Gympie Cats women compete in QFAW Division 2 North in 2023
The Gympie Cats women begin their season with a trip to Mayne Tigers on April 22 before entertaining the Panthers in the first of the local derbies in Gympie.
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Coach Glenn Warren says his Gympie Cats women’s senior side is ready for the challenge of a new competition and cannot wait for the season to start on April 22.
The Cats previously played in the Wide Bay league but with the senior men now part of QFA Division Two North, it was decided to bring the other senior teams along too.
Warren is excited ahead of the new campaign in QFAW Division 2 North, which will see the Cats line up against fellow Sunshine Coast teams, the Hinterland Blues, Noosa Tigers and Caloundra Panthers.
“It’s exciting to have footy back on the Coast,” Warren said.
“The senior men have had a couple of years in Division Two North and we decided as a club that we wanted all sides to head in the same direction. It just made sense.”
“As a footy club it will work out well for us. AFL Wide Bay have been great to us, but it can be hard with the travelling every second week as far as Bundaberg.
“We just wanted all the senior sides to be in line with each other.
“Moving to the new competition will cut our travel time and the other teams were happy to have us in.”
The Cats begin their season with a trip to Mayne Tigers on April 22 before entertaining the Panthers in the first of the local derbies in Gympie a week later.
They will play reigning premiers Noosa on June 10 in Gympie and Warren said the season would be something of a learning curve but expected good things from a well-balanced squad of youth and experience.
“AFL Wide Bay was a great competition, but we knew it would be a little step up in terms of opponents this season, but I think we will be competitive,” he said.
“We will win as many as we lose, I am sure of that. We have a great bunch of girls, both new recruits and players from previous campaigns.
“It’s hard to know what to expect because it’s all a bit new, but I think we will be OK.”
Warren said the loss of vice-captain Jasmine Sternberg, who broke her arm in a practice-match defeat to Noosa, would test the depth of the team, but expected others to stand up in her absence.
“Jasmine will be out for about four weeks and will be a massive loss,” Warren said.
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“Heidi Schroder also has a knee injury and she will be missed but the girls have had a good preseason and are looking good to go for the first game.”
Warren said midfielder Lillianne Chambers will captain the side and ‘was 100 per cent ready to rock and roll’.
Charlotte Blackwood is in her second year and will be a key player in the backline, Warren added, while forward Kiah Monk’s experience will help the younger players in the team.
New recruits Shannon Brown and Kira Smith will add to the team and Warren said the squad had looked really good in training.
“My assistant coaches, Adam Hendry and Peter Grinter, have been really supportive,” Warren said.
“The girls have worked well with them and together and we can’t wait for the season to get going.
“We are really looking forward to the challenge.”
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