North Melbourne Werribee is embracing the challenges being thrown at it in the Victorian Football League women’s competition.
The reigning premiers have had to learn how to be the hunted after the success of last season.
The Kangaroos haven’t been daunted, having claimed the VFLW minor premiership for the first time.
Kangaroos captain Renee Tierney said it had been really good how the season had played out so far.
“We have put ourselves in a pretty good position,”she said. “It’s a good opportunity and we’ve pretty confident in the footy we are playing.
“Being on top is that extra level and it instils belief coming into finals.
Tierney said this season had a different feeling to last year. The side came from fourth last season to win the premiership.
This season they have proven to be the team to beat, with clearly the best attack and defence according to statistics.
“Last season we were the underdogs and had to fight for it a little bit,” she said. “This year everyone is coming for us.
“We’ve been maintaining the standards of what we need to do to stay on top. Brett [Gourley] has said a few times it’s a different position for us.
“We see every game as an opportunity, no matter who we are playing. Everyone wants to beat us as we’re on top.”
Tierney said they were content with the footy they were playing which had seen them win eight matches in a row.
She said they felt they were playing North ball, the way that they wanted to play.
“We have a good connection on and off the field,” she said. “That is important to play our best football.”
As well as being the reigning premiers in the VFLW, the Kangaroos claimed their first AFLW premiership last season as well.
Tierney said there was a really good connection between the two groups.
“It’s pretty cool,” she said. “We have a great connection with the W girls as well.
“The club has put a lot into the women’s program and there’s a good system of how they support us.
“It’s a good place to be.”
The support for the Kangaroos VFLW program has grown this year with the club joining forces with Werribee.
The clubs have signed a three year partnership which is an opportunity to invest further in the game in the Wyndham region.
Tierney said it had been good to see another side of football.
“We had a training session and a game out there,” she said. “We have the [Werribee] W on the jersey.
“Ëven just having that other side of support. Meeting all the boys and the club people out there. It’s nice to get more eyes on women’s footy and that pathway, which is the whole reason for the partnership.”
The Kangaroos finished the regular season on Sunday against the Sandringham Zebras.
The Kangaroos continued their winning run, winning 5.12 (42)-4.1 (25).
Tierney and Georgia Nicolas kicked two goals each for the Kangaroos. Madeleine Di Cosmo and Alana Barba both had plenty of the ball and were the two leading possession winners on the ground.
After a week off, Tierney said before the game they were keen to have a good hit out before finals get underway.
“It’s a different ball game,” she said. “We’re excited to take on the challenge with it getting pretty serious.
“It’s definitely exciting.”
