Mount Alexander’s dedicated women’s footy club is gearing up to play even more matches in 2022 following the withdrawal of a Bendigo women’s team on the eve of AFL Central Victoria’s 2022 season.
The Mt Alexander Falcons are now set to play eight games after being approached by AFL Central Victoria to take on the spare fixtures – beginning with a home game on May 7 against Kyneton and followed by a local derby on May 14 against Castlemaine at Camp Reserve.
The inaugural head coach who will be leading the Falcons through these 2022 matches has been revealed as Lil Waters.
Waters was identified by Mt Alexander Falcons as an outstanding head coach with experience both playing and coaching at a representative level.
Paramount for the Falcons board in appointing Waters was her existing relationship and engagement with the playing group, her strong communication skills and a rare finesse for coaching beginners while challenging experienced players.
Club president Louise Conwell said that while the club felt for Kangaroo Flat’s players and staff, the Falcons couldn’t be prouder to step up and take on these fixtures.
“Our players and committee members have earned this opportunity through the hard work they’ve put in over summer in training and our earlier practice matches,” Conwell said.
“We were thrilled when Lil Waters accepted our offer to be the inaugural head coach and the news went down really well with the playing group, so we’re looking forward to watching this group grow and take on these games from May.”
Waters said it was a special opportunity to be an inaugural head coach, especially at the Falcons where the welcoming and positive club culture was already driving the group to go out and play in a supportive environment.
“I want to keep building on that for the rest of the season,” she said.
Other recent announcements by the Mount Alexander Falcons have included the launch of a NAB AFL Auskick program, which is the first step towards a full-fledged junior setup that will be established over the coming seasons as younger Falcons move through the age brackets.
Club vice-president Alana Wearne will be coaching the Auskick clinics alongside parents and carers.
“Junior footy is vital to our club’s mission to open up footy and team sports to more people,” Wearne said.
“We want to show all kids of all genders that footy is a place where you will be accepted for who you are, where you can put on a jersey with your mates and go run around and have fun together.”
The Falcons’ NAB AFL Auskick clinics will be held Saturdays at 9.30am at the Western Reserve in Castlemaine, from April 30.
To register, visit: mtalexanderfalcons.com.au/auskick
To see the full list of upcoming fixtures, go to: mtalexanderfalcons.com.au/fixture
