First Nations Women’s Pathway Program helping young footy stars thrive

VFLW star Courtney Ugle has loved footy since she started playing in her brother’s boots at 15. Now, she’s supporting the next generation through the First Nations Pathway Program.

Jada Ross, Remi Jean Watters, Winnie Puruntatameri, Lara Churchill, Rosie Watson and Taniesha John-Forest at a Werribee South farm as part of Coles and Essendon’s First Nations Pathway Program. Picture: Tony Gough

The footy field to a farm was a big leap for these rising stars.

The participants in the First Nations Women’s Pathway Program – an initiative by Coles and the Essendon Football Club – had never set foot on a farm like Werribee South’s Fresh Select until this week.

The teenagers, aged 13 to 16, from the Tiwi Islands and Melbourne’s northwest, were accompanied by Essendon VFLW star Courtney Ugle, who said unusual vegetable caulilini in particular raised a few eyebrows.

“It’s basically broccolini and cauliflower,” Ugle, also the club’s women’s football development co-ordinator, explained.

“Some of the girls loved it, but some didn’t enjoy it at all.”

VFLW star Courtney Ugle joined the girls at Fresh Select Farm. Picture: Tony Gough

Taste testing with farmer John Said formed part of the day out. Picture: Tony Gough

The group also trained with Ugle and her teammates earlier this week as part of the program, which the footballer said aimed to “identify, develop and support” young players through pathways like the NAB League to the VFLW and ideally, the AFLW.

“We want our girls to thrive in the system, (and to be) able to encourage the girls to feel safe in an environment where we are the minority,” Ugle said.

“But footy is not the priority, education comes first.

“(The girls) are absolute superstars. They’re not used to a structured type of training, but they could roll with the big girls.

“Their skills were so silky.”

Chef and Coles ambassador Michael Weldon taught the girls how to cook produce from the farm. Picture: Tony Gough

Michael Weldon guiding participant Rosie Watson. Picture: Tony Gough

The 25-year-old Noongar woman from Western Australia said she started playing footy at a similar age to the girls, wearing her older brother’s boots with “two to three pairs of socks” because she didn’t have her own.

She added she was looking forward to Essendon’s long-awaited AFLW debut in the next season.

“The next couple of weeks should be really exciting as we bring our AFLW list together,” she said.

The club secured 2020 league best and fairest winner Maddy Prespakis and her Carlton teammate Georgia Gee in a big signing coup this week.

Towards a Better Future, in conjunction with Coles’ Better Together strategy, shares stories on farming, local communities, health & wellbeing, and sustainability/food waste to shine a light on the people, charities and organisations that are helping make our country a better place.