By Rachael Barlow (Rowville FC)
Long before the EFNL welcomed women’s and girls teams into the league in the Rowville FC were at the forefront of developing women in football.
Not just as players, but as coaches, administrators and managers.
For nearly 25 years, the Women of Rowville have helped shape the Hawks, and as our playing lists continue to grow, and team numbers build, we are confident that the processes and planning that have been implemented will start to reap rewards for the female teams of Rowville.
Many people in football will know or have come across Leeann Gill, the current State coach of School Sports Victoria’s U15 Girl’s team, and Senior Women’s coach at Blackburn FC (2018 – 2021).
Leeann started her coaching career as a Junior coach at Rowville FC 22 years ago in 1999, Leeann as the Under Nine Boys coach, the only woman in the EFNL at the time to hold a coaching position. She continued in that role right through until 2006, along the way coaching the Under 16 Boys team to the club’s first ever Under 16 Premiership.
During her Junior coaching career, Leeann was awarded the inaugural AFCA Victorian Female coach of the year whilst coaching the Rowville Under 15 Boys.
In 2007, under the helm of current club President Paul Mynott, Leeann was appointed Assistant Coach of the Senior Men’s team, believed to be a first and only female appointment in Victoria at this level. 2007 was also the year that Leeann was appointed as the inaugural coach of AFLVic Ubder 18 Victorian Youth Girls team.
In the last 10 years, Rowville FC have had women hold the roles of club General Manager, Club Treasurer and Junior Coordinator. Along with numerous female committee members, the experience and expertise these women have brought to a traditionally male dominated club has been a breath of fresh air for all involved.
In 2019, the Rowville Hawks proudly entered their first Senior Women’s team in the EFNL competition. Wearing the Hawks colours, with a touch of pink, and inaugural coach Sean Alston’s word’s “From little things, big things grow” rang true as this amazing team took out the Division 2 Flag in their very first season.
Our Junior girls’ teams continue to grow in numbers, and with the recent appointment of a Women’s and Girl’s Coordinator to the club, the future is bright for female footballers in Rowville. In 2021, our U14 girls coach was also a member of our Senior Women’s team.
As a club, we are very proud to be able to offer these coaching opportunities to Senior players and see it as a great pathway for our girls to aspire to and follow. The club is aiming for four girl’s teams in 2022 – Under 10, Under 12, Under 14 and Under 16. With the opportunity for these girls to progress into our Senior Women’s program, we are excited to see what the future holds.
With the AFL’s recent announcement of four new clubs joining the AFLW competition from 2022, it’s exciting times for our female footballers. The opportunities are endless, and with the years of experience and processes in play at the Rowville Hawks, we are ready to write the next chapter.