WestMAC First XI Girls’ football: Meet the team that secured the TAS premiership

Who led West Moreton Anglican College to the TAS First XI Girls Football premiership? Revealed here as we get to know players one through 18.

West Moreton Anglican College Cricket captain Emmanuel O’Hara and Football captain Hayley Victor.

While an Ipswich school was celebrating a magnificent six-peat being TAS’ (The Associated Schools) Champion Cricket School, their First XI Girls football team was also soaring to premiership glory.

West Moreton Anglican College (WestMAC) won Champion TAS Cricket School for the sixth consecutive year, cementing the College’s legacy as the region’s leading cricket school.

But there was more reason to celebrate with their unbeaten First Girls football team earning themselves a premiership after a thrilling 2-all grand final draw and an unbeaten regular season superseded rivals John Paul College.

WestMAC’s head of sport Rob Hillier said three of the College’s five cricket teams progressed to their respective grand finals with the Intermediate Seconds sealing a premiership.

Emmanuel O’Hara and Zak Smith of the WestMAC First XI cricket team.

“To have three of WestMAC’s five teams go through to grand finals is a sign of our depth, as well as our renowned WestMAC spirit of participation and teamwork,’’ Mr Hillier said.

“It is rewarding to see that our approach of giving students access to high-level training and specialist coaching, from junior years and onwards, has paid dividends with students achieving individual and team excellence.’’

Meanwhile WestMAC Girls Football was on the crest of a wave.

“In football we have a link with local club Western Pride, with expert club coaches helping to mentor our Senior players to soar to new heights resulting in the feat of securing a premiership with the Firsts team,” Mr Hillier said.

“Players receive support of coaches and the sports department which helps with the little one-percenters such as having a gym to work out in before matches, and a beautiful field to train on, which made a difference to team preparation and performance.’’

The college has claimed two of the five premierships since Girls Football was introduced to the TAS competition schedule in 2019.

And, leading the charge were these teenage young guns featured below.

WESTMAC's premiership winning First XI football team.

MEET THE GIRLS FOOTBALL TEAM:

Goalkeeper: Alyssa Grant

Grant has been WestMAC’s goalkeeper for multiple years.

Football co-ordinator Sebastian Hart said goalkeeper was a tough position to fill so having her in there was great for the team.

“She saved a very important penalty throughout the season. That was a standout moment of hers.

“She does her job, gives the team great stability and communicates well with the defenders,” he said about the Year 11 student who will return to the team next year.

Centre back: Emily Goodlet

Having played last year, Goodlet was a regular in this position.

The Year 11 student has natural football knowledge, provides stability and is an excellent talker which is helpful for those around her.

Centre back: Ashleigh Marsh

Having made the move from the intermediate team to the First XI this year, Marsh continued to keep things tight at the back, doing whatever the team asked of her.

According to Hart, Marsh has been a huge improver over the last couple years, and with her heading into Year 12 there’s no doubt she will be a big time player.

Centre back Charlotte McDowell:

McDowell, a state hockey player, is a naturally good athlete.

Her positioning is unrivalled and her attitude even better.

Hart said she’d grown so much in football the last couple years.

“Her athletic edge, competitive edge, having played high level sport, she has the work ethic and attitude to come in and do a top job.

“She fit into football quickly and well. Athletes like her can really transfer their skills across a number a sports.”

Fullback: Bridgette Egan

Another one who was in the intermediate who stepped up to First XI, Year 11 student Egan was quite the unsung hero.

Hart said she was quiet but athletic, “she gets stuck in and makes plenty of really good tackles”.

“When you see someone with their confidence growing it rubs off on teammates. The team enjoyed seeing Egan come out of her shell … on the football field, she came into her own.”

Midfield: Hayley Victor

Football captain Hayley Victor.

As captain of the team, Victor led by example — and did one hell of a good job.

With experience galore, Victor kept the team ticking.

Having come into the program as a Year eight player, she instantly proved she was one of the best — leaving little wonder why she got the team going.

Hart had high praise for Victor, saying “she’s technically very sound”.

“Other girls are comfortable giving her the ball and letting her dictate the play. That’s why she makes a good captain.

“She’s good in a tackle and willing to dribble with the ball which gets us moving forward. She’s got a good pass too,” Hart said.

Midfield or Attacking-mid: Layla Fulton

Fulton can switch positions easily, and as a Year 10 she has incredible on-ball confidence.

Hart put it simply: “A coach’s dream — a really hard worker who is great technically … the coaches think super highly of her for that reason.”

A potential leader on the pitch, the team confidence booster is a ‘lead by example’ kind of player.

Wing: Evie Schultz

Evie Schultz.

She’s a really talented football player who has a knack for coming up with a clutch goal.

Hart said she was good on the ball, knew how to beat her defender, got into goal scoring positions and was an expert finisher.

We’re lucky we will have her next couple years having made the Firsts in Year 9. She’s similar to Layla (see above) with just sheer talent.

“A real football player. When they’re (Schultz and Fulton) not playing we do miss them,” Hart said.

Wing: Charlotte Lax

Lax is not unlike Schultz — the Year 10 wing is another who is great on the ball, possessing the ability to dribble right past her rivals and make a real difference in a game.

“In a tough game against St. Columbans, she was important … driving down the wing and constantly giving her team an outlet,” Hart said about one of many Lax highlights in 2023.

Striker: Elizabeth Hester

Hester takes the crown as the team’s most hardworking. The one to do extras with the coaches, the one who is always trying to get better.

That energy and work ethic is what rubs off on the rest of the team and creates the winning recipe.

“The culture is hard work and she’s at the forefront. Her attitude is unreal,” Hart said.

And Hester doesn’t just get around her team who kicks off at 8am, she will stay around to support the intermediate and junior teams, instilling the culture in the younger grades.

Striker: Ariana Jones

A prolific goal scorer, after coming to WestMAC last year Jones has been her side’s main striker for the past two years.

When asked how many she scored all Hart could say was “a lot … at least 15”.

“Some games she really filled her boots with a few goals.

“Good positioning and she’s quick. One thing she does have is the confidence to finish. It’s common to get flustered when in the goal scoring position but she’s not afraid of the big moments.”

Jones puts it in the corners.

Action during WestMAC's successful Girls Football season.

Midfield: Claire Lambourn

Lambourn is like Fulton (see above) in that she will get the ball and recycle it.

Defenders know they can pass the ball to her, she has the confidence and she’s super valuable.

Why? Lambourn is a very experienced club and school footballer.

Fullback: Emma Lambourn

The younger sister to Claire, Emma is a confident young footballer who gets stuck in — for someone in Year 10, she’s got a fierce competitive edge.

One who has great leadership qualities and a bigger role awaiting next year.

Wing: Makanaka Nhokawara

An impressive surprise package this season, Year 12 wing Mhokwara was an athletic beast in her return to the sport.

Her value in terms of getting the ball forward was something else.

Defender: Kaitlyn Smith

Smith is a Aussie rules natural but she has the athletic ability and fitness that translates onto the football pitch.

“She’s not afraid of contact and physicality. And she’s got that fitness … you need those runners who are willing to chase the ball and that’s what Smith does,” Hart said.

Action during WestMAC's successful Girls Football season.

Defender: Grace Taylor

Similar to Smith, Taylor is a hard worker willing to run and be physical.

When she, Ashleigh Marsh and Bridgette Egan (see above) play together the trio is deadly.

Defender: Jasmine Wallace

In her final year Wallace was back for more and thanks to her fitness level courtesy of her sporting background she was able to provide more than a smattering of energy off the bench.

She made up a strong bench unit which formed a brick wall for the entire season.

Defender: Georgia Burnham

Last but certainly not least was Burnham, a ball of energy who was key in encouragement and keeping the morale up.

Perhaps the most important key to success, Burnham did the little things which built a winning team environment.