These Lions are set to roar

Kylie Kist, Rachel Betteridge, Belinda McGee, and Natalie Staunton are less than a fortnight away from their first game for Pakenham. 180175 Picture: RUSSELL BENNETT

By Russell Bennett

The wait is over. In less than two weeks, Pakenham’s inaugural South Eastern Women’s Football team will take to the field for their first game.

And for some of the Lions’ players, that opportunity is one they’ve waited years for.

“I’ve been here for five years and I’ve been waiting for a side to start in Pakenham,” said Rachel Betteridge, a key part of Pakenham’s first women’s playing group.

“I used to play for Melbourne Uni in the city, so I jumped at this opportunity.”

Natalie Staunton has also been waiting in the wings, biding her time.

“I’ve always wanted to play football, but Pakenham never had a side.”

A number of ladies in the inaugural group are local mums, so the practicality of being able to compete in a side almost on their doorstep is crucial.

Now the stars have aligned for them to play their footy in their home town, wearing the famous Pakenham colours, and they couldn’t be more proud.

But their opportunity has come about through power of hard work done by the likes of women’s football co-ordinator Nicky Muley, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“We started training back in November,” Betteridge said.

“We had three of us and then we saw a few extra numbers, and then they dropped off. It’s only really the past six to eight weeks we’ve seen the numbers really improve.

“Nic (Muley) has been doing a lot of advertising, and we’ve just been asked to get family and friends along. Each week one of the girls will bring down a new player, and it’s just grown from there.”

Betteridge said the difference in the players over the space of just a few short months is astonishing.

But the group is always on the lookout for more players willing to join in the fun and excitement of the inaugural side. Age, footy experience, and fitness levels don’t matter – anyone willing to roll their sleeves up and have a crack is welcome.

Newly appointed coach Warren Cawcutt said the group is also particularly keen to strengthen its ties to the girls currently playing for the Pakenham Junior Football Club.

“It’s up to us as a club, and a senior women’s side, to encourage the girls from the junior club to come through with us,” he said.

“I’d love for our senior women’s team to train with the girls on a night coming up soon.”

The Lakeside Community Bank and Voyage Fitness have jumped on board the inaugural Pakenham women’s side, but they’re always on the hunt for more support. Anyone willing to help out, or even don the guernsey and play, should search for the Pakenham Football Netball Club on Facebook.