Nagambie Lakers Football Club to form women's team for 2023 season after locals band together

Rylee Alderton was not sure what response she would get when she put a post on the Nagambie Lakers Football Club Facebook page asking if anyone was interested in forming a women's team.

«Within the first four hours I had 20 players,» she said. 

«Twenty-four hours in, I had 33 players that are very, very keen and about six that are wanting to have a go. It was fantastic.»

Although the response was much more immediate and effusive than she was anticipating, Ms Alderton had known there might be some appetite for it in the Goulburn Valley town.

With no women's team in Nagambie, many local women were travelling up to an hour away, to Bendigo and Shepparton, twice a week just so they could play.

Ms Alderton had played for the Shepparton Bears herself in 2019.

«Then COVID hit and obviously the seasons got put to a halt. And then the following season I fell pregnant with my third child. Not having anything close by actually made it quite hard,» she said.

«So to bring the girls together, and also be affiliated with our local football netball team, it's a great opportunity.»

With so much enthusiasm in the community, Ms Alderton is hoping for a 2023 debut in the Northern Country Women's League.

Players plan to meet fortnightly throughout the year, to get to know each other, and get prepared before preseason starts in November.

«There's about seven ladies that have never actually played football before, which is fantastic, they're going to learn the game and hopefully really enjoy it,» she said.

«Then the closer it gets we'll catch up more frequently, but it's just getting the girls excited and getting them confident.»

Northern Country Women's League Operations Manager Julian Perta said he was thrilled to see such a strong response from