VU Western Spurs to become the Western Bulldogs

THE VU Western Spurs will don the red, white and blue and be known as the Western Bulldogs in the VFL Women’s competition from next year.

VU Western Spurs celebrate an Alyssa Mifsud goal. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

THE VU Western Spurs will don the red, white and blue and be known as the Western Bulldogs in the VFL Women’s competition from next year.

The name change was announced after the two clubs have strengthened their partnership in the past three years.

Aliesha Newman in full flight for the Western Spurs. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The Spurs will retain their name for their four other women’s teams.

Home games will continue to be played at Victoria University Whitten Oval and Henry Turner Oval in Footscray.

VU Western Spurs president Karen Hayes said the club was excited to create clear pathways into the VFLW and AFLW.

“This will establish a great foundation for our community club to extend exciting elite sporting opportunities for our current 160 players, together with future generations of women footballers,” she said.

The partnership will allow players to enter the system at a youth girl level and have a pathway potentially through to the Bulldogs’ AFLW team.

Bulldogs ruckman Jordan Roughead has been an assistant coach of the Spurs for the past three seasons.

Six new VFL Women’s licenses have also been granted to Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Richmond, St Kilda and Williamstown.

Seaford will transfer its licence to the Saints and partner with Frankston to become the Southern Saints, while Cranbourne will be the Casey Demons.

The Spurs finished sixth on the ladder this year with six wins from 12 games.