ONE FOR ALL, AND ALL FOR ONE
CATS LEADERS EMBRACE WOMEN’S TEAM AS PART OF WHOLE DEAL
THEY do not do tokenism down at Kardinia Park. It is not the Geelong way. There is a one-in, all-in mentality that permeates among staff and, subsequently, its three teams, who strive in their attempt to achieve a common goal for one club.
It is what drives seniorlisted players to work with local footballers on the VFL list when they first arrive at the club, and what inspires men who have been to the top to help women who are starting out on their football journey.
So when Harry Taylor made a visit to Geelong’s VFLW leadership group earlier this year to impart some wisdom to his newest colleagues, it was done from the heart and with the knowledge that the benefits would be felt beyond the four walls of the room in which they sat.
It also laid the foundations for a meeting last week between the leadership groups of the VFLW and AFL teams, the first of what will be regular get-togethers where ideas will be shared, tactics discussed and broader issues tackled by the club’s selected leaders.
Renee Garing, who only took up football this season after a decorated netball career, says the gathering provided a wonderful insight into the workings and machinations of an AFL leadership group meeting.
“We had Harry come and speak to our leadership group earlier in the season when we were first formed just to let us know how they ran their meetings,” Garing said.
“He spoke to us about the review of the game and just reflecting it back to the values of the club.
“That’s how they check up on all of the players to see how they’re going in terms of enjoyment with their footy, how the game went and how they’re going personally.
“So to see them go through that process and discuss that as a group . . . it was really interesting to see what the boys are doing to support players from week to week.”
Geelong’s VFLW side sits in sixth spot on the ladder after nine games, and is an outside chance to claim a finals spot should it string together the victories required in its final five home-and-away matches.
One of the team’s biggest supporters, Patrick Dangerfield has admired the way the VFLW side has overcome some monumental challenges and says working alongside the women in the club was a nonnegotiable.
“I think it’s an important thing to do, especially given we’re all playing for the same club and representing the same organisation. It shows great unity, which we need to continue to grow the community,” Dangerfield said.
“The important thing is with three teams — our AFL side and two VFL sides, and hopefully an AFLW side — that we continue to do things together as one club.
“I think the challenge for the girls is they’ve basically been building a club from scratch. It’s a steep learning curve for them because they’re playing with a whole lot of people they haven’t necessarily played with before or even know, so there are challenges there in itself.
“But it’s just about how you deal with that and making sure everyone is on the same page.
“Last week we spoke a bit about when you’re in close games the things you need to focus on and the clarity everyone needs to have, so pretty simple messages really, but ones that if they’re done well, explained properly and understood can make the difference between winning and losing close games.”
The message from Dangerfield is one that is filtered right the way down through the Geelong Football Club from the top.
When the next lot of AFLW licences is granted, the Cats
want to ensure no stone has been left unturned and that the decision makers at AFL headquarters can see the tireless work they have put in to building their women’s team.
Part of an eightwoman leadership team made up of Bec Goring, Lily Mithen, Maddie Boyd, Jordan Ivey, Anna Teague, Alisha Habib and Krista Woodroffe — and one of several players to have left another sport to pursue a career in football — Garing said the club had proved time and again it is on the right path to realising its vision.
“When the decision was made to start a VFL women’s team and ultimately get an AFL women’s team, they weren’t going to do it half-hearted, and they haven’t, they have really embraced the opportunity and made us feel part of it,” she said.
“From the very beginning of the year the club has put its support behind the girls. Steve Hocking came into one of our training sessions early on, and when the venue was opened with the new facilities we’ve been given complete access to those.
“He (Hocking) said we are a third team (within the club) and will be treated the same as the boys and we’ve fully felt that from seeing the guys in the gym and being invited into recovery and things like that.
“The time and effort that is put into planning sessions and individual plans for each of the girls has been amazing.”
Women’s football is flourishing in Geelong, with the popularity of the VFLW side a major contributor to the growth the game has seen across the region and the rise in participation numbers in girls and youth football.
On the back of that, and having seen the evolution of his club’s women’s team, Dangerfield believes it is only fair the Cats are next cab off the rank for an AFLW side.
“If you look at the greater Geelong region, it is an evergrowing region and sport is a huge part of our culture,” he said.
“It is a wonderful unifier so it would be wonderful — and I think it’s logical — for us to hopefully, touch wood, have our girls join in the AFLW.”
“The important thing is with three teams — our AFL side and two VFL sides, and hopefully an AFLW side — that we continue to do things together as one club.” – PATRICK DANGERFIELD