Official website of the Essendon District Football League

EDFL Women's Young Guns Report - July, 2021

Presented by AGA Apprenticeships Plus


In 2021, the EDFL, thanks to AGA Apprenticeships Plus, will be announcing a Rising Star award for both men's and women's competitions at the end of year awards night.

Eligible players will be aged 21 years or younger at the beginning of 2021, will be playing regular senior football and having a significant impact for their teams.

In the lead up to awards night, the EDFL will release both a men's and women's EDFL Young Gun Report every month as we keep track of our rising superstars this year.

Keilor has broken away from the pack in Airport Toyota Women's Premier Division, sitting two games clear at the top of the table after Round 10.

Olivia Manfre (17) has hit the ground running for the Blues upon returning from Calder Cannon duties in May.

Manfre has kicked 18 goals from just six appearances this season to sit equal first on the division's goal kicking ladder, tied with Hillside's Emily Paterno.

Her teammate, Leah Spargo (19) is also in a fine vein of form for Shannon McFerran's team.

Spargo also missed the start of the EDFL season after representing the Western Jets in six games before returning to Joe Brown Oval.

Her impressive tank and classy skills have seen Spargo stand out in her inaugural season of senior football.

The final spot in the Airport Toyota Women's Division One top four is still wide open with Greenvale and Gisborne chasing the top three pack of Moonee Valley, Strathmore and the Sunbury Lions.

For the fourth placed Jets, Zoe Hardiman (20) has been one of the most consistent performers having played in all ten games so far this season.

After playing her junior football at the Sunbury Lions and featuring at NAB League level with the Calder Cannons, a Williamstown VFLW link with Troy Newton saw a fruitful move for both player and coach coming into season 2021.

Hardiman is one of five players 21 years or younger that has played for Troy Newton's side this year, as the senior coach looks to develop the talent down at Section Road.

And as Strathmore look to close in on ladder leaders Moonee Valley, Pontif Janjamruen (17) is one of the pieces that might be able to topple the Fog.

Janjamruen sits fourth on the division's goal kicking ladder after kicking 20 goals from the 9 appearances.

With a bag of five, four and a trio of three goal games to her name, Janjamruen has established herself as one of the key targets inside the Strathmore forward line.

In Airport Toyota Women's Division Two, Westmeadows are hopeful of contending for this year's premiership come finals. 

The Tigers sit equal first on the the division two ladder, locked at 7-3 with Moonee Valley, but have a number of young guns that make up a formidable core.

Miranda Bulman (16) is playing beyond her years down at Willowbrook Reserve fronting up for all 10 games in her senior debut season.

Bulman had played just the one season of junior football in 2019 at the Tigers making her feats this year even more remarkable.

Shelby Best (20) is another paving the way in an inexperienced but highly talented yellow-and-black line up.

Best gained plenty of exposure to senior football playing for Roxburgh Park where she debuted in 2018 before playing 13 senior games the following year.

The experience of playing in an elimination final with Magpies during 2019 will be worth a world of value come August finals action.

Got a young gun at your club rising through the ranks? Let us know via our social media channels!

 

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