Greater Western Victoria reveals their girls squad ahead of the season
After a promising 2024 campaign, the Greater Western Victoria Rebels girls side is ready to take huge strides forward this year. See our profiles on every player.
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Greater Western Victoria Rebels girls coach Sally Riley says her team is inspired to follow in the footsteps of last year’s boys team as it looks for success of their own this year.
In 2024, the Rebels boys broke a 27-year drought by making the Coates Talent League grand final, losing to Sandringham Dragons.
It was an incredible performance from a team who has to overcome obstacles throughout the year including travel around the state.
The girls team is now keen to continue the good times and have some success of their own.
Last year, the team won five games, just missing out on finals.
“Last year was a really fun year,” Riley said.
“The girls built really good camaraderie between each other. This year having a lot of those strong leaders leaving, getting drafted or moving into the VFL system, we’ve seen others stand up.
“We’ve now seen the younger ones step up.”
Almost half the squad has gone from last year but that won’t deter the team.
The girls Rebels team has never played finals in their short history.
“We had a lot of girls go to watch the boys (in the grand final),” she said.
“It is that community feel (of one team). Even the staff members, we were all pumped as a whole group.
“The girls were like yeah why not us, we can do that.”
Riley said the focus was also on getting girls into the Vic Country squad.
Last year, the team had four.
“Our goal is to hopefully get a few girls in the Vic Country squad,” Riley said.
“Hopefully they perform well and have the confidence in themselves to earn a guensery at national level.
“As a team we want to aim to win more than five games and improve on that culture and get the girls gelling together.”
Meet the team below.
Kate Aikman (North Ballarat)
Was one of the under-16s co-captains last year. Has stepped up this year and really improved her fitness. Looking forward to seeing her as a small forward/on baller.
Airlie Aldridge (Portland)
Comes from Portland and is another under-16 player who has come up. Has grown a bit physically and in terms of skills. She’s an athletic type who can play down back or further up on the wing.
Greta Arnel (Horsham Demons)
From Horsham but boards in Ballarat. Her skills have grown in her third year in the program. She’s top age. She played down forward previous years but we are putting her in the backline this year with her run and carry.
Matilda Brook (Cavendish)
An under-16 player coming into the under-19s. She’s an athletic type who can play down back or further up on the wing or the half forward line.
Zoe Burke (Ballarat)
A returning 19-year-old. She missed all of last year with an ACL. Has fully trained this pre-season and she has speed and good run and carry so we’ll play her as an outside winger.
Remy Callender (North Ballarat)
Coming back from an ACL. Done a mountain of work in the past 12 months. A key forward with a mix of ruck in there as well.
Nikki Clover (South Warrnambool)
A new player to our program and is top age. Has a really good athletic profile. Is a tall ruck who can play at both ends as a key tall.
Elsie Conroy (Ballarat)
Returns from last year’s squad as one of the key backs. We see her playing a major part this season with her knowledge and her competitiveness. She’s a key back with aerial strengths.
Maddison Cotten (Cavendish)
Returns for her third year as well but her second in under-18. She’s from Cavendish and has worked hard on her skills coming to Ballarat for extra sessions. A hybrid key or small forward.
Isabella Davies (North Ballarat)
She’s one of our leadership players from last year. Davies returns as a 19-year-old and will also play with the Western Bulldogs VFLW.
Elsie Day (Redan)
Has been outstanding this pre-season having grown more quickly than previous. She’s a left footer, a crafty little player, who can play across all three lines. She’ll play predominantly back and midfield this year.
Madi Dixon (East Point)
A second year player who is also a local netballer. Played forward last year but trained really well down the back line. She’s cemented her spot down there this year.
Lilly Dixon (Terang Mortlake)
She played in our under-16 squad and had a really good second trial game for us. She’s quick, attacks the ball really well, and is a half back/wing type player.
Lila Evans (South Warrnambool)
Had an interrupted preseason with a foot injury. We’re excited once she is back to full strength we’ll see her on field up forward.
Lucy Fraser (North Ballarat)
A developing athletic type player. A national high jumper, who is pretty raw in terms of football skills. But she brings with her run and carry and an outstanding jump on her. We’re looking forward to seeing Lucy progress throughout the year. She’ll be on the wing as well.
Maggie Johnstone (South Warrnambool)
She’s been training the house down. Very driven, very competitive. She’ll play majority midfield and forward. She was part of the Victoria Country hub. Johnstone is also our co-captain this year.
Kate Knight (Redan)
She is a competitive ruck who uses her power and strength to win the taps. She also has the ability to go forward as a key aerial target. She is in her top age year after playing in our under-16 team in 2023.
Violet McGennisken (Horsham)
Comes from Horsham and has been part of the under-16 team in previous years. Makes the step up. She’s a forward who has really strong hands and is great at leading for the footy.
Sema Meric (Terang Mortlake)
A bit of a versatile player. Plays as a medium sized player who can play at both ends.
Kizzi Moore (Lake Wendouree)
From New South Wales who is bordering in Ballarat. She’s very good at her aerial craft and her goalkicking, so she’ll play in the forward line.
Scarlett O’Donnell (South Warrnambool)
Our vice-captain this year. She’s still only played less than 30 games of football in her life but has a massive impact on the field. She doesn’t say much but leads by her actions. She’s an in an under midfielder and can swing forward or back.
Alexandra Oldaker (Ballarat Storm)
Another allrounder who is skillful and competitive. We love to see her power out of stoppages and can play on all three lines.
Poppy Peters (Horsham/Laharum)
She’s been part of the program for three years. Will play as a forward this year having been down back previously. Poppy’s leadership and her attack on the football is something we love.
Milly Shortal (North Ballarat)
Won the local under-16 best-and-fairest last year. She’s a powerful athlete, very competitive and will scare opposition. One who will play in the midfield and down back.
Jovie Skewes-Clinton (Ballarat Storm)
Played in the summer hub for Victoria Country. Has grown out of sight in terms of personality, personal growth, athletic growth. She can really start our offence from the backline but has the power and ability to break lines in the midfield as well. Her third year at the Rebels.
Emma Stewart (Bacchus Marsh)
Can run all day. She is generally a winger with a strong athletic profile. She’s returning from last year.
Tilly Stringer (Redan)
Is a tall who will play ruck forward this year. She’s in her second year in the program, really raw in football, but has a point of difference with her left foot. She’s really good athletically.
Ruby Thomas (Bacchus Marsh)
Our co-captain for this year. Small in stature, which she hates me saying but secretly she loves it. She owns it, plays really big and has a huge impact on game days. Is such a good team player. Thomas is a small forward/midfielder.
Amelia Thomas (Cavendish)
Will play through the wing. A natural defender but we’ll get her up the ground a little bit more and see how she goes.
Heidi Torrance (Ballarat Swans)
New to the program and makes the rise from local level. Hasn’t missed a beat in pre-season and was quite influential as a small forward in our trial games.
Brook Ward (Grovedale)
Returns as a 19-year-old and is currently studying in Geelong. Ward is back from rehab and has got through preseason. She’s as fit as she has ever been and will play for us and the Western Bulldogs VFLW.
Amaya Woodward (Horsham Demons)
We like her as a forward. She has good goal sense and is quite good aerially as well.
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