Central Coast Sharks first female gridiron team

The Central Coast Sharks will be fielding a women’s gridiron team for the first time this season. And, with a star-studded line-up they don’t intend to make up the numbers.

Rebecca Gordon and Alia Karmali are members of the Central Coast Sharks women's gridiron team. Picture: Mark Scott

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THE CENTRAL Coa`st Sharks will be fielding a women’s gridiron team for the first time this season. And they don’t intend to make up the numbers.

The creation of a new team to play in a statewide competition is a godsend for several coast women — who no longer have to commute to train with Sydney-based sides.

The women’s team further strengthens the depth of the local Sharks club, which already features a mens and Colts (under-18) side.

The Sharks boast two NSW representative quarterbacks. Picture: Mark Scott

Sharks women’s spokeswoman Alia Karmali, herself a doctor, said the core players in the squad included a nurse, police officer, a stay-at-home mum and a student, aged from 16 through to their late 30s.

Karmali herself enjoyed the challenge and the combination of “sisterhood and strategy”.

“When you have seven on each side, everyone has to do their job. It’s more of a strategic game than any other I’ve played,” she said.

“I think we have a good foundation to be competitive,” Karmali said. Picture: Mark Scott

Several coast players contested the National Women’s Gridiron Championships in Perth last year, with the two quarterbacks from the NSW side, Rachael O’Sullivan and Karmali, both set to play for the Sharks in 2019.

“I think we have a good foundation to be competitive,” Karmali said.

The Sharks are welcoming additional players, with pre-season training at varying locations on Sundays (weather permitting). The women’s competition starts in August. Details: facebook.com/centralcoastgridiron/ or email [e-mail]