By JULIA MONTESANO
AFTER only six years in the EDFL, Burnside Heights has already made history in women’s football.
The Bears will field a senior women’s team in EDFL Women’s this year in what is a significant milestone for the club.
Burnside Heights president, Justin Peagram, says that the players have been showing positive signs on the track so far as they gear up for Round 1.
“They’re very excited (and) they’re a very, very positive group,” Peagram told essendondfl.com.au.
“We would’ve started (training) last June or July, and there was a bunch of mums playing together and they said ‘yep we want a team’.
“Since then, it’s heavily grown.
“It’s really good that new girls came across from Deer Park, so we’ve now got a really good mix of girls not just new to football, (but) also some girls who’ve played footy before.
“They've bonded really well, they're very excited, and they're getting along really well as a group.”
Peagram admits that the process of getting a senior women’s team was a long one, but is pleased that the club has continued to build on its strong family values up until this moment.
“We've just been pushing to have junior girls for a number of years, (but) we just haven't been able to get it over the line,” he admitted.
“We've always had six, seven or eight girls at the club, but we've never been able to form a team so when the ladies came along, we thought that's probably our really big platform to try and get the girls in.
“From our point of view, with the women's team in, we sort of really want to highlight that our club is a diverse club.
“We're wanting all sorts of people in the side.
“The fact that we've now got an Under 18 girls team, and the formation of our Under 11 girls, that's just a real positive.
“We are wanting to make that family environment.”
The family environment is already shining through at Burnside Heights, with many family members playing in different sides for the club.
“I would say there's probably seven or eight ladies that have got sons playing at the footy club,” Peagram said.
The Bears have announced their captain and vice-captain for this year, with Kayla Ravanello and Sina Mason getting the nod.
“They’ve both played at a high level and trained really well,” Peagram said.
Besides the club’s leaders, Peagram says that there are plenty of other girls to keep a close eye on over the season.
“Bethany Corria has come across from Tarneit – she’s a tall ruckman and very athletic,” he said.
“Laycee Eustace is an Under 18 (player) but she’ll probably play some senior games.”
Eustace also plays for the Western Jets in the TAC Cup Girls Competition, highlighting the club’s diverse range of players.
But in terms of their goal for this season, the Bears just want to continue to build on the positive stepping stones they have put in place for a successful 2018 in EDFL Women’s.
“From what we're trying to get out of it (the season), it's really just to continue the positive vibe at the footy club and build on the footy club,” Peagram said.
“We're quite confident that the girls can hopefully get a couple of wins along the way, which would boost their spirits, but we don't want to give any illusions.
“They're just wanting to get out there and have fun as the women of the Bears.”
If you would like to play at Burnside Heights in 2018, please contact Bears President, Justin Peagram on 0432 516 526.
