By David Kavanagh | posted on January 30, 2020
IT WAS a simple Facebook post that kick-started the formation of one of the Great Southern Football League Women’s competition’s newest footy teams.
Personal trainer Amber Jeeves, eager to get on the field for the 2020 season, put out a call for like-minded women late last year and was surprised to find herself inundated with recruits.
Mere months later, players for the Denmark-Walpole Magpies women’s team are gearing up to play their first official match against Albany Sharks at Centennial Oval tomorrow night.
“I was super keen to get a women’s team up and running for Denmark-Walpole and it was great to have so many want to play,” Jeeves said.
“We’ve had heaps of training sessions and a couple of scratch matches and it has been great fun, but we can’t wait for the season to start.”
Since its formation, the team’s inaugural coach Jodie Hickey has been joined by assistant coaches Carl Heslop and Kelly Judd.
Mr Heslop said he had seen “impressive development” among both footballers and coaches over the pre-season.
The Magpies now form part of the pre-existing Denmark-Walpole Football Club (DWFC), which previously only had a men’s team in the GSFL.
DWFC President Kim Barrow said there was no hesitation welcoming the women’s team.
“Football is a part of the fabric of our community and a women’s team provides an opportunity for wider engagement, and obviously an opportunity for women to play and develop as footballers,” he said.
“It provides a pathway to the AFLW and hopefully we’ll see someone from Denmark Walpole drafted in the coming years.
“It is an exciting time for the club and we are looking forward to seeing the women’s team in action.”
The Magpies’ first home game against Mount Barker Bulls at McLean Oval on February 7 will function as a fundraiser for bushfire relief.
Entry to the match at 7:15pm will be by gold coin donation with all proceeds going to the Red Cross Bush Fire Appeal
