Melville Senior High School students Francesca Gratton, Holly Garbin and Lili Sciberras-Milthorpe have joined the school’s first female Australian rules football team.
Camera IconMelville Senior High School students Francesca Gratton, Holly Garbin and Lili Sciberras-Milthorpe have joined the school’s first female Australian rules football team. Credit: Supplied/Jon Hewson

Melville Senior High School launches first female football team

Aaron CorlettMelville Gazette

FOLLOWING in the footsteps of their AFLW heroes such as Tayla Harris and Daisy Pearce, Melville Senior High School girls have joined their school’s first female footy team with enthusiasm.

About 30 girls have signed up for the Year 10 to Year 12 team and they will take on rival schools Kennedy Baptist College, All Saints’ College and Applecross Senior High School in Term 2.

Rivals football teams unite to raise money

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

More local stories from around Perth

Health and physical education teacher and team coach Lesley McNeil said the popularity of AFLW was a factor in the girls choosing to play.

“I’ve been trying to put together a team for about three years and we finally have enough for a full team,” she said.

“We have enough girls for one team but it would be great to have a reserve side too.”

Melville Senior High School’s first female Australian rules football team. Jon Hewson
Camera IconMelville Senior High School’s first female Australian rules football team. Jon Hewson Credit: Supplied/Supplied

McNeil said the girls had been training for about four weeks with tackling and physical contact proving to be popular.

“They’ve improved from the first week, they are able to kick to a target much more accurately,” she said.

“The girls are really excited about playing, we’ve got a new uniform coming too.

“I’m hopeful we can have a junior team in the future too.”

Bowling club targets Melville Mayor

Palmyra building saved from chopping block