NAB League Girls: Sandringham Dragons sign off on a list of 60 for new season

Two “daughters of’’ feature in the Sandringham Dragons squad for the 2022 NAB League Girls season that starts this weekend.

Sandringham Dragons’ team leaders for 2022: Keely Coyne, Ella Sciberras, Tayla Jones, Lucy Mitchell and Bridie Hipwell.

Wayne Cripps was appointed coach of Sandringham Dragons halfway through last November.

He’s had to hit the ground running; the NAB League Girls season starts this weekend.

“Yeah, they (the girls) have been a priority knowing their season is coming around pretty quickly,’’ Cripps was saying last Thursday.

“Most of my emphasis has been on getting in and getting to know them well and building a connection.

“I’m pretty much across them now. They’re a good group.’’

Cripps was chosen to replace Jackson Kornberg, who was appointed to coach the Gold Coast VFL team.

Although he’s a fresh face at the Dragons, he knows his way around NAB League grounds, having served as an assistant coach at Oakleigh Chargers.

His duties included helping with the strong Girls team, which won the premiership.

“Love it,’’ he said. “It’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to my coaching, being involved with the girls. It gives you a completely different outlook on footy.

“They’re so pure in terms of how much they love the game. So easy to coach, because they just love playing footy.’’

Cripps said the Dragons were shaping up well.

Last season, he said, they were a “bit of a baby group, with a lot of bottom-agers’’.

“They were fortunate enough to get that experience and that game time, so the likes of Sofia Hurley and Bridie Hipwell and Keely Coyne, we’re obviously expecting them to go on with it,’’ he said.

The Sandy Dragons Girls for 2022.

Hurley and Hipwell are in the NAB AFLW Academy, as is J’Noemi Anderson, who is from NT Thunder and arrives in Melbourne this week.

With talent manager Mark Wheeler scouting the region hard, the Dragons have named a list of 60 players.

Hurley, Hipwell, Ella Sciberras, Lucy Mitchell and Tayla Jones are in the leadership group announced on the weekend.

Two “daughters of’’ feature – Francesca Newport, whose father, Steve, played for Melbourne and St Kilda, and Sophie McKay, offspring of former top Carlton defender Andrew.

Danny Byrne, “Kiwi’’ Roper, Tilly Arthur and Cheyne Webster, the former North Melbourne VFLW head coach, are assisting Cripps.

Wheeler said he was pleased with the squad.

“It’s really deep, as you can see by the numbers,’’ he said.

“Sixty players on the list and it’s very even.

“We’re really happy with the older girls and the young girls underneath. There’s some really good talent in the 16 and 17-year-old groups.’’

The Dragons hit the track ahead of Round 1.

Pia Staltari, who was added to Fremantle’s train-on list but couldn’t travel to Perth because of border restrictions, has returned to the Sandy Dragons as a 19-year-old.

Ditto for Summer Trim, Charlotte Ryan and Emma Stuber, all of whom trained with the Southern Saints in the VFLW.

Kitty Smyth, who rucked last year, is also back as a 19-year-old and will play mostly in key positions.

Ruby Dale and Zoe Barbakos, both of whom appeared in senior football in the VAFA last year, have been given a chance.

Daisy Flockart, the sister of ruckman Felix, who was on the Dragons Boys list last year, is another newcomer.

The Dragons open their season in Launceston this Saturday.

DRAGONS NAB LEAGUE GIRLS LIST

1 Holly Tysoe, St Bedes Mentone VAFA

2 Keely Coyne, Old Brighton, VAFA

3 Ruby Dale, St Bedes Mentone VAFA

4 Alexandra Stranger, Mordialloc Braeside

5 Sascha Pribil, Mordialloc Braeside

6 Zoe Barbakos, Beaumaris, VAFA

7 Judie Goldman, South Melbourne District JFC

8 Summer Trim, Old Brighton, VAFA

9 Matila Mottram, St Kilda City JFC

10 Bridie Hipwell, Old Brighton, VAFA

11 Tayla Jones, Hampton Rovers

12 Fern O’Brien, Sandringham Zebras JFC

13 Scout Howden, St Kilda City JFC

14 Alexandra Calogero, East Brighton Vampires JFC

15 Sofia Hurley, Caulfield Gramarians VAFA

16 Jasmine Betts, East Malvern JFC

17 J’Noemi Anderson, St Marys NT/Melbourne Grammar

18 Georgia Foran, St Paul’s Mckinnon

19 Ella Sciberras, Old Scotch, VAFA

20 Abby Thompson, Caulfield Gramarians VAFA

21 Francesca Newport, East Brighton Vampires JFC

22 Emma Stuber, Oakleigh Crushers, VAFA

23 Charlotte Ryan, Beaumaris, VAFA

24 Jasmine Shephard, Cheltenham JFC

25 Jenna Witts, East Malvern JFC

26 Siena Farrell, Port Melbourne Colts JFC

27 Carly Witts, East Malvern JFC

28 Cameron Millias, Port Melbourne Colts JFC

29 Lucy Mitchell, Old Brighton, VAFA

30 Pia Staltari, Beaumaris, VAFA

31 Amelia Luca, Old Mentionians, VAFA

32 Charlie Anderson, Caulfield Gramarians VAFA

33 Sophie McKay, Prahran JFC

34 Meg Webster, Mordialloc Braeside

35 Kitty Smyth, St Kilda City

36 Juliet Beaton, Beaumaris

37 Daisy Flockart, Hampton Rovers

38 Lucia Marin, Mordialloc Braeside

39 Isla Mottram, St Kilda City

40 Grace Oliver, St Bedes Mentone

42 Zari Mildenhall, South Melbourne District JFC

43 Willow Sweeney-Johnston, East Malvern

44 Matilda Clarkson, Hampton Rovers

45 Kera Galaminda, Brighton Beach JFC

46 Mia Sullivan, St Bedes Mentone Tigers AFC

47 Lucy Page, East Brighton Vampires JFC

48 Bianca Stranger, Mordialloc Braeside

49 Polly McArthur, Prahran JFC

50 Tiger Doultree, Hampton Rovers JFC

52 Jacinta Boyd, Beaumaris JFC

53 Lily Parsons, St Peters JFC

54 Jessica Thomas, Port Melbourne Colts JFC

55 Shaeydn Aylen, Mordialloc Braeside JFC

57 Anna Embelton, East Malvern

58 Emily Gough, East Malvern

61 Caitlen Voss, Port Melbourne Colts

62 Rebecca Thompson, Caulfield Gramarians VAFA

63 Mia Zielinski, East Sandringham

64 Maddison Torpey, Mordialloc Braeside

65 Emily Bannon, Dingley JFC