By Tara Murray
Keilor Park hasn’t wasted any time in starting to prepare for next year’s Essendon District Football League Women’s season.
After finishing last this year, the Devils are keen to keep the momentum going and start the climb up the ladder.
This year’s coach Brent Cooper has developed a preseason development program to keep the girls kicking the football between the end of the season and next year.
Cooper said the playing group was keen to keep training and this was a good way to help develop their skills.
“The girls that played this year and keen to not drop off and wanted to keep the momentum going,” he said.
“Given the landscape, there is an opportunity to not sit back on our hands and let the world pass us by.”
Cooper said despite winning just one game in 2018, the season was a success. He said the first year was about setting up the side and giving them something to build on.
“It wasn’t about the wins and losses,” he said.
“In January we had five girls, we had 15 girls in round one and by the end we had 30 girls.
“From how far back we come, we had no idea what to expect. They enjoyed themselves and created a great environment.”
Cooper said with a number of other teams in the area and other clubs looking to establish women’s and girls teams, it would be silly of them to not do anything.
He said the development program, which has already started, has several different elements to it.
There are the fitness and skill elements sessions and they would also hold information sessions about how to protect the body and head, and about ACL prevention.
He said the program was well supported with the club and local community getting behind it.
Cooper said its part of establishing a really strong women’s program.
“We’ve got a women’s committee in place, a women’s coordnatior, a welfare manager and a social manager.
“We’ve got a lot better structure this year.”
Cooper said the turnout at the sessions so far had been really good, with a few new players turning up.
He said players from the age of 10 all the way through to open were able to attend, with the club also looking to have girls teams.
“It gives the opportunity for the girls to still be involved with footy at this time of the year.
“When December roles round we’ll look at what numbers we have for the girls sides.
“We want to see if anyone else there that wants to play.”
More details: keilorparkfc.com.au/
