Magpies on the hunt for female footballers

MANSFIELD women looking to put on their footy boots won't have to travel too far for a kick. The Wangaratta Football Netball Club is looking towards the future of Australian Rules football. Like many local clubs around Australia, the Magpies are looking to introduce a women's team to their football netball club. The proposed team will play in the North East's Female Football League, against the likes of arch–rivals Wangaratta Rovers who have gathered plenty of numbers since joining the league two years ago. Wangaratta's Russell Canning is looking forward to introducing some new female sides. "We're seeking expressions of interests from both players and coaches regarding a new female team," Canning said. "We're hoping to field at least one age group if not all so if you're interested email footballsops@wangmagpies.com.au. "We feel like a female team will really add to our club, especially considering we're building standalone female change rooms that we're hoping to have done before the start of the season. "We're going to be the only club to have female changerooms for footballers which is a really big thing." Along with the current football and netball club, the Magpies also have an all–abilities team – the Merriwa Magpies. "We've got men's teams, netball teams and an all–abilities team so we feel like a female team will really round out the club," Canning said. "We did have a female team a few years ago but that folded so we're really keen to get another one up and running. "There seems to be plenty of girls interested in playing football so hopefully we can get a few teams together."