WRFL: The women playing important roles at your club

From club presidents and administrators to coaches of junior teams, women continue to be at the forefront of Western Region league clubs. Here’s who is making a difference.

Women are continuing to play an important role in shaping the role at clubland in the Western Region Football League.

From club presidents and administrators to coaches of junior teams, the growth of female involvement continues to grow at local level.

In May 2021, the league launched its female development network which was aimed at “providing a safe and nurturing environment across the region, where women from various different fields: players, coaches, administrators, umpires, trainers; can come together to network, upskill and build personal confidence that leads to positive change and further encourages female participation in all aspects of the league”.

Last year, the league hosted its first workshop of the program.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, here is a look at some of the women making the competition tick.

Meredith Angwin, WRFL president

Sitting on the WRFL board is a rich part of the Angwin family history.

Meredith’s father, Ron, was league president between 1981 and 1991 — when the competition was known as the Footscray District league — while her mother, Thelma, served as the competition’s treasurer between 1982 and 1991.

She joined the league board back in 2014 before being named acting president in May 2016.

Krystal Delahunty continues to play an important role for Caroline Springs.

Krystal Delahunty, Caroline Springs

Krystal is the current secretary of Division 1 powerhouse Caroline Springs and has been involved with the club for about 10 years.

“My four children have played at CSFC since Auskick and I have been apart of the senior women’s team for several years as well,” she said.

“This will be my fifth season involved with the committee and third as secretary. As secretary I am first point of contact for inquiries from new families, players, the WRFL and other football clubs in the league.

“I organise regular committee meetings and complete administration. During the season it is a pretty demanding role and I often seek help from other committee members.

“It can sometimes be difficult to manage with full time work and raising a young family but being involved in the Caroline Springs Football Club has been very rewarding.”

Melissa Eastwood, Williamstown Juniors

Melissa plays a vital role at the Seagulls as a club administrator while also serving as a member of the executive committee.

She joined the executive committee this season having been on the committee for a number of years.

Melissa does a power of work for Williamstown Junior Football Club to ensure our club operates effectively.

Ellyse Gamble is playing a vital role at Williamstown.

Ellyse Gamble, Williamstown Juniors

Ellyse joined Williamstown Junior Football Club in 2022 as volunteer coach of the under-12 girls team and continues to be involved.

This season she will coach the Seagulls’ under-15 girl’s team.

Her role with the club is in addition to playing AFLW with Essendon and being a school teacher.

Stephanie Hartnup, Laverton

Stephanie has been the president of the Magpies for the past three years and helps to oversee the overall running of the club including senior footy, junior footy and netball.

She is leading a team of hard working people who want to make a difference in the community and to invite them to play inclusive sport.

Stephanie completes a range of tasks such as administrative tasks, liaising with committee, players, members and league officials, right down to washing football jumpers.

A volunteer who spends seven days a week at the club and even plays n the senior women’s team.

She is focused on invigorating a club who has been struggling in the past, to creating a new inclusive and culture in a sport previously dominated by men.

Leanne Menard continues to play an important role at Flemington Juniors. Photo: Supplied.

Leanne Menard, Flemington Juniors

Leanne has been involved in the girls program at Flemington for five years and the club can confidently say without her “we would not have a girls program at all”. She has been instrumental in driving the program and building relationships with the players, parents and also support services around Flemington including The Venny and The Huddle to give young girls the opportunity to play footy.

She has been the team manager of both of her daughters’ teams and last season was richly rewarded with a premiership in the under-18 girls in a program that she pushed and pushed for.

“We had six players a week before Round 1 last season and she spent numerous hours and days on the phone to players and other clubs trying to get a team together. Each week she had to juggle player numbers and injuries to ensure we had enough players to field a side each week and without her the WRFL would not have had an under-18 girls competition as there were only four teams,” the club said.

Last season, Flemington had its first under-10 girls side and it is due to people like Leanne that paved the way for girls at the club that other girls saw a future in footy. She has continued on as the head of women’s footy in 2023 and is currently overseeing the under-10, 15 and 18 teams.

Carly Pascoe, Williamstown Juniors

Carly has been sat on the club’s committee for a number of years. She is currently the club’s registrar and plays a significant role in ensuring close to 400 Seagulls are registered to play every season.