Grounds, Padfield to lead Big V women in SA

Melbourne University WFC star, Ruby Grounds, has been appointed Big V captain ahead of Saturday’s clash against the Adelaide Footy League.

Grounds, who has been in the MUWFC leadership group since 2013, entered the VAFA Wilson women’s competition this year when the Mugars moved their second side (outside of VFLW) over to William Buck Premier from the Northern Football Netball League.

She leads the Mugars in total disposals (137), marks (24) and tackles (35), while also ranking top 10 in the competition for each of those statistical categories. Grounds has been named in the best six times from her eight games this season and proved unstoppable in her side’s Round 5 victory over Old Xaverians, racking up 38 disposals, seven tackles and a goal in the Mugars’ 23-point win.

Her football journey commenced in 2006 with the Mugars in the AFL Victoria Youth Girls competition, and she has since carved out a sensational career of 162 games and 75 goals.

Grounds’ vice-captain and right-hand woman on Saturday will be Marcellin’s Taylor Padfield.

Padfield is the pre-eminent ruck in William Buck Premier, averaging 47.4 from her eight games and 10 more than her closest rival.

She polled 16 votes from her 12 games in Marcellin’s premiership season last year, including five best-on-ground performances.

Padfield first laced up her football boots in 2011 for Warrandyte JFC in the Yarra Junior Football League and played two seasons before her next foray for the Sheagles in 2017.

The VAFA Women’s Big V side will face off with the Adelaide Footy League at Aldi Arena, South Australia at 1:10pm on Saturday.