Women feature at Mortlock Shield for first time

Women’s football featured as part of the Mortlock Shield carnival for the first time with an exhibition match taking place on Saturday morning.

Twenty four female footballers from across Eyre Peninsula played in a 12-a-side match.ADVERTISING

Both teams played the game in high spirits and did not shy away from the hard fought contests.

Georgina Shirley was one of the players who took part in the match and said it was a momentous occasion for all the girls and women to play in the first women’s match at the Mortlock Shield carnival.

“We did have fun, it was hard work for four quarters of footy, it’s not like anything we’d probably done before as a team so it’s really good fun.”

Women’s football continues to grow in the region thanks to support locally and from the SANFL and Norwood Football Club.

The footballers who played will also have the chance of selection in the Western Zone team that will play in the State Country Championships in Port Pirie next month.

Shirley said the match in the morning was a lead up to the carnival and the players were keen for the future.
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“The time is now, the girls are keen so hopefully we keep going and it builds up to something really good and really strong,” she said.

Shirley said she hoped to see women’s football continue to feature at the Mortlock Shield and “something more regular” for senior players during the winter season.