Cougars prowl for new players

By Kath Gannaway
THE Yarra Valley Cougars Female Football Club is recruiting again after what they admit was a surprisingly successful first season.
Their success started when a record number of girls signed on for what was very much unchartered territory in the Yarra Valley – women’s football.
“We entered our first season of competition with modest aims,” says club president Lori Woodcock.
“We set out to promote the participation of women in football in the Yarra Valley and outer eastern suburbs by being competitive in the majority of matches and, hopefully, winning one or two.
“Bearing in mind that 90 per cent of the playing group picked up a football for the first time during pre-season in January, we may have been expecting too much, as we had no idea of the standard in Division 3, or any other division for that matter,” she said.
The season for the Cougars panned out somewhat differently, however, with the side reaching the finals, winning the elimination final, and eventually finishing fourth.
“Playing finals seemed a pipe dream after the first match of the season, with the side on the receiving end of a 20-goal hiding at the hands of Melton,” Ms Woodcock said.
“But the hard work put in by the list under the guidance of coach Phil Lovell meant that, by the fourth round, we had reduced our losing margin to 52 points, and the side chalked up its first win the following week against Parkmore.”
It was a memorable occasion and one Ms Woodcock said marked the debut of the club song, Eye of the Cougar.
“It proved to the girls that winning was indeed possible and that it certainly beats getting beaten,” she said.
The Cougars went on to win four of their next nine games, including a 10-goal victory over their first-round nemesis, Melton.
They scraped into the finals in fifth place and, in a season highlight, came from behind to beat experienced finals team Corio in the elimination final.
Football Victoria voted the Cougars “Best New AFL Club Award” of 2005, out of 165 new community clubs.
The focus for the Cougars now is to build on their first promising season.
“We will be working on many areas to improve and develop the club,” Ms Woodcock said. “We would like to see the number of participants increased which would allow us to strengthen the club with two teams competing in Season 2007.”
On the administration side, she said club policies would be introduced to benefit all club members and a strategic plan formalised to give everyone a say in where the club is headed.
A number of fundraising events are also on the agenda.
Ms Woodcock said good numbers are already attending pre-season training which is held at Lillydale Lake on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6.30pm.
The home and away season starts on 23 April with games scheduled every Sunday. It’s not too late to pull on the Cougars kit. “All females are welcome, no matter their ability,” Ms Woodcock said.
“We have girls ranging from 13 years of age to 40, many of whom have never touched a football or have no knowledge of the game. Anyone who wants to have a kick should just come along.”
As well as players, the Cougars are also looking for volunteers, sponsors and supporters.
For further information, contact Lori Woodcock at the Yarra Valley Cougars Football Club on 0417 143 492 or email lori@yvmdfl.com.au.