This season, the junior Tigers will enter an under-12 girls’ team into the Bendigo Junior Football League alongside their under-14 mixed and under-16 boys’ teams.
Newly-recruited coach Tom Mangan said the numbers at training had been fantastic.
“Despite the heat, we consistently have lots of girls at training each week and they are having a great time, meaning that Tom is already ticking the box on his goals for the season: fun, learning and improving,” he said.
“For several girls, this will be their first time playing football, let alone competition football, so we aim to give them a positive and enjoyable experience.”
The club has successfully obtained a grant from Campaspe Shire, which means the girls will have access to new equipment for the season.
“The girls are looking forward to pulling on a Tigers jumper and helmet come game day,” Mr Mangan said.
The girls’ team has been championed by ex-Bendigo Thunder and current Echuca women’s assistant coach Phoebe Cuttriss.
Having grown up in Rochester watching her brothers and their mates play footy without an opportunity for herself, Mrs Cuttriss finally sees some light at the end of the tunnel.
“It makes me very happy. Ten-year-old Phoebe could only have dreamed of this,” she said.
Mrs Cuttriss’ contacts in the AFLW world were also thrilled to hear about Rochester getting a girls’ team together and plan on helping throughout the season when they can.
“We want our girls to know that it’s not just the Rochy community behind them. Past AFLW players are also in their corner”, Mrs Cuttriss says.
Trailblazing Tiger Mackenzie Harvey is all signed up and ready for the season.
“I’m very excited. I love that I get to play footy with my friends and that girls are getting a go at footy in Rochy," Mackenzie said.
Teammate Willow Brooks backs up her enthusiasm.
“I’m thrilled we have a girls’ footy team in Rochy. It’s been enjoyable and exciting so far,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to playing a game. I’m so happy I can play for Rochy with all my friends.”
Working behind the scenes to get the team up and going has been a passion project for RJFC president Casey James who, before this role, was the Rochester Auskick co-ordinator for six years.
“I watched the number of girls participating in Auskick grow during my time there and was so disappointed to see them give up at the end of Auskick because there was no pathway for them unless they joined in with the boys,” Ms James said.
“I’m also now seeing some girls who can mix it with the boys come through the junior club, so imagine what they could do if they played in a girls’ comp.”
RJFC welcomes any girls born in 2012, 2013 and 2014 to come to training and give footy a go.
The girls will play on Friday nights in Bendigo. The club is hoping Rochy will also host a home game or two under lights as the season progresses.
Round one of the Bendigo Junior Football League kicks off on Friday, April 19.
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