By Kath Gannaway
It’s 5 o’clock and Sarah Wilcox is sitting on the bench outside the Yarra Junction Football Club change rooms, having dinner with her two youngsters Jasper, 8, and Rosie, 7.
And, McEwan, also 8, who she’s looking after for a friend.
“Anything is possible,” she says when asked about the challenges of signing on with the fledgling Eagles’ women’s football team as a single mum.
As she packs up the lunch box and heads out for a kick to kick before training starts in earnest, there’s a sense that this is real grassroots women’s football.
Tina Eason is 37 and is venturing into women’s football for the first time.
She comes from Queensland and is converting from the rugby culture she grew up with.
“First practice, I couldn’t kick or handball, now I can do both,” she says justifiably proud of her achievements; and it’s only the beginning.
“If I was younger I would have loved this … and I could have done this,” she adds, alluding to the opportunity for young women to make a real go at AFL.
Again … grassroots women’s football.
Georgia Strahan is the younger generation ‘doer’ at the club.
With the full backing of the club, she is leading the push for Yarra Junction to be a prime-mover in the Yarra Valley at a time when there is genuine opportunity for girls and women to play the game that has had a tensile-strength glass ceiling forever.
“We are passionate about leading the way for other clubs in our area,” she says.
“It’s clear from our end, and through AFL Vic and the league (AFL Yarra Ranges), that this club could easily become the central hub for women’s football in the Upper Yarra Valley.”
And there’s the coach – Dominic Tesoriero.
The name is synonymous with football and netball in the valley, not the least through his niece Lauren who is playing for Collingwood inaugural AFL Women’s Football League season.
He sees the success of the AFL Women’s Football League as a catalyst, but admits they don’t have players bashing down their clubroom doors … yet!
With years of experience in the game, he sees something unique in what girls bring to the game.
“It’s a rawness, and endeavour,” he said.
“They play the way we used to play years ago.
“You don’t see a lot of congestion around the football, there’s a lot of one-on-one play. When a girl goes for the ball, the opposition is usually right there with her. When you watch the men, you don’t know who’s in there.”
Passing on years of experience is exciting and knowing that there is a pathway there for those who have the desire and the talent, is a whole new ball game.
“It’s probably more about opportunity. Where someone may have wanted to play for a long time, they now get that opportunity.
“Some will love it, others will give it a go and that will be enough.”
Sally Brennan is secretary of the YJFNC and has been a strong and active advocate for bringing women into the club.
She said developing women’s football has been a priority.
“We’ve been very pro-active in developing opportunities for women and this is an example of that,” she said.
But neither Sally nor Georgia have any illusions that cultivating from grassroots level in a club that has no juniors or an under-18s – and that has been battling for years to get adequate facilities for their five netball teams – is going to be easy.
“We’ve got five netball teams that change in three toilets and share them with the public,” Georgia says.
Playing Saturday nights after the men’s competition would open up some opportunities, but without lights, that’s not an option. Trying to work out a fixture that doesn’t clash with the netball is another strategy.
“Men just say ‘I play footy on Saturday’, it’s not so easy for women juggling child care and work,” Georgia observes.
Sally agrees.
“The biggest thing stopping women who want to join any sport is child care, and we’re looking at that.
“We’re constantly trying to work out ways that women with children can be part of our club and participate, not just be on the edge of the ground watching men play sport while they watch the kids,” she says.
The hope is that with the profile that AFL Women’s League is attracting, funds will trickle down to clubs like theirs.
Overwhelmingly, the approach at Yarra Junction is of optimistic passion and determination.
The priority is to get a team together for season 2017, and they are looking for girls and women from across the Yarra Valley to have a go.
“This year is a transition year,” Georgia says.
“It’s pretty flexible and we just want to get teams out there and get women having a go and then build over the next few years with more clubs with women’s teams.
“If your young daughter can see women playing and says I want to play AFL, they can see there’s a pathway.
“It’s really good; and it’s about time.”
Training is on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at Yarra Junction oval. Phone Georgia on 0425 459 370 for inspiration.
