THE Eagles Senior Women’s team’s fairytale first season ended on Sunday. It was a brave effort and valuable experience, however opponents Shepparton United were too experienced and well-practiced so will advance to the grand final. There wasn’t anything between the teams that couldn’t be put down to experience. Extra years on the training field, the confidence of having been there before, and several seasons playing together allowed United to move the ball away from stoppages more cleanly and to go forward and score with greater consistency. They did not get it easy though. To a player, the Eagles chased, harassed, pressured and fought the entire way and held as much possession as their opponents for the last half but just couldn’t score as easily. And that, folks, was the tale of last Sunday … but what of the season? And the players who made it happen? The members of the “Best First Year Team Ever”? This fledgling Eagle’s life began for certain just six weeks before the season opening, not exactly springing to life, more feebly breaking down the tough shell of untrodden pathways and dubious forecasts to peek from within, grasp tightly to an optimistic few and hold on as if its’ life depended on them. Which it did. Training was called and players started to arrive, first 8 to 10 at training then a week of five and then six, then some rallying to hit dizzying highs above 20 in the balmy late Autumn evenings. Some came, couldn’t quite commit this year and disappeared again. Alas, enough determined players stayed! The season arrived and the team lived boasting comfortable numbers for training and home games and not so boastfully, just enough players for away games including the final game last weekend as we ran into just a few injury concerns. It is though rare and unexpected that a brand-new team should have such a successful first season. The team was lucky that the half a dozen girls who had played before just happened to be quite excellent and that those who’ve joined them all excel in one area or another quite naturally and have quickly improved their fundamental skills and particularly their game sense to form a very competitive unit. Even more fortunate is what a wonderful, well-intentioned, free-thinking, hard-working diverse group they are. And you just couldn’t ask for more or get any luckier than that. So please, let me introduce them to you. BACKS: Andy “A”, a.k.a. “Voodoo” Dolling. Courageous and extremely fit, A’s not missed a training or game she’s been fit and available to attend. Her half-time hippy snack balls (totally legal) are brilliant too. Every club would want Andy Dolling and her balls. “A” can be seen at Sports First and Snow Gum nursery during the week and her theme song is “Old Enough to Know Better” by Chick Rains. This is her first season of footy. “Bad” Georgia Croft. Georgia wraps ‘em up and shuts ‘em down. She looks anything but “bad” however this girl swings a velvet sledgehammer and they “don’t get up”! Georgia can be seen during the week doing environmental work for the department of regular acronymic reconfigurations. Georgia has not played prior to this year and her theme song is “Bad Bad Leeroy Brown”. Emily “the Cannon” Gannon, in her first season playing brings a brilliant energy and competitiveness to her team. She is so full of life and has been constantly improving her skills since the first training. Her opponents certainly know they’re playing if unlucky enough to line up on her. Emily works at “High Performance Physio” on Chenery St. and her theme song is “Let’s Get Physical” by Olivia Newton John. Jane-o Swinburne. Who had not played before this year has uncanny awareness. She may secretly be a gypsy with a crystal ball such is her ability to read the play and intercept. Fast and near perfect in her decision-making, Jane-o has been a keystone of the Eagles team since the first training. Seen during the week helping control operations at Mt Buller her theme song is “Sweet Jane” by Hollis Brown. Sammi “that’s my first name” Charlotte who played footy in school has got to be lying about that. The playing in school part that is. She’s been playing in the AFLW! I reckon under another name as would agree the best opposition forwards in the league whom she has been monstering since her first game. Sammi’s other favourite position is left field from whence she has become her team’s regular report writer. Unafraid to ask the tough questions, the Mansfield Eagles are exceptionally lucky Sammi came down to join in. A teacher at the Steiner school, her song is “What’s Up?” by Four Non-Blondes. Susan “Woozin’” McCormick, a physiotherapist, is a key reason the new Eagles exist. Susan’s daughter Phoebe developed a love for footy and no shortage of talent for it either. Having played netball for 40 years and seeing the need, Sue initiated and drove the creation of the team and so far has helped get them over the line on many occasions this year. With good skills and a terrific understanding of the game, Woozin’ organises her teammates at both ends of the ground with her theme song “Too Old to Die Young” by Brother Dege ringing in her ears. MIDS: Hannah “cruise missile” Berriman is a magnificent product of the MDJFL and the Shep Swans in the GVJFL where she won the previous two flags. A league representative, Hannah cruises around causing the opposition no end of trouble. She is a great mark and loves a shot at goal on her trusty left. Hannah is an apprentice carpenter whose footy game is great to watch. Her theme song is “Smooth Operator” by Sade. Madi “Mad Dog” Shultz seems born to cruise the wings, take marks, run around her opponents and slot the odd goal. Representing the league, In. Her. First. Year. Of. Footy, Madi is styling! A vet nurse at Mansfield Veterinary Clinic, Madi’s theme song, predominantly due to her reputed nature whilst celebrating is “Five Fingered Death Punch” by Jekyll and Hyde. Michaela “Macca” Behre is brilliant! She is brave, tough, hard, fair, resilient and she is bloody good. Captain of her team, Macca leads from the front. She wins tons of footy but is never more obvious than when she’s needed most. If you had five Michaela Behre’s you would win every quarter of every game every year against anyone forever. Her theme song is “Mama’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys” by Waylon and Willie. Cat O’Brien has been enjoying an extensive tour of Europe, Scandinavia, the sub-continent, and Eastern Asia for several weeks but when she’s not on tour she is the most exciting prospect to have come out of the footy wilderness in a long time. A lightning-fast natural competitor, Cat is super fun to watch, brilliant for her teammates and her team’s fast game style. An apprentice carpenter, Cat’s theme song is “From Little Things Big Things Grow” by Paul Kelly. Amy Starzer is every team’s dream recruit. She’s a dominant ruck with fantastic skills and brilliant awareness who runs all day. Having played in the Melbourne Metropolitan leagues, the Eagles have been able to build a team around Amy who also takes training and coaches when I’m (the coach) unavailable. Consequently, I’m not sure how to feel about how much the team improves during these times. Amy is a police officer whose theme song is “Watching the Detectives” by Elvis Costello. Saige “hostile Siege” Neave is the most naturally talented contested ball winner I’ve come across in my time. New to the game this year I’ve a sneaking suspicion Saige grew up with 6 or 7 older brothers competing every morning for the last Weetbix. She has an uncanny and superb ability to win the ball and make space, has a natural game sense and her skills are improving at an unbelievable rate. Saige can be seen during the week doing environmental work alongside Georgia at the DRAR and her theme song is “Unchained” by James Brown and 2Pac. SmAsha Foubister is an unfair advantage to her team. A product of the MDJFL, Wang Rovers and the Murray Bushrangers she can kick four goals in a quarter if needed, intercept and run the field off ½ back or just win bulk footy in the midfield. Asha’s disposal is a feature of her play and all this sees her heavily tagged and heavily tackled each week and hey, getting regularly smashed as well! That’s really very good for her resilience and why her theme song is “I’m Still Standing” (In-fact still running like a gazelle) by Elton John. Victoria Mitchell is another unfair advantage. As a footballer, she is super aware, super competitive, super tough, and just super good. This is all great for her team but the greatest advantage she leaves is her game day example. The strength of her focus and relentless pursuit is an example of what it takes to perform at your best. World-class athletes are not everywhere or in every team. Mansfield Eagles are exceptionally lucky. “Minnie the Moocher” by the Blues Brothers is Vic’s theme song. FORWARDS: Ronnie Munar joined us just 3 weeks ago from Wadeye in the Northern Territory where she has must have grown up playing with (and I’d believe whooping) the boys. If you want speed, agility, dash, and daring then get some from Ronnie cos she’s got it to spare. Ronnie is a real live wire and very exciting to watch. And tough. Working for the Thamarrurr Youth Indigenous Corporation in Myrtleford, Ronnie’s theme song is “Wild Thing” by The Troggs. Grace Preuss, a teacher at Timbertop loved playing when she did so in England and was super keen to join the new Mansfield team. How she became quite so good in England I don’t know, but this unknowing is of no less benefit to her team. Grace is a natural athlete and a great mark who loves a running goal. She is also exceptionally brave and tough. Her theme song is “Tougher Than the Rest” by Bruce Springsteen. Lexi Verbec, a student and the Eagles' youngest team member, plays well above her size. In her first season, Lexi has grasped the game whilst doing so in the tough half-forward flank position. Every week Lexi gets better and has more influence on the game. An exceptionally tough competitor Lexi’s theme song is “Another Brick in the Wall” by Pink Floyd. Suzie Wellborn works behind the scenes and out the front in hospitality, requiring balance – a skill which helps her to be a great contested ball winner. She’s also a terrific mark and good kick who has been a valuable team member from the get-go. Susie can play forward or back and is amazingly effective when on the ball. Her song being “Baby Let Your Hair Hang Down” by Joey Welz. Mim Davidson has some brilliant natural attributes which allows her to play in ways she really shouldn’t be able to in her first year of footy. Joining the Eagles early on Mim has shown uncanny awareness, a brilliant set of hands, good goal sense, and great ground-level skills. She primarily plays at centre-half forward but has also played successfully in the ruck for us. A great competitor and one of Mansfield’s Ambos, her theme song is an old Sky Hooks favourite: “Women in Uniform”. Sarah Thompson is another of Mansfield’s Ambos the Eagles are lucky enough to have playing. Spatially aware, a good runner with a totally unfair skill level for her first season of footy, Sarah finds heaps of the ball, uses it really well and is a fantastic all-round team member who can play anywhere well. Sarah’s song is also “Women in Uniform” by the Sky Hooks. Phoebe Scott’s theme song is “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana. Phoebe is an absolutely first-class individual with a training ethic that’s seen her improve every week. She never lets her team down, is a relentless competitor, and is learning the game in the toughest of positions: half-forward flank. Phoebe is a favourite of her teammates and in her final year at secondary school. Tasia Ciarma, Vanessa Bevan, and Tahlia Middleton are other key players to have featured for the Eagles this year. Vanessa works making stickers and is a superwoman who has brought her exceptional hockey skills to the game of footy. She’s been superb support when her fitness has allowed her. Tahlia and Tasia are both quite fantastically skilled youngsters who’ve set their team alight when they’ve been able to play throughout the year and I’m really hoping these three all make it back on the track very soon. If you’re eligible, and if you can’t find a good enough reason not to, get yourself ready to be a member of the “Best Second Year Team Ever”. The Mansfield Women’s Eagles footy team Facebook page will keep you up to date with when we start preseason training – all who are of the female persuasion are welcome to come down and join this blossoming team. Go Eagles!
