It’s a Tiger takeover as women exceed men on Seaford footy club’s playing list
THE women’s footy explosion is no more evident than at Seaford footy club, which now has more female players on its list than males.
Vic Womens
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THE women’s footy explosion is no more evident than at Seaford footy club, which now has more female players on its list than males.
You could call it a Tiger takeover.
“We’ve got over 100 girls on the list at the moment, which is officially more than our men’s. It’s quite amazing,” club president Dale O’Neil said.
“I think it’s a credit to our coaching staff, really.”
Seaford was one of the first clubs in the region to field a women’s football side.
From one team in 2013, the Tigers have grown rapidly and will field four women’s sides this season – three teams in the South Eastern Women’s Football league in addition to its VFL Women’s side.
Brett Alexander will coach Seaford’s VFL side, which includes AFLW players Sarah and Jess Hosking (Carlton), Kim Ebb (Western Bulldogs), Katherine Gillespie-Jones (Carlton) and Natalie Plane (Carlton).
Decorated coach Tina Henshaw will lead the Tigers’ SEWF Division 1 side.
O’Neil said the growth of women’s footy was fantastic, but it does make for a busy weekend at Seaford.
“The logistics of it is just impossible because with four different sides and they’re in different divisions, against 30 different teams,” he said.
“In some case we’ve got four away games at four different venues on a Sunday. Logistically, trying to send trainers and officials to four different grounds on the same day makes it tough but I think we’ve got our head around it.”
Seaford’s women’s football department begins its season on Sunday, with four home games at Miles Reserve.
The Tigers’ will unfurl their Division 2 premiership flag from last season.
“It should be a pretty special day,” O’Neil said.
SEAFORD women’s football, Rd 1, at Miles Reserve, Seaford on Sunday, May 7:
VFL Women’s: Seaford v Diamond Creek, at 3pm.
SEWF Div 1: Seaford v Port Melbourne, at 1pm.
SEWF Div 2: Seaford v Beaconsfield, at 11am.
SEWF Development: Seaford v Officer, at 9am.
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