Women’s football 2021: Frankston beats Mornington in SEW season opener

The Dolphins’ first female footy side in 134 years has made a memorable start in the South Eastern Women’s league.

Frankston’s Maddison Hocking (right) goes after the ball last Friday night. Picture: Alan Dillon

With every step, they made history.

And the 23 women in the Frankston Dolphins’ inaugural female side did it beautifully, marking their historic first game with a thrilling nine-point win over Mornington under lights in Premier division of the South Eastern Women’s league last Friday night.

After trailing by a point at the last change, the Dolphins scored 1.5 in the last quarter to win 4.11 (35) to 3.8 (26) in front of a good size crowd at Alexandra Park.

Jas Rolland, the Dolphins’ vice-captain, led from the front with a polished display to win the Anzac medal for best player on the ground.

Jess McDowell, who only joined the Dolphins squad when they were short of players in a practice game, continued her fairytale story by kicking two goals.

Mornington and the Frankston Dolphins put on a great game under lights: Picture: Alan Dillon

Frankston also found inspiration from Emily Archer, Lucy Grocock, Kate Oborn, Skye Haslem and Abbey Power.

Shania Gammaldi and Zali Mayall etched their names into history with a goal each in the victory.

Before the game, Frankston coach Greg Hilton urged his players to make their journey into history a fun and memorable one.

“My speech was simple,” Hilton said.

“I said, ‘guess what? Ninety days ago we weren’t here. We weren’t born’.

“I said ,’now, look, we’re here, it’s a remarkable, history-making day’. I said, ‘the club was incorporated in 1887, they’ve never had a women’s side. Win, lose or draw you’ll be in the hall of fame’. But I said, ‘it’s better to do it by winning’.”

Frankston Dolphins' women's side before its first game. Picture: Alan Dillon

Having started with a bang, the Dolphins could be headed for something big.

Frankston originally planned to establish a female academy this year but — only a matter of months ago — decided to go all out and field a team.

Now the plan is to graduate to the VFLW competition next year.

“Fingers crossed,” Frankston coach Greg Hilton said.

Kate Oborn taps the ball for Frankston. Picture: Alan Dillon

“We have a pretty clear direction now.”

The Dolphins are slated to play 14 games this season, and they hope to play some games as curtain raisers before the men’s VFL side.

Hilton said his side is lucky to share the high-level facilities and resources with Danny Ryan’s men’s side.

“Our dream is to match the boys and set it up so we have another avenue (to AFLW), instead of going to Casey or driving up to Port Melbourne,’’ he said.

“So all these girls playing on the Peninsula and at Frankston, it’s going to be a lot easier for them.”

Hilton, who played for the Dolphins in the 1980s and also coached Dromana and Red Hill’s men’s sides, has good support from assistant coaches Leigh Haslem and Anthony Radings.

The Dolphins’ women’s side hosts Coburg at SkyBus Stadium, at 10.30am, on Saturday.