Tara Murray
While Werribee had the bye on the weekend, the work behind the scenes to ensure the Victorian Football League club imprint in the community never stops.
Whether it’s school clinics, setting up a female academy, running female programs and getting more people out to watch football at Avalon Airport Oval, there’s something always going on.
It’s such this broad range of activities the club is focused on, that attracted new community manager Brooke Lochland to the role.
“It is a good role,” she said.
“Obviously the main part of the community side of things, but it’s a broad role. I’m across the football department and part of some of the sub-committees.
“I work with Mar [Gattek] and do school visits and female footy is a big part of what we are doing. We had the NAB League Girls grand final at our ground and then the national championships, there was a triple header.
“It was great for our club.”
Lochland brings a wide range of experience to Werribee. She worked in the fitness industry for five years managing a gym, before heading into coaching.
She started her own coaching academy with AFLW star Sarah Hosking in October to provide resources to young girls they aren’t getting as they rise through the football ranks.
Lochland has also made a name for herself on the football field as well, playing 29 AFLW games for the Western Bulldogs.
The 31-year-old said being at a small club like Werribee, gives you the opportunity to help across a number of different areas.
“I can help with the footy department and the community part is the main role and there’s women’s academy stuff.
“Being able to be across more things and experiences has been great. We’ve been able to reach about 700 kids in schools in just this term.
“The multicultural part is so important to the club.
“It’s a very diverse area. Getting kids into footy and making them active makes a difference in the participation space.”
Not surprisingly, female football is a huge passion of Lochland. She wants others to be able to have the chance to play AFLW like she does now.
“We’ve got lots of female clinics coming up,” she said.
“Women’s academy starting in a month with high performance facilities and coaches.
“So far we’ve contacted 10 girls from the NAB League program in the Wyndham area and down the track we’ll look to expand that to the top talent in the WRFL.
“It’s really exciting. Hopefully one day they will want to pull on an AFLW jumper.“
Lochland said a lot of work was being done behind the scenes as the club aims to get a VFLW licence within the next five years, which she is playing a key role in.
She said they would look at junior teams as well as part of their plans to cater for everyone.
The club will host two themed rounds in the coming weeks, as they look to further include the community in the club.
“We have an indigenous round coming up, and it’s the first time we are doing this which is exciting for the club,” Lochland said.
“We’re doing a pride round, which is the first one we’ve done. Being able to bring the community to our club and have that place that everyone feels safe is important for us.”
While Lochland is busy focusing on her role at Werribee, she has one eye on the AFLW season.
Pre-season is expected to start next month.
She said working within a football club environment helped juggle the work life balance.
“The men here work full time like we do,” she said.
“Their program is set up similar to ours. The whole club understands the commitment of working full time.”
