Tara Murray
Westbourne Grammarians are enjoying the challenge in the Victorian Amateur Football Association premier B women’s competition.
The Grammarians have reformed their women’s program this season under new coaches Ian Allan and Chris Grant.
Many of the players have never played in the competition having followed their coaches across from Spotswood in the Western Football League.
Allan said it had been a good challenge so far.
“We’re looking at baby steps, taking it week by week,” he said. “We’re learning a little out of each game and growing with confidence.
“It’s a good standard of football and the girls are being pushed and challenged.”
Coming off their first win of the season, the Grammarians on Saturday, the Grammarians faced Williamstown CYMS, the other western suburbs women’s teams in the VAFA
Allan said the match up between the two sides was one they had looked forward to when they first saw the draw.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better day to play football,” he said. “The standard was high quality from both teams all day.
“We wanted to see where we are with our footy. It was a really good game of football.”
The CYs came away with the win, 8.10 (58)-2.1 (13) to continue its unbeaten start to the season.
Manaia Huta, Sienna Burns Bradley and Gracie Lamers were named their best.
Allan said the difference between the two sides was the CYs experience of having played together for a number of seasons in the VAFA.
“We are on the right track,” he said. “We are learning what it takes to win games of football.
“Losing isn’t a bad thing either. You take that on board and what areas you need to improve in to play good consistent football.”
Allan said the standard of competition was higher than what a lot of the girls were used to and that there were no easy games.
“This year is a real unknown for us,” he said. “We don’t know what we are up against.
“Until we get that experience every team we don’t know all the things we need to improve in our game.
“The girls have played four really good quarters the last two weeks and are seeing how much pressure there is on a constant basis.”
Allan said they had put any expectations on the group heading into this season as they began from scratch.
He said they would take things week by week and see where it takes them.
‘We’re just learning a lot of things,” he said. “We acknowledge how important it is to get these things in place.
“We’ll keep working away and see the results at the end of the day,”
The Grammarians this week face ladder leaders Old Geelong.
