Dusties kick off campaign with strong win
Warragul Industrials women's teams began their season on Saturday with a road trip to Seaford.
With two full sides, including 18 new players, the teams were full of enthusiasm as they prepared for round one in the very strong Mornington Peninsula Football League.
This league has 24 women's teams across three divisions.
The Dusties' division one team was very strong on paper and included 10 girls playing their first game for the club against Seaford.
That strength translated onto the field, with Warragul Industrials opening their year with an emphatic 9.12 (66) to 2.3 (15) win.
2024 captain Samara Beaton lost the coin toss which meant they were kicking against a strong wind.
Despite the having the wind against them, the Dusties kept Seaford to only three inside 50s for the quarter and managed to create many shots on goal, though could only score 4 behinds.
In the first quarter Abbie Hoiberg-Cox, Indi Makai and Alisha Molesworth were controlling the midfield battle.
Coach Scott Armour gave some important reminders at quarter time about structure when the ball was in the forward 50, which helped the Dusties girls lock the ball in their forward half, resulting in more scoring opportunities.
The score at half time was 2.7 (19) to 0.
The third quarter was critical as Seaford had the strong wind and came out with plenty of intensity around the contest.
The Dusties backline stood strong with Bella Brown, Lily Van Berkel and Monai Porykali all dominating across half back.
New Dusties player Sharni Norder (née Layton) was controlling the ruck and was hitting the scoreboard when forward.
Matching the Seaford intensity, Warragul Industrials kicked three very important goals against the wind.
The forward line was functioning well with Michaela Williams providing a great target forward, taking several contested marks.
Dusties players were on top across the ground, as Carlee Maher played a team first role in shutting down Seaford's best rebounding defender.
The Dusties girls managed to keep the intensity up for the rest of the game to win by 51 points against a strong Seaford line-up who were division one premiers in 2022.
Best players for the visitors were Abbie Hoiberg-Cox, Bella Brown, Elise Molesworth, Alisha Molesworth, Indi Makai and Matilda Van Berkel.
Next week Warragul Industrials' division one play at home against Mornington (2) on Saturday at 4:40pm.
The division three Warragul Industrials development girls faced Seaford away on Sunday in a doubleheader before the division one game.
With nine girls donning Dusties jumpers for the first time and five playing their first AFL game for points ever, the standard and pressure displayed was a step up from 2023.
Despite Seaford claiming the victory 10.3 (63) to 1.4 (10), the year ahead looks promising for the development team.
Seaford, boasting a distinguished list of players from their division one side in previous years, had the advantage in experience.
However, the Dusties girls matched the intensity and physicality around the ground for the full four quarters.
Ultimately, Seaford won the game in the air on a windy day by reading the ball better and capitalising on scoring opportunities.
Dominating for Warragul were Nik Sherridan and Ellen Croft all day, with strong support from Harriet Parkinson around the ground. It was ultimately a very good team performance with plenty to build on in 2024.
This week the Dusties division three side will play at home after the division one girls in another double header against Pines from Frankston, a side the development girls beat in both encounters last year.