VAFA 50 game ‘trailblazers’ revealed
The VAFA women’s footy competition has pioneered the game at grassroots level. See the hundreds of names to have reached 50 games and played a vital role in the rise.
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The VAFA women’s footy competition has had its first bunch of “trailblazer” females tick over the 50 game milestone this season after beginning five years ago.
Late in 2016, the all male VAFA clubs rallied around the league‘s historic idea of starting a senior female competition in the same year as the AFLW.
VAFA’s Shona MacInnes held an information session presenting the idea to clubs which brought 40 female teams on board for its inaugural 2017 season.
“We were the biggest senior women’s footy competition in the country in our first year,” MacInnes said.
“To my mind that was a credit to our VAFA clubs who all embraced it and saw the need and that it was going to be something that they should be a part of.
“We are eternally grateful to all those club presidents who had the foresight to get on board.”
The VAFA women’s competition has grown immensely since.
From season one to two in 2018, the VAFA women‘s footy sector grew by 23 teams to a total of 63.
In 2019 they had about 75 teams and in 2020 they were looking like having almost 100 teams.
However, the COVID pandemic took its toll and has kept the total number of teams at 75 this season.
MacInnes said she saw the greatest improvement in the standard of footy from the first season to the second.
“When I went out and watched the first round of the second season, I couldn’t believe how much it had improved,” she said.
“I think having a preseason under their belt between 2017 and 2018, that was probably the biggest increase in standard since we have started.
“If you come and watch it now, last Sunday we had the Premier B women’s preliminary final between Old Scotch and Old Haileybury and the standard was amazing.
“It was fantastic to watch.”
MacInnes said women’s footy had a bright future as the standard would continue to rise as female junior pathways continued to grow.
This season has seen the first bunch of female VAFA footballers reach the 50 game milestone.
More than 200 players, who MacInnes describes as trailblazers have reached the mark.
“What will happen is their daughters will say to them, ‘Mum, what do you mean, women didn’t play footy?’, the kids won’t believe it because now you see them kicking footy’s in the park and seeing them out here at halftime,” MacInnes said.
“You never saw that [in the past] and I think our girls particularly through 2017 and 2018 were real trailblazers.”
MacInnes was surprised by how many had reached the milestone.
“It is great, I didn’t realise there were that many, there’s 200 of them,” she said.
“Even that in itself, 200 of them have reached that milestone, that’s really something considering we only have 14 round seasons.
“It won’t be long before we get our first 100 gamer.”
FULL LIST of VAFA 50 game female footballers revealed:
Updated to the 18th of August. (List in order of name, matches played and club.)
Brighdin Walsh West Brunswick AFC 70
Georgia Cropley St Kevins OB, St Mary‘s Salesian 69
Mikaela Grek AJAX Afc 69
Claudia Maguire Mazenod OC 69
Lauren Oliver Old Haileybury 69
Cristina Sgarbossa Old Xaverians 69
Morgan McGregor Old Brighton Grammarians 68
Alana Pane Marcellin OC 68
Jordyn Bethune Oakleigh AFC 67
Chelsea Fisher AJAX Afc, Caulfield Grammarians 67
Genevieve Gori Beaumaris FC 67
Molly McFarlane Monash Blues 67
Eliza Millen Monash Blues 67
Lucinda Murphy Fitzroy FC 67
Leonora Contaxis Prahran Assumption AFC, St Kevins OB, St Mary‘s Salesian 66
Sarah Delbosc Hawthorn AFC 66
Bonnie Funnell Bulleen Templestowe AFC 66
Justine Gabriel AJAX Afc 66
Pulomaja Gardiyawasam Old Haileybury 66
Georgia Hatton Yarra Old Grammarians Football Club 66
Phoebe Maus Old Trinity Grammarians, Old Xaverians 66
Elizabeth Olney Fitzroy FC 66
Sarah-Jade Rose Monash Blues 66
Annemieke Thorbecke St Mary‘s Salesian 66
Tayla Bethune Oakleigh AFC 65
Belinda Connor Caulfield Grammarians 65
Kristy Freeman Fitzroy FC, North Brunswick AFC 65
Meghann Geschke St Bedes / Mentone Tigers AFC 65
Jesse Hamill Old Mentonians 65
Sarah Kerr Ivanhoe AFC, Yarra Old Grammarians Football Club 65
Chloe Soderstrom St Mary‘s Salesian 65
Clare Wilson Old Camberwell Grammarians 65
Lucy Aitken Old Trinity Grammarians, Kew FC, Old Xaverians 64
Stephanie Defina Old Camberwell Grammarians 64
Eliza German Therry Penola AFC 64
Rachel Gillett St Kevins OB 64
Sophie Grant Old Brighton Grammarians 64
Jessica Hayes Fitzroy FC 64
Katharine Mullins Old Xaverians 64
Matilda Ryan Therry Penola AFC 64
Ella Stephenson Monash Blues 64
Charlotte Stoltz St Kevins OB 64
Clare Woodhouse Brunswick Football Club 64
Lauren Atkinson Fitzroy FC 63
Alison Boyce Uhs-Vu Afc, North Brunswick AFC, West Brunswick AFC 63
Meg Boyd St Mary‘s Salesian, Hawthorn AFC 63
Amy Cater West Brunswick AFC 63
Monica Macgregor Collegians, St Mary‘s Salesian 63
Grace Mills Monash Blues, St Kevins OB 63
Abbey Mills Uhs-Vu Afc 63
Mollie Ratcliffe Therry Penola AFC 63
Laura Caruana Old Trinity Grammarians 62
Madeleine Pattison St Kevins OB 62
Mikala Sykes St Bedes / Mentone Tigers AFC 62
Taylah Vines-Chapple Old Haileybury 62
Courtney Ward St Bedes / Mentone Tigers AFC 62
Samantha Anjou Old Camberwell Grammarians 61
Cassandra Bethune Oakleigh AFC 61
Tessa Bodin Hawthorn AFC 61
Ainslee Elliott Monash Blues 61
Kristina Krithararis West Brunswick AFC 61
Femke Russell Melbourne University Women‘s Football Club 61
Rosie Sheppard De La Salle OC 61
Michelle Booth Fitzroy FC, North Brunswick AFC 60
Sarah Cameron St Kevins OB 60
Samantha Khong Hawthorn AFC 60
Brigette Snell St Kevins OB 60
Isabelle Tomas AJAX Afc, Caulfield Grammarians 60
Georgia Aanensen Ivanhoe AFC 59
Jasmine Ballestrin Oakleigh AFC 59
Tania Carpinteri Marcellin OC 59
Hilary Collett Fitzroy FC 59
Greta Drane Hawthorn AFC 59
Caroline Edwards Old Geelong 59
Ruby Hong Caulfield Grammarians 59
Monique Horsley Collegians 59
Annie Mack West Brunswick AFC 59
Catherine McBeth Jephcott St Kevins OB 59
Hayley Mrocki AJAX Afc 59
Bridie Murphy Fitzroy FC, Melbourne University Women‘s Football Club 59
Hannah Nicholls Hawthorn AFC 59
Georgina Rule Old Geelong, De La Salle OC 59
Eliza Cole Brunswick Football Club 58
Sarah Collins Beaumaris FC 58
Eloise Defina Old Camberwell Grammarians 58
Georgia du Plessis Hawthorn AFC 58
Gabby Golds Old Xaverians 58
Samantha Kerr Old Mentonians 58
Stephanie Mancuso Therry Penola AFC 58
Hannah Pastore Old Haileybury 58
Marinella Salafia Old Trinity Grammarians, Melbourne University Women‘s Football Club 58
Angela Snowdon Brunswick Football Club 58
Susie Worthington Fitzroy FC, North Brunswick AFC 58
Alice Cooney Uhs-Vu Afc, West Brunswick AFC 57
Rebecca Dee St Bedes / Mentone Tigers AFC, Richmond Central AFC 57
Victoria Hamilton Melbourne University Women‘s Football Club 57
Jacqui Morton Yarra Old Grammarians Football Club 57
Mandy Naylor Hampton Rovers AFC 57
India Tait Old Brighton Grammarians 57
Tessa Vandergriff Ivanhoe AFC 57
Daniella Abraham AJAX Afc 56
Alice Angley St Mary‘s Salesian 56
Julia Bortoli Mazenod OC 56
Chloe Brown St Kevins OB 56
Yve Clerehan Tyndall Melbourne University Women‘s Football Club 56
Bree Doyle St Kevins OB 56
Clare Fernandes Whitefriars Football Club 56
Margaret Gleeson St Kevins OB 56
Laura Hallam Old Geelong, De La Salle OC, Caulfield Grammarians 56
Tahlia Hayes Brunswick Football Club 56
Elizabeth Hodgetts Old Carey Grammarians, St Kevins OB 56
Jessica Joyce St Kevins OB 56
Abbie McNamara Marcellin OC 56
Esther Potts Kew FC 56
Annabel Rafferty Old Geelong 56
Jordan Shanks Old Haileybury 56
Olivia Steinfort St Bedes / Mentone Tigers AFC 56
Maggie Wilson Old Camberwell Grammarians 56
Cassandra Blake Fitzroy FC 55
Rachael Cox Old Xaverians 55
Chelsea Frawley Old Haileybury 55
Monica Gray Brunswick Football Club 55
Clover Hart Swinburne University AFC, De La Salle OC, St Mary‘s Salesian 55
Scarlett Kennedy Williamstown CYMS 55
Alexa Madden Fitzroy FC 55
Jessica Marget AJAX Afc 55
Brooke Mckay Old Geelong 55
Tess Neaves Old Mentonians 55
Angela Payne Canterbury Football Club 55
Charlotte Peak Yarra Old Grammarians Football Club 55
Cheree Peters South Melbourne Districts, Caulfield Grammarians 55
Maddison Stone Yarra Old Grammarians Football Club 55
Emit Taylor Brunswick Football Club 55
Jessica Ashcroft Fitzroy FC, North Brunswick AFC 54
Ellie Birrell Therry Penola AFC 54
Elise Burton St Mary‘s Salesian 54
Brydie Charman Mazenod OC 54
Eliza Cooper St Bedes / Mentone Tigers AFC 54
Sasha Dougherty Brunswick Football Club 54
Erin Gogerly Fitzroy FC 54
Anja Marshallsay Marcellin OC 54
Lucy Morley Old Scotch 54
Zali Rayment St Mary‘s Salesian 54
Sophie Ryan Therry Penola AFC 54
Ciara Scott Old Mentonians 54
Hannah Singleton Collegians 54
Sophie Straford St Kevins OB 54
Jennae Wakefield Marcellin OC 54
Jane Williamson Brunswick Football Club 54
Selina Wilmott Kew FC 54
Sophie Ambrose Old Brighton Grammarians 53
Lily Barr Kew FC 53
Thea Brown Beaumaris FC 53
Megan Brydon South Melbourne Districts 53
Erin Bunter Mazenod OC 53
Lauren Haringsma Beaumaris FC 53
Matilda Hubbard Old Carey Grammarians, West Brunswick AFC 53
Adrienne Jones St Mary‘s Salesian 53
Sophie Joubert Old Geelong, Mazenod OC 53
Claudia Lacey Old Trinity Grammarians, Old Xaverians 53
Madeleine Leyden Old Haileybury 53
Lucy McLaren Melbourne University Women‘s Football Club, Therry Penola AFC 53
Emily O‘Beirne Kew FC 53
Elly Obradov St Mary‘s Salesian 53
Mia Sutherland Fitzroy FC 53
Abbey Walton Mazenod OC 53
Brianna Young Yarra Old Grammarians Football Club, Kew FC 53
Tess Beagley Williamstown CYMS 52
Emilia Bisogni Ivanhoe AFC 52
Blaire Bunter Mazenod OC 52
Julia Emily Caplan AJAX Afc, Caulfield Grammarians 52
Hilary Donelan Yarra Old Grammarians Football Club 52
Tara Donnan Kew FC 52
Emily Johnson South Melbourne Districts, Elsternwick AFC, Hampton Rovers AFC 52
Yvonne Parker Old Carey Grammarians, Collegians, Kew FC 52
Ellen Russell Old Haileybury 52
Rachel Smith Whitefriars Football Club 52
Fiona Tansley Ivanhoe AFC 52
Laura Walkden Oakleigh AFC 52
Isabelle Worth AJAX Afc, St Kevins OB 52
Kate Anderson Hawthorn AFC 51
Brittany Croagh St Kevins OB 51
Amy Dillon Brunswick Football Club 51
Kristy Ebbott Hampton Rovers AFC 51
Danielle Frawley Old Haileybury 51
Deborah Jarvis Beaumaris FC 51
Natarsha Kemp Therry Penola AFC 51
Irena Malliaras Caulfield Grammarians 51
Maggie Minchin Oakleigh AFC 51
Nicola Pigott Mazenod OC 51
Melissa Poulton Old Trinity Grammarians 51
Jessica Roberts West Brunswick AFC 51
Emily Scott Hawthorn AFC 51
Samantha Stewart St Johns OC, Old Carey Grammarians, Old Haileybury, Collegians, Caulfield Grammarians 51
Courtney Taylor Marcellin OC 51
Alexandra Theodosi Old Scotch 51
Hannah Walravens South Melbourne Districts 51
Angie Wang-Hartman Marcellin OC 51
Elena Wedgwood St Kevins OB 51
Sophie Anghie Old Scotch 50
Taryn Bates Marcellin OC, Whitefriars Football Club 50
Amy Benifer Old Xaverians 50
Maya Burstin AJAX Afc 50
Scarlett Dunell St Kevins OB 50
Nadia Eldred Beaumaris FC 50
Charlotte Grieve Marcellin OC 50
Gabrielle Henderson Old Xaverians 50
Catherine Hoh Bulleen Templestowe AFC, Marcellin OC 50
Bianca Horsley Collegians 50
Jacqui Krienke Bulleen Templestowe AFC, Old Trinity Grammarians 50
Taylor Leslie Aquinas OC 50
Morgan Lowe St Kevins OB 50
Georgie Lupson St Kevins OB 50
Tayla McAlroy St Bedes / Mentone Tigers AFC 50
Stephanie McMurray De La Salle OC 50
Vanessa Murphy Old Trinity Grammarians, Old Xaverians 50
Michaela Pearson Whitefriars Football Club 50
Natasha Reeve Old Ivanhoe Grammarians, Marcellin OC 50
Eliza Roughead Marcellin OC 50
Georgia Scarce Ivanhoe AFC 50
Nicole Shue St Mary‘s Salesian 50
Madison Sorrenti Old Xaverians 50
Madeleine Spaulding Yarra Old Grammarians Football Club 50
Anna Townshend St Kevins OB, Albert Park AFC 50
Siena Visentini Old Brighton Grammarians 50
Tessa Zagontinos Marcellin OC 50
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