By Jed Lanyon
Healesville Football Netball Club’s senior women’s team have qualified for the grand final and are hoping to secure the league’s inaugural premiership when they face Monbulk at Don Road Sporting Complex on Saturday 31 August at 5pm.
Healesville remains undefeated in the AFL Outer East senior women’s league and now have their eyes set on one more win to take home the premiership.
The new league has welcomed players aged 17 to 40+ and has seen many women take to the sport who haven’t played a game of footy since Auskick or high school.
Bloods ruck Kelly Laidlaw moved to the area five years ago and has used the sport to meet new people.
“I absolutely love it… I’ve got a two and three year old, so I thought this a year for me to maybe be a little bit selfish… I’ve always loved football but have never played it outside of high school.
“We’re a family at the moment. We look after each other on and off the field.”
Laidlaw said she has enjoyed seeing improvements in her fitness over the year now that she is playing and training every week.
Healesville’s semi final was their closest match to date as they narrowly defeated Monbulk by one goal in a low-scoring affair plagued by wet conditions.
Monbulk made the most of their second chance to defeat Thornton Eildon by 13 points to qualify for a rematch against Healesville, the only team to beat them throughout the season.
“They came out hard and fierce, they wanted to go straight into the grand final. We’ve never had a team stick on us like that, especially on a smaller ground too,” Laidlaw said.
While the senior women’s team has been quick to establish a winning culture and a supportive family environment, they have also made their presence known to the wider Healesville community by gathering donations for HICCI’s drive for female products.
Team captain Ali Bryan said, “Women’s footy can show women at their best and at our fiercest, but we want the community to know that we are here to support other women through the ups and downs of life.”
Hard-hitting fullback Madison Mcvay said her first season had been an incredible learning experience.
“It’s been amazing to be part of such a determined, hardworking team.”
Mcvay said she prides herself on playing hard but fair and enjoys protecting her teammates.
“Some of us were starting from scratch having never played football… We’ve come from not even being able to kick the ball to kicking it over 25 to 30 metres.”
Mcvay grew up watching her brother play the game and her dad coach.
“I had never participated, I would always watch… I had always been around footy but have never actually personally played.
“It was a big thing for me this year to play. Being out there on the ground, there’s no better feeling.”
Prior to this season, Healesville forward Alex Woods last played footy at Auskick at the age of seven.
She said it would be surreal to take home the premiership in their very first season as a team.
“We have progressed immensely. From the start of the season I don’t think a lot of us knew the proper technique to kick a ball or handball.
“Now we’re talking about structures, and how to line up and set up for a kick-in and all that sort of thing.
“We’re now talking about the big things as well as practicing some of the smaller techniques.”
The team is encouraging the Healesville community to come along and help boost the home ground advantage in their grand final against Monbulk.
