Tara Murray
Point Cook Centrals are working hard to try and get a women’s side back up and going for next year’s Western Football League season.
The Sharks had a women’s side previously and won the division 2 premiership in 2022, before being unable to field a side this year.
Wayne Davis, who coached the club’s under-18.5 girls side last season, will coach the women’s side.
Davis said it was exciting for the club to have a women’s side again.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “We want to develop players through under-18s into open age next year.
“We want to keep the group together and make sure we have the pathway when they age out of under-18s and for under-16s going into under-18s to have someone to look up to.”
Davis said they had 12 under-18s from this year that would age out of that age group and move into senior football.
He said seven players had committed so far for next year. A club Facebook post had also garnered some interest.
Davis said some of their under-18s had also put their hand up to play if they were short on numbers.
“We had 13 girls play senior women’s last year,” he said. “It was good to show they can make it at that level.
“It gives these girls their own journey.”
Olivia Alvardo, Page Tyrrell, Hayley Bennett, Hayley Fletcher, Charle Sette and Emma Davis have all committed for next season for the women’s side.
Davis said they were hoping some contacts would help them land some Victorian Football League women’s players to help strengthen the squad.
Joining Davis in the coaching box are two AFLW players.
Laura Elliott, who played juniors at the Sharks, and Mia Van Dyke, who plays for Essendon, are part of the coaching team.
“The girls have already bonded with them.”
Davis said any female interested from the age of 16 was encouraged to get in touch about joining the club about joining either their under-16s, under-18s or senior women’s side.
“We want something that is a bit of fun.”
Details: 0414 823 230
