december 3 - 9 | 2014
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Loving their footy circulating in wangaratta, myrtleford, bright, mt beauty, beechworth, yackandandah, rutherglen, chiltern and districts
By KYLIE WILSON
ON THE BALL:
Jo Maples is one of the keen footballers behind the burgeoning Women’s Footy North East Victoria movement. PHOTO: KYLIE WILSON
GARDENING WITH
JOAN
RSPCA WITH
TIGER
LILY
FILM ALEXANDER & THE TERRIBLE,
HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY
WINE TALK WITH
ANITA
THE sheer physicality of football, and the teamwork involved, is drawing in women from across the North East who want to prove it is not just a man’s sport. Even in the off season, the drive to get women active, moving and playing football is no less, with Women’s Footy North East Victoria at the forefront of getting women involved in the game. Among those spearheading the initiative is Wangaratta’s Jo Maples, who is organising structured regular training sessions to start in January. She said the popularity so far has been such that a team should be ready to play against teams in Bendigo, Shepparton and metro areas during the 2015 football season. Jo said with sports such as netball already entering the preseason phase, women’s football training would complement such training for women wishing to work on their fitness. “It’s great cross training,” she said, reflecting on her passion for the sport, including the rough and tumble games of backyard football with her brothers. “I played for the girls’ AFL team at Wangaratta High School, and our team made it to the state level in Melbourne, which was awesome. “But beyond that, there were never really any opportunities to play footy competitively as a girl, especially in this area.” That is why Jo, and others, are excited by the burgeoning Women’s Footy North East Victoria Movement. She said the response to the organisation so far had been positive, with a recent come and try day in the area being an instant success. continued page |
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