By Dongyun Kwon
Coldstream junior footballer has put her name on top of the goal-kicking list, overwhelming all boys in the same league.
Lily Polkinghorne, a 12-year-old girl at 159 centimetre tall from St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School in Lilydale, has played full forward and ruck for the Coldstream Junior Football Club (JFC) U12 team this season.
The 12-year-old girl is not scared of playing against boys, rather, she takes it as a good experience where she can build good skills.
She officially kicked 29 goals and kicked the most goals out of 255 players in the Easter Football Netball League U12-D section.
Polkinghorne said she is proud to be a girl in games where mainly boys play.
“We have three girls in our team, most teams in our competition don’t have any,” she said.
“I won the top goal kicker by six goals, and my first game for the season, where I kicked five goals, was not counted as it was a scratch match due to the other team forfeiting.”
Despite the brilliant performance by Polkinghorne over the season, her team ended in sixth place on the ladder and couldn’t make it to the finals.
Coldstream JFC U12 Team coach Leam Doughty said he is extremely proud of Polkinghorne’s achievement throughout the season.
“She is our key forward, she does extremely good marks, she’s very good with her bodywork, and she’s a beautiful kick of the ball,” he said.
“She’s one of our captains. Her leadership is fantastic, and her training is really good.
“She kicked seven goals in one of our games.”
The junior footballer started playing footy at five years old, and she has always kicked the footy outside with her dad.
Her dad and she, the Pies supporters, also spend a lot of time watching and yelling at AFL on the TV.
“My favourite players for the Pies are Mason Cox and Dan McStay, and last year, Coldstream JFC purchased me a footy jumper with Mason’s number, 46,” Polkinghorne said.
“They both play ruck and full forward, and that is the reason why I like two positions.
“Game day on Sundays is my favourite day of the week.”
Polkinghorne joined Coldstream JFC prior to Covid, but could not initially play because of the lockdowns.
She has played for the club since the lockdowns ended.
The junior footballer said her parents wanted her to join Coldstream as it’s an old club with a lot of history and tradition.
“I was happy to go there as my friends were also going to play at the club,” Polkinghorne said.
Polkinghorne said the club has lots of fun outside of game days that not only players but also their families can enjoy together.
“Since joining, what I love the most is how the club is focused not just on the kids and players but as a family and community,” she said.
“The club and parents are awesome and friendly to all the kids and with each other, and we do things like parents versus kids match at the end of the season as well as other fun events during the season, it’s a real club feeling.
“My teammates are good at football too, which allows me to do well in the forward line.”
Coldstream JFC has gifted her with many good memories.
Last year, the club entered its juniors into a mini-match at Marvel Stadium where the juniors played at half time.
The top goal kicker said kicking seven goals in a match against Lysterfield is another good memory.
“Everyone made a big deal of me, which felt different and weird with me getting all this attention,” Polkinghorne said.
“My Mum and Dad told me seven goals is a massive deal, and I said to them, ‘Yeah, but I couldn’t kick the goals without my teammates getting the ball to me.’
“That’s what I love about the game.”
The junior footballer recently played her 50th game on 19 July with two of her mates.
Polkinghorne said it was great running through the banner with the two mates.
“I kicked two goals at that match but also gave a kick at goal to my mate. I wanted him to kick a goal too for his 50th game,” she said.
“That’s what being in a team is about, and our coaches teach us that.
“Last season, I won runner-up Best and Fairest, and one of my best friends won the Best and Fairest. That was an awesome moment to share with my mate.”
Polkinghorne is now walking towards her bigger dream.
She wants to be a professional footballer and also wants to inspire other girls who want to play football, but think they can’t.
She said it’s good to have something you love doing and are good at as your job.
“I want girls to know they can go for anything they want to in life,” she said.
“I want AFL Women’s to be more recognised, respected and paid more, so this can be a real full-time job for them.”
Although Polkinghorne enjoys playing for Coldstream, she will probably have to leave the club as she can only play in the boys or mixed competition until the end of U14 because of the league rule.
Polkinghorne said she would love to stay playing for the club.
“I am really hoping that we could get enough girls to join Coldstream JFC,” she said.
“A lot of families in the area choose to go to bigger clubs with new and fancy clubrooms, but I know I won’t find the same kind of atmosphere at a big club.”
