GNFL young guns join women’s country week team

The cream of Geraldton’s female footballer crop are raring to claim the title of best in the State, with the final team selected for country week on Monday.

Twenty-seven women pulled from Great Northern Football League teams Brigades, Chapman Valley, Northampton, Railways, Rovers and Towns will head down to the Country Football Championships in Perth next month to take on teams from the Great Southern, the South West, Peel, the Goldfields and the Pilbara.

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GNFL president Colin Cox said after taking a side down to country week for the first time in 2019 and leaving as runners-up, he was confident the strong squad could win this year.

“We have a very good team. Luckily, we had some girls that just missed the age bracket and we’ve been allowed to take them, and they’re some of our better players, so we’re very excited about the prospect,” he said.

“Last time we were down, the year before COVID, we came second and it was our first time down there. So we’ll be pushing to win this time.

Luckily, we had some girls that just missed the age bracket and we’ve been allowed to take them, and they’re some of our better players.

“From what I’ve seen over the last two years, the girls have got much, much better.

“The way they handle the ball is so much better and they’re raring to go after a year’s break.”

He said country week was a great opportunity for the players to see what football had to offer women.

“They love it, they just can’t get enough of football, these girls,” he said. “I think just the camaraderie for the girls is great, and the chance to play at a higher level, to see what the rest of the State has to offer.”

The GNFL will also select colts and men’s teams for competitions on July 8-10 and July 9-11 in the coming weeks.

GNFL WOMEN’S COUNTRY WEEK SQUAD

Brigades Football Club: Claire Garnaut, Tenae Leitch, Beth Martin and Courtney Zappara.

Chapman Valley Football Club: Taylah Broadhurst, Gemma Burges, Cassie Green, Kayley King, Emma Scalley, Erica Trotter, Chloe Spence, Ellysce Wright and Tahya Palmer.

Northampton Football Club: Larrissa Bennell and Katie Croston.

Railways Football Club: Emily Akker, Fina Dethlefsen, Jasmine Johansen, Brooke Martin and Codi Cameron.

Rovers Football Club: Davina Whitney

Towns Football Club: Michaela Clarke, Aaliyah Jones, Olivia Bidwell, Keeley Svenson and Kasey Maynard.