By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE Officer Junior Football Club is home to one of the biggest growth sports in one of the biggest growth corridors in the country – all it needs is girls who’ve always wanted to give footy a try to put their hands up and get involved.
The Kangaroos are on the lookout for girls interested in playing in their Under 18s, Under 13s, or Under 10s South East Juniors female teams.
Taylah O’Hagan is 17-years-old and, together with her great mate Molly Boyd, is a girls footy star on the rise.
“The club got a team up and running but I wasn’t too confident to play to start off with,” Taylah said.
“But they got me involved, that was when I was 13, so I’ve been involved since it started.”
Taylah has since gone on to be involved in the Dandenong Stingrays Youth Girls Academy and even represent Vic Metro.
The Officer Under 18s team is open to girls from 14 to 18, the Under 13s is open to girls 11 to 13, and the Under 10s is open to those aged 9 or 10.
“I reckon definitely give it a crack,” Molly said.
“I started when Taylah did and I was really hesitant at first but it’s just so much fun – you meet so many new friends. It’s clearly team-oriented but you don’t just learn footy skills, but life skills as well.
“It’s just such a friendly club. People definitely need to get down and give it a go.
“There was a point when you’d always go and see your brothers or cousins play, or your friends and family but you’d never have the opportunity. Now you do, and I think a lot of girls are excited about that and want to get out there.
“We’ve had girls come down with fake nails on and played. In the end, they love it. It doesn’t matter what kind of person you are. If you love the sport, you can play it.”
The Kangaroos have already appointed a coach an assistant coach – Tim Smith and Kylie Jeffrey respectively – and, in a real coup, have also announced Leeann Gill as a club mentor.
Gill has a footy resume few could match. Her simple philosophy is to work with young footballers in a safe and supportive environment to help develop them both as footballers and people.
The AFL Level 2 accredited coach was also the School Sport Victoria 16-and-Under girls coach in 2015. She also has extensive experience as a specialist coach at football clubs, has previously served as a VWFL coach, and has been named a women’s All-Australian coach. In 2005, during her time at Rowville, she was named the Australian Football Coaches Association’s Victorian Female Coach of the Year.
Any girls interested in playing footy for the Kangaroos can contact club secretary Kelly Fowler on 0418 338 081.
