VU POLYTECHNIC SENIOR WOMEN’S PREVIEW: PARKSIDE SPURS
By KEL ROWE
Over the weekend, a new chapter of Spurs history was written, with the storied side playing their inaugural match in the Western Region Football League VU Polytechinic Senior Women’s Competition.
Despite narrowly missing the win by a single point in their match against 2022 Premiers Caroline Springs, head coach Tara Morgan was pleased with the result, highlighting that the new team weren’t “just a number” for the Division 1 competition.
“To know our contested brand of footy can stand up to the reigning premiers is something we are really proud of as a coaching group… Caroline Springs play a great brand of uncontested football and we really wanted to push them to play the hard ball get,” Morgan was quoted as saying post-match on the club’s Instagram.
“[There were] some amazing passages into the forward line and our defensive pressure was great. We took some big risks today and they really paid off.”
The Round 1 debut was just one milestone among many in recent times for the club — the move to the WRFL prompting a wholesome merger, with the side officially adopting the Parkside boys as their own to become one club — the Parkside Spurs.
2023 will also mark the celebration of the Spurs 30th anniversary; and provide a chance to reflect on their history and success, whilst getting excited about the club’s next chapter of footy. Spurs President Ash Block, sights the move from the Northern Football Netball League (NFNL) to the West as a positive one, noting that it was in the club’s best interest for ongoing success.
“This [move] comes as the club’s best interest to further succeed, to develop, to maintain players, volunteers and staff and to recruit new Spurs for the future,” she said.
Founded by AFL Hall of Famer Debbie Lee and having fielded many household names of the AFLW — including Daughters of the West Elisabeth Georgostathis, Naomi Ferres and Ashleigh Guest (retired) — the Parkside Spurs enter the WRFL with the benchmark set high and expectations abound.
And if their Round 1 performance is any indication, the Parkside Spurs are more than just their history, and are set to be a real contender in Season 2023.
Catch them in action this Saturday at Yarraville Oval as they take on the Yarraville Seddon Eagles in Round 2 of the VU Polytechnic Senior Women’s Division 1 Competition.