William Buck Premier women’s preview

Posted on - Latest News, Featured, Premier Women's, Women's News

Alisha Min

Fitzroy-ACU

As one of the few club’s with an existing women’s team prior to the launch of the VAFA Wilson Women’s football competition in 2017, Fitzroy has shown their made for the top section after featuring in the William Buck Premier women’s competition for two consecutive years. Joining the VAFA from the disbanded VFLW competition, the Roy Girls made finals in 2017 (4th) but were denied the same opportunity in 2018 after finishing fifth. With a host of new appointments in 2019, including Jess Hayes as captain, Gray Barton as senior coach and his daughter, Maeve Barton, as the assistant coach, the Roy Girls will be endeavouring for another finals berth this season – all of which can start this weekend if they maintain their unbeaten home record against the SKOB Saints at their Brunswick St Oval fortress.

Kew

Transitioning from the NFNL to the VAFA in 2018, Kew enjoyed a successful inaugural season in the William Buck Premier women’s competition after finishing third at the end of the minor rounds. The Bears have some incredibly talented players in their side, including Danielle Sibosado and Danielle Calautti (Big V representative), both of which finished equal-second in the section’s B&F count (15 votes apiece), while Michaela Harding has been working hard in the off-season as a VAFA representative in the inaugural Ireland comes to Bayside International Rules Football match. Captain Tara Donnan and senior coach Theo Vlahos will once again lead the senior women’s side, as they look to better their 2018 efforts and push for a grand final appearance in 2019.

Marcellin

Two years in to their women’s program, and Marcellin can already boast a William Buck Premier premiership (2017) and grand final appearance (2018) during their tenure. Despite falling to the Mugars by 18 points in the decider last year, the individual accolades of many of their Sheagles stars did not go unnoticed by the Association. Taylor Padfield won the William Buck Premier B&F medal (20 votes), and vice-captained the Big V representative team (which featured six Marcellin players), Laura Robertson took out the Anytime Fitness Rising Star Award, and Shaylee Taylor was the leading goalkicker with 23 majors. With Luke Boyd stepping up into the role of senior coach this year, taking the reins from Tom Stafford, the Sheagles will look to launch their 2019 campaign with a victory over Old Trinity (current form from 2017-18; 3 wins – 1 loss).

Melbourne University WFC

Reigning premiers Melbourne University have moved from strength-to-strength in their two years at the VAFA, and will be approaching their 2019 campaign in the same fashion. Moving from a bottom of the table finish in this section in 2017, to first place and a grand final victory in 2018, the Mugars led by Big V captain, Ruby Grounds, BOG Medallist, Leah Caluzzi, and sharpshooter Caitlin Greiser (10 goals), had a remarkable 2018 season. With a number of former Melbourne University stars taking it to the top level, including Emma Kearney who captained the inaugural North Melbourne AFLW side in 2019, this club, led by senior coach Matt Ogilvie and captain Alex Gittings, will have plenty to offer the competition this year.

Old Trinity

Fielding a new senior coach, Stephen Maus, and a reserves team for the first time in their women’s football history, Old Trinity will look to make an impact in the William Buck Premier women’s competition for a third year in a row. With a number of their older players departing over the off-season, Old Trinity will have a very young squad, many of who have never played a match before, battling it out in our highest section. The enthusiasm around the club is absolutely palpable, so don’t be surprised if the team, led by co-captains Sally Peers and Vanessa Murphy, better their sixth-placed finish from 2018.

SKOB Saints

In a similar vein to the Roy Girls, SKOB Saints are one of just four women’s teams in our football competition whose establishment precedes the founding VAFA Wilson Women’s season in 2017. The Saints have had an undeniably successful campaign in our competition to date, headlined by consecutive finals appearances (1st in 2017, 4th in 2018). With players the ilk of Sarah Cameron, 2017 Rising Star recipient and SKOB’s leading goal-scorer (27 goals in 2017, 16 goals in 2018), Eliza Straford, the Saints top vote-getter in the William Buck Premier Women’s B&F count in both 2017 (15 votes) & 2018 (14 votes), Sophie Straford (pictured), Ali Hynes and Marg Gleeson in their line-up, the SKOB girls will be fired-up for another finals berth this year.

St Mary’s Salesian

After making history in 2018 as one of only two teams (St Mary’s Salesian & Hawthorn AFC) to win consecutive premierships in the opening two years of the VAFA Wilson Women’s competition, St Mary’s Salesian make the jump to William Buck Premier for the first time in 2019, where a third premiership bout will not be off the cards. In their prolific grand final win last season, where they held their opponent (West Brunswick) goalless for the entirety of the match, Ruby Svarc (BOG Medalist) and Bec Grant (1 goal) were standouts; a reflection of their season-long success as highlighted in their equal-second placing in the Premier B Blue B&F count (15 votes apiece). With these stars back in the line-up this season, plus Damien Sutherland continuing on as senior coach, the Saints look set for a big year.

West Brunswick

West Brunswick put on a near-flawless performance during their 2018 journey in the then Premier B Blue section, but were denied premiership silverware with their senior side for a second time at the hands of St Mary’s Salesian. The resilient Westies team, who boasted the Premier B Blue B&F winner and leading goal-scorer Melissa Lindsay (17 votes) and Laura Jago (25 goals), respectively, will look to utilise their club’s enviable depth during their 2019 campaign in the VAFA’s top women’s section. Taking the reins from Darren Smith, West Brunswick stalwart Josh Melican will lead the charge as senior coach in 2019 after brimming success as the premiership winning women’s reserves coach in 2018.