2024 Big V Women’s Squad announced

The VAFA would like to congratulate the 42 players named today in the initial Big V Women’s Squad to face the Perth Football League in Perth on Sunday July 7.

Big V Women’s coach Paul Groves is delighted with the group he and his selectors have pulled together and is looking forward to getting to work in the coming weeks.

“We’ve gone for versatility in the squad,” said Groves, who is coaching the Big V for a second consecutive year.

“The game will likely be played on a larger ground in WA, so we’ll need a balance between inside power and outside run. The ability to play multiple roles is a huge advantage in State footy because it gives us options to switch things around and maximise match-ups.”

The balance between youth and experience is another that Groves has focused on.

“We’ve got a few in the squad with AFLW experience in Kate McCarthy, Kate Stanton and Nadia Von Bertouch. Not only are they talented players, but they’ve also got that experience of playing at the highest level and we see them as teachers and mentors to our youngsters, who will learn so much from being around them and seeing them prepare in the weeks leading up to the game.

“We’ve got a few girls who made the squad but missed out on the team last year. It’s been great to see them continue to play excellent footy and they’ve been rewarded with squad selection once again. I know they’ll be particularly determined to get their magnet on that whiteboard this year.”

“Congratulations to St Kevin’s (10 representatives), Old Scotch (7) and Kew (6) on having so many nominees. They are the Top 3 teams on the Premier Women’s ladder at the moment and this is a reflection of the strength and depth of their squads. We look forward to the cohesion that comes from having so many players already familiar with each other’s games in the squad.

“But equally it’s great to have three girls from Old Yarra and one from Monash – the two teams that were elevated to Premier Women’s this season. And we have named 3 girls from Division 1 – Zoe Glascott from Marcellin, India Tait from Old Brighton and Ellen Williams from OMs. So our talent is coming from far and wide.”

“We also have some players who have come back to the VAFA full-time after being unavailable due to VFLW commitments last year, plus a couple who would have played in 2023 but missed due to injury, so that provides us with even more quality and I’m really excited to see what they can all add.

Perth FL have named Steph Walding as coach in 2024 and Groves has the utmost respect for his counterpart.

“She led East Freo to the flag last season in her first year in charge, so she can obviously bring a group together quickly. They are going to be a well-coached and talented group, so it’s going to be a great challenge for us.

“Congratulations to all the players who have made the squad and I’m really looking forward to getting everyone together and seeing what we can deliver.”

VAFA BIG V WOMEN’S 2024 SQUAD

The VAFA Big V Women’s squad will be trimmed to 23 in the lead-up to the Sunday, July 7 match against Perth FL, which will be live-streamed on VAFA.com.au