THERE was plenty of pride and even tears at last Friday night’s presentation as members of the inaugural Eagles Women’s Football team were recognised for their outstanding achievements during the 2024 season.

Finishing second on the ladder was an impressive effort by this team of gutsy women in their first year on the paddock and their ability to push through whatever the odds.

The evening was a culmination of a vision team manager Sue McCormack had three years ago for an alternative sport for Mansfield’s young women.

To further this dream, Ant Foubister, known as a pretty handy footballer in his time, was chosen as the “right fit” to coach this new team.

His blend of knowledge, humour and faith in the players’ ability to produce their best performances was evident on the night as he handed out the various awards with a back story to each one.

A choice of retro songs chosen by Ant was customised to match each player’s walk up to the stage to collect their trophies.

Eagles junior club president and occasional women's coach, Michael Bretherton, was unable to attend the presentation but a message of thanks and support was read out on the night.

"As the inaugural Mansfield Women’s Eagles Football team, you have changed the hearts and minds of many and will continue to do so throughout your careers," said Bretherton.

"You have created something special and will leave an ongoing legacy that you should be proud of and should hold dear.

"Ant’s love of the game and more importantly the way it should be played is infectious, a different style to most coaches I experienced through my career, but one that has opened my eyes and the eyes of many in not only how to go about coaching a women’s side but also how to look at life through a different lens.

"To Sue, thank you for your persistence, hard work and dedication, your dream of having a women’s side has finally come to fruition and could not have happened in a bigger way."

Winners were:

Best and fairest: Amy Starzer

Best and fairest runner up: Asha Foubister

Coaches Awards: Phoebe Scott and Lexi Verbec

Best first year players: Mim Davidson and Jane Swinburne

Most Consistent: Michaela Behre and Victoria Mitchell

Rising Star: Hannah Berriman

Most Improved: Emily Gannon