Kendall Jennings, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper

Koondrook teenager, Alethea D’Silva, has been selected for an inaugural under 14 girls football development game against Sunraysia at Tooleybuc on Sunday, August 7.

In its first year, the Central Victorian Football League Northern held an Under 14 girls’ football series where six teams faced off. From that series, 25 girls have been selected to play in a regional squad.

Alethea will join fellow Warra Blues teammates, Lilly Wise, Natalie Spark and Reagan Good (season permitted player from Charlton). Three training sessions will be held in Swan Hill before match day.

“2022 was a fantastic year for the girls and the competition,” said David Alderuccio, Participation Manager North – AFL Victoria.

“It was great for the region to provide an opportunity for girls to play and develop over the six weeks.

Our aim going forward is to continue to grow and develop female football in the region through Auskick, school programs and the Under 14 Girls Competition. Female football is growing, and we want to provide girls with this opportunity to play our great game.

With AFLW commencing soon, we see this as a great chance to promote female football.

We are super excited to launch our first ALL girls Auskick program, which will commence on August 8, in Swan Hill.

We will continue to grow and develop the girls competition with the current six clubs and look to grow it again in 2024.”

Alethea was awarded the best player three times in the six-round series and scored one goal, saying that the series was fun.

The 13 year old’s face lights up with a smile remembering the family gatherings at Kardinia Park GMHBA Stadium watching her cousin, Geelong Cats women’s defender, Denby Taylor, play.

“Since moving up here, we’ve been to nearly every home game to watch my cousin play. I’ve been down in the rooms with her after the game once or twice,” said Alethea.

While living in Melbourne, Alethea says, “I didn’t realise there was anything happening with girls’ footy.

I thought I was the only girl playing in Under 8s. I played footy for two years and soccer for one. I realised, wait, there is a whole league out here.”

Moving to Koondrook in 2019, Alethea has played Under 12s footy and Under 14s netball for the Koondrook Barham Raiders before venturing into the inaugural Under 14s Northern Girls Football series.

“It is a lot better playing with the girls. It is not less rough. With the boys, I was the only girl there; I felt detached.

Maybe they were hesitant on giving it to me sometimes as I was really short.

So, they probably thought I could get knocked over really quick, which did happen a couple of times,” she said.

With the girls, it is an even playing field. “Everyone tries to include me more.” Instead of being the odd one out.

“That happens being the only girl. It’s not just footy, I was the only girl in cricket and basketball.”

It was a great discussion about what Alethea has overcome to play any sport with girls’ participation low.

“You learn things from them (being the only girl playing) and share that with others.

I like sport in general. I’ve always had my twin brother to compete against, and that has pushed me further.”

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 14 July 2022.