By Parker Mckenzie
Belgrave Football Netball Club is searching for potential players as the community-focused club looks to fill out its women’s football team before the season kicks off in mid April.
President Julian Scholl said due to work and family commitments, a few players from last season’s conference 2 grand finalist team have left and opened up spots for new players.
“The general consensus at the moment with the expansion of women’s football, it’s getting harder and harder to recruit players,” he said.
“We are looking for anyone who is going to enjoy having a game on the weekend and getting to know the sport. A club is a place for people to develop, whether it’s from scratch or from a skill base.”
The club plays and trains at Belgrave Recreational Reserve, and finished fifth out of nine teams, topping conference 2 before losing narrowly losing to Monbulk in the grand final.
Team coach Rob Morris said the club was looking to pick up seven or eight players to ensure there is cover for potential injuries and other commitments within the team.
“As a coach, I take that role as being a teaching role, so you don’t have to have years of experience,” he said.
“As long as they are willing to learn, come to training and do the best they can, then any skill level can be worked with.”
He said the club has a good culture and family atmosphere for players, coaches and volunteers.
“I was coaching at another club and Julian told me there was the opportunity to coach the women’s team and I thought I’ve never coached women before, I’ll give it a go,” Mr Morris said.
“The ladies I’m coaching at the moment range from 16 or 17 to early 30s, there’s a good span in age there. They’re all a cracking bunch of women who want to come to training and learn.”
The women’s season begins on Saturday 15 March and the club has organised two pre-season practice matches throughout March.
If you’re interested in joining the women’s football team or would like to find out more information, you can contact women’s coach Rob Morris on 0422 807 282, or simply turn up to training at Belgrave Recreation Reserve, Reserve Road, Belgrave, at 6:30pm on Mondays.
