Photo credit: East Ringwood Football Club Facebook page
By: Tash Gunawardana
EAST RINGWOOD sits a game clear in third on the Division 1 ladder of the Deakin Uni Eastern Region Women’s, having won its past four matches leading into a huge clash against South Croydon with second spot up for grabs.
“It’s a really important game for us, we’ve been pretty consistent all year and South Croydon have been one of the best two sides,” East Ringwood senior women’s coach Peter Baker said.
“South Croydon and The Basin have clearly been better than everyone else.
“It’s really important to us that we perform well this week.
“Every side’s the same, as injuries determine how good a side you will have on the day.
“We have a few (players) out and I assume South Croydon have a few out also and it’s a matter of girls stepping up and hopefully putting in a good performance.”
The Roos are in their second season of the Deakin University Eastern Region Women’s competition.
“Last year was a really fantastic year for the club to get women on the park,” Baker said.
“We had to recruit lots of girls to come and play, because we started with nothing and we had lots of older senior women to help us out to fill a side.
“This year we have had 12 new players, so it’s been a big turnover with 12 new players, but we have also lost 12 players from last year.”
The biggest challenge for the Roos is to get the girls to gel together and at the same level with some having played football for a number of years and others who have only started this year.
Full back Tamika Butters missed the Roos’ 2018 finals campaign with a knee injury and returned this season.
Butters became the Roos’ captain this season, taking over from inaugural skipper Sarah Farmer who moved to Melbourne University.
“We really missed her (Butters) in the finals last year and when she came back this year, she missed the first four games, because she got married which is fantastic for her,” Baker said.
“Then when she came back, she’s been great for us and has been a really good leader.
“She moved down from full back to centre half back and has really taken control of games for us.”
2018 best and fairest Katie Shanahan has continued her solid form from last season.
“She has been fantastic, Katie, she is a really good ruck, she works really hard around the ground and she goes forward,” Baker said.
“It was interesting she kicked 30 goals last year, so sometimes she wanders down forward and kicks that bag of goals for us.
“It would be nice to have had two of her, one down full forward and one down in the ruck.
“Unfortunately there’s only one of her and we have to use her the best way we can.”
Players who have stepped up include Rebecca Gallaher, Jenni Hicks, Tash Belo, Kylie Bevan, Taylah Mount, Steph McNamara and Candice Taylor.
“We’re lucky that we have had a really consistent bunch who give 100 per cent every week and have been really good for us,” Baker said.
The East Ringwood community have welcomed the women’s team with open arms since its inception last season.
“When I approached the club about having a women’s team, they were really behind it,” Baker said.
“They have supported us from day one, they made sacrifices for us (and) they have encouraged the girls to come along and be a part of the match-day celebrations.
“Thursday night dinners (and) all the social club functions.
“We now have one of the girls on the committee.
“The girls have a say on what goes on, so they have really embraced us.
“The boys have been fantastic, they have a bit of a joke with the girls and that seems to really have enhanced the whole club to be honest.”
Baker is thrilled that for the second consecutive season, his team will play finals.
“It’s a matter of giving the best we can and fielding the best side on the grounds as we can,” he said.
“I’m confident whatever side we have out there they will all have a go.
“The vibe’s been fantastic, as the men watch the women play when they can.
“We played a couple of games in front of them, they’ve been there to support us.
“They come down to watch us when we are playing on a Sunday or at different time slots.
“We go down to Thursday nights at dinner after training, we go back on Saturday after the game to the rooms.
“The whole club is embracing it, it’s a really good feeling.”