youth girls, we have under-12, under-15 and under-18s, and we have also got an all girls’ Auskick,” he said.
“We’ve got 66 girls playing at the moment at Keilor. The next step is to start a women’s team and have a pathway all the way through.”
The club hasn’t wasted any time appointing an experienced coach for the inaugural season.
Emma Kerry, who was assistant coach at the all conquering Darebin Falcons, which won the first-ever women’s VFL premiership this year, will take on the role.
Kerry also previously played for the Falcons.
“Emma has been around the club for a long time,” Bult said. “Both her brothers are life members.
“We’ve been lucky to get a hold of her, and she will oversee the whole female football department.
“She has played at a high level and will bring professionalism to the club.
“We have to get it right from the start. Six or seven players will come up from under-18s, and we’ve had a few girls interested.”
Bult said he hoped appointing Kerry as coach would attract players to the club, which is looking for players of any skill level to join.
“Emma will be able to teach structures of the game to others who want to learn the right way,” he said. “We’ve just been teaching many of the girls the basics, like kicking.”
Bult said they would also consider appointing a president of female football, saying the female side will add an extra layer to the already successful club.
“They are exciting and bring an energy to the club,” he said. “They are different to boys, and are very exciting to be around.”
The new women’s side will play in the Victorian Women’s Football League. Which division they will compete in is still to be decided.
Bult said they were in the process of interviewing coaches for the three girls’ juniors sides.
All three sides made finals this season, with the under-15 team losing the grand final in extra time.
