Samantha Callahan and Bailey Schultz are the first to sign up and the first to reach 50 games at Montmorency Junior Football Club

Samantha Callahan and Bailey Schultz celebrated their 50-game milestones last week, becoming the first female players to do so at Montmorency.

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Brenton Carey Date: 30 July 2014 08:39 Subject: Re: Article - good news story - Montmorency Junior Girls Football Club To: "Turner, David" Hi David, Please see attached 4 x images from the MJFC's girls 50th game last weekend. There are some other action shots, but thought you guys would most likely focus on the 50 games.. Let me know if you'd like to see any other images. Chee

WHEN Samantha Callahan and Bailey Schultz celebrated their 50-game milestone last week, it was only fitting that they would be those two that became the first female players at Montmorency Junior Football Club to reach the half-century.

The pair were the first two girls to sign-on when the club opened its doors to girls footy prior to the 2012 season starting.

“They were the first two registrations,” co-ordinator of the Montmorency women’s program Peter Gray said.

“The very first phone call I took.”

Both Samantha and Bailey are premiership players at Montmorency and have represented the Northern Football League at the Vic Metro Championships over the past two years.

And, befitting their milestone match, Bailey kicked four goals, while Samantha provided her customary drive around the ground.

From such humble beginnings, and in such a remarkably short space of time, girls footy has boomed at Montmorency.

“We started the female program in 2012,” Gray said.

“We went in stone cold. We didn’t have any girls in 2011.”

But, the inaugural intake swelled to three teams by 2013 and, this year, Montmorency has fielded four teams – three junior and one senior women’s. Gray said the growth of the female program at Montmorency made the club a more family-inclusive organisation.

“It’s just a nice feel to the club,” Gray said.

“We have seniors and juniors and girls, and have started a netball team as well this year.”