Celebrated female footy program Warragul Industrials leads the way in Gippsland’s U15 V/Line Cup girls squad.
Gypsy Quaife, Tianjah May, Alisha Jamieson, Jade Smorenberg and Matilda Percy are the squad members from the Dusties, which is the best represented Gippsland local club.
All five played in the Female Football Gippsland U16s premiership for the Dusties this year.
The Dusties’ female program is now the envy of the region, with two youth sides competing in the Female Football Gippsland competition, and two senior sides playing in the Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League.
As well as the Under-16s premiership, the Dusties’ Under-18s side and Women’s Division 1 side also reached the grand final in their respective competitions.
The club is also the equal-most represented local club in Gippsland Power’s Under-18s program – alongside Pakenham – and the girls V/Line Cup coach, Michaela Williams, is a Dusties youth female coach.
The boom of female footy at the club started in 2018 when the Dusties increased investment in their youth program, which has improved participation across the board.
“Our biggest thing is our culture,” Warragul Industrials Female Football Operations Manager Carlee Maher said.
“We often have people come to pre-season and never leave and bring their friends along and I think that’s a great measure of success.
“It means we’re building a good culture where people feel safe enough to bring friends and family and we really pride ourselves on that.”
Another big tick for the club has been its retention rate as players transition from junior to senior footy.
While there are 16 local clubs with junior female teams in the Gippsland region, there is just four senior sides in the Female Football Gippsland senior competition, plus Pakenham and Warragul Industrials which play in other leagues.
“We have a really good retention rate and I think the female focus from the committee is a big part of that,” Maher said.
“In terms of inclusivity the men’s program gets around us and the men allow women to join in if they want extra sessions which is huge.
“We have a great talent pool but we love to get girls down no matter their age and even if they don’t know how to kick because it means we can teach them a really good base of knowledge.”
The V/Line Cup squad will play against South East Stingrays on Monday 22 September at 1pm at Mars Stadium, before facing off against North East border at 10am on Wednesday 24 September.
V/Line Cup girls squad: Alisha Jamieson (Warragul Industrials), Amelia Henry (Warranor), Amy Conlan (Meeniyan-Dumbalk United), Ava Pask (Nar Nar Goon), Bethany Greenness (Phillip Island), Casey Johnson (Meeniyan Dumbalk United), Charlotte Dillow (Woodside), Cienna Searle (Sale City), Elli Bickerton (Meeniyan Dumbalk United), Gemma Fischer (Phillip Island), Grace Scott (Woodside), Gypsy Quaife (Warragul Industrials), Isabella Hill (Bairnsdale), Island Meikle (Meeniyan Dumbalk United), Jade Smorenburg (Warragul Industrials), Kirra Johnson (Nar Nar Goon), Lailah Carroll (Sale City), Matilda Percy (Warragul Industrials), Melina Briganti (Nar Nar Goon), Sadie Stevens (Bairnsdale), Taylah Mizzi (Sale City), Tianjah May (Warragul Industrials), Zoe Hustwayte (Woodside).
