By: Tash Gunawardana
CHIRNSIDE PARK’s premier women’s side has had a 4-0 start to the season after transferring into the Deakin University Eastern Region Women’s from the AFL South East competition.
Senior women’s coach Mick Carusi was a spectator to the women’s game last season when the team played in the AFL South East competition, but he believes the Deakin University Eastern Region Women’s competition has lived up to expectation regarding the football level and administration.
“Both components have ticked my approval in the move from coming across,” Carusi said.
“It helped us the most because we are developing a two-tier team, so being seniors and reserves.
“What it has given us is a more cohesive package and more cohesive development between the two groups.
“Being very respectful to the AFL South East they helped with our development too, but I think where we are right now from a community awareness development, the club one culture, it will be better for us.
“That’s what we believe in the long term, we have also had entrants of new players who have come into the group and enjoying their footy – first time players who want to play and we want to embrace that.”
Carusi is thrilled to be the Chirnside women’s coach after coaching in the male field for a number of years.
“It’s a privilege number one and certainly enjoy my challenges with new coaches,” he said.
“There have been clearly challenging weeks that we have confronted week to week.
“Putting those two sides out on the football park to ensure they are hitting their straps and also they can enjoy their footy.
“It’s helped me strengthen my views on women’s football and in our broader community.
“I know it’s real, it needs a lot of support and needs lot of development and I’m glad I am just playing a part in that development.”
The vibe has not changed amongst the players and coaches due to the perfect start to the season.
“As a male coach and a coach in general, I have been there before and I don’t take a ladder position for granted as a ladder position can turn on a dime,” Carusi said.
“We’re as good as the structures put into place and what we’re working towards and that gives you an opportunity to present yourself every Saturday.
“Now those results as we speak at the moment are coming off the back of hard work.
“They’re a humble group, they come to training, they train, they give it their best every Tuesday and Thursday and then have the same attitude on a Saturday.
“They are a very humble group (and) they don’t gloat the wins.”
Carusi and his women’s team are not getting ahead of themselves.
“They set the win as we have achieved it, but we also educate it that the aftermath of a win only lasts for a short time and you move on very quickly,” Carusi said.
“They are the things that we teach our group.
“We move on very quickly, looking after our well-being after the game and we move the process into the next week.”
The Panthers have met all challenges thus far as they settle into life in the Deakin Uni Eastern Region Women’s.
“We’re embracing our new challenge,” Carusi said.
“We have had challenges where one of our grounds are not available to us and to see the challenges in front of us.
“Those challenges have really helped the club and really helped us to be part of the club’s overall picture, because at the end that’s what we’re there for, we are a club.
“Everything we do, we embrace it like everything else in the club, so we’re glad we are back in the system and in my opinion we are in the right league.
“That’s not being disrespectful to the south eastern league, but I just feel we are home.”
Carusi is into his 18th season of coaching at Chirnside Park, where he has coached different levels and styles.
“I am coaching a women’s side and it’s a huge responsibility (and) I’ve always respected all groups regardless if its a minor group,” he said.
“I really do adjust and encourage the coaching group around me to adjust accordingly to the group that we are coaching to be very mindful that we are having an entrant player coming into the system for the first time.
“You get a player for instance who comes into the club for the first time and says ‘Hi, I like to play footy, can I try out?, of course you can.
“You’re teaching everything and being mindful of a young lady who wants to play this game and the skills you are teaching.
“You are helping a process and when you adjust yourself to that its very challenging but also very rewarding to see a young lady kick the ball for the very first time in the right way.
“I am very passionate about what I do and I have daughter playing in the side.
“She enjoys her footy too and I am very happy to see her grow with other teammates around her, because again when someone joins the team they are not just joining for the game they are joining for friendship and a lot of different reasons.
“And you have got to help that person fulfil what they are there for and that’s what I am noticing we are slowly adding another player and to me I feel that is a great direction we are heading into.
“Success isn’t measured just with silverware, there are a number of different boxes you would have loved to tick off through the course of the year, which works for a season to follow.
“There’s no point getting to the pointy end of the year and everyone walks away.
“It’s very important that we encourage them to come back, as that becomes a seasonal player.
“I would love to see more players achieve 50 games in the club and I would love to see a female player become the club’s first female life member.
“I read an article the other day that said 1000 teams have registered in Victoria for female football.
“If I am right there, I think to myself that is enormous and there was an article written in the local paper that spoke about the amount of growth from two years ago till where it is now.
“It’s massive and that’s where I say to myself we play a part.
“All I do is I am a caretaker, one thing I have learnt over the journey is I am a volunteer.
“I am a volunteer and a life member of this footy club.
“I am very passionate about this club (and) have got some very good people around me which I am glad I have introduced to women’s football.”
Carusi is looking forward to his team further developing from week to week.
“We work towards the season which is stage one, and if we get through stage one and that gives us the privilege to play finals then we look at how we contest that side of it,” he said.
“If it takes us any further than its another stage and if the end result is we happen to be the best team on that day well then we are rewarded for that day.
“The day and the season they are all built in different stages that’s one thing I have learnt.
“The home and away season gives you the privilege to win games of footy which qualifies you for another stage.
“I don’t look to plan any further than what is ahead of me next week, because it does turn on a dime.
“At the moment we look forward to continuing the development in our season.
“We want to continue to developing our season and making everyone better positioned to play finals.”