By: Jessie Hare
Twitter: @JessieHaree
Knox senior women’s captain-coach Lisa Walshe laced up the boots for game 200 last weekend.
For last 17 years, Lisa Walshe has been a trailblazer for women’s footy in the east.
From 2003-05, she played with the Eastern Lions, before moving on to play with the Scoresby Magpies from 2006-13 in the Victorian Women’s Football League (VWFL).
It was however in 2016 when Walshe began her time with Knox in the VWFL and the VFL/TAC Cup association, before the club transferred into the South Eastern Women’s in 2017 to now the Deakin University Eastern Region Women’s Competition for 2018.
Congrats to @knoxfalconsfc Women’s star Lisa Walshe on her 200th game today. Female footy trailblazer in the east. @footyefl pic.twitter.com/gpfzbru4wg — Phil Murton (@philmurton) June 23, 2018
In any football competition, 200 games is always an achievement to note down for the record books – an honour and a huge individual accomplishment, yet, Walshe is as humble as ever about her double century.
“It means a lot of hard work and dedication but most of all it just gives me pride to be able to play with my teammates,” Walshe said.
“It really is all about being part of a team.”
Thinking back to when it all began and where her passion and love of football came from, Walshe says she has high school interschool sport days to thank.
“The passion started at high school – you know when girls would go off and play football for the day and the boys would go and play netball, because it was like the opposite sport that you could play,” Walshe said.
“So that’s where the passion started because you couldn’t really play, so it was good to be able to play it for a day and then that’s when I got more involved and started with the Eastern Lions back in 2003, so I started when I was 17.”
Walshe in action. PICTURE: Knox Football Club Facebook page.
Walshe’s 17-year journey has been about keeping herself motivated and have that fire in her belly to continue to compete.
“(Having) my own motivation in staying fit, because once you leave high school it’s up to you out there,” she said.
“I find that a team sport gives me motivation and having my team mates being able to push me to that level.
“Just having that competitiveness with the other teams too, we’re all competitive and I find that helps me to keep performing week by week and it has really got me through (to 200 games).”
After captaining Knox for the past few seasons, 2018 presented the challenge for Walshe, becoming captain-coach, where her focus continues to be the development of the younger players.
“I probably haven’t been developing my own skills as much, I’ve been helping new players that are new to the game and develop their skills and I have probably been more of a teacher in developing young girl’s skills more than my you could say,” Walshe said.
“It’s been difficult being captain-coach, but I always wanted to coach eventually when I stopped playing my own football career. I didn’t sort of expect to be playing-coach, but it’s been a lot of fun. I’ve really enjoyed it.
“I’ve got about 80% of the girls this year who are all brand new to the game, we’ve got all different cultures and backgrounds that have joined the club this year.
“It’s been really joyful seeing these girls that call me up and say they’ve never kicked a football in their life, but they come down and they love a training session – they just can’t wait to get out there and have a kick on game day.”
“Watching them develop is probably the best story about being a coach this year.”
Walshe is proud that females, no more than ever, have an established pathway to play football.
“There are no limits now, it’s fair and there is a pathway,” she said.
“I just think there’s a lot more avenues and pathways for females and girls coming through and they just get to have every opportunity and just have fun.
“It’s all about having fun, making friends, just enjoying the game and being able to play.”