Cougars showcase talent

By Melissa Donchi
THE Yarra Valley showcased its best female football talent over the weekend at the Eastern Region Girls Football Development Day at Brushy Park in Croydon.
The Yarra Valley Cougars Women’s Football Club hosted the all-female football day, which took place in fine and sunny conditions.
The day began at 9.30am with a Junior Girls match between schools from Yarra Valley and Maroondah, in which Maroondah, 72 defeated Yarra Ranges, 20.
At half time in the senior game young girls from Chirnside Park Auskick played in a grid game before a large crowd, while an all day barbecue and raffle kept onlookers happy.
The big match of the day was played out between Yarra Valley and South Mornington whose close scores had spectators gripping their seats between goals.
South Mornington eventually claimed the match but only by four nailbiting points.
At the end of the game the manager for the Eastern Region Anthony Parkin presented the medals to the Yarra Ranges players, Biance Bryan for best player, Monique Hewish for the Cougars Encouragement Award and Alaine Linford for the Coaches Encouragement Award.
Cougar’s player, Megan Sutherland said the purpose of the day was to raise the profile of the club and to promote women in football.
“We’re very pleased with how the day went, we got some big crowds and everyone enjoyed themselves,” she said.
“Judging by the crowds and their reaction to the matches I think you could say the day was a huge success.”