VU POLYTECHNIC SENIOR WOMEN’S PREVIEW: POINT COOK
By KEL ROWE
A host of 2022 retirements have seen a new roster of talent on deck out at Saltwater Reserve, and Point Cook Doggies mainstay Ebony Hoffman is pleased to see the team’s passion for footy re-ignited in Season 2023.
“A considerable amount of fresh talent has joined our team — we’re motivated by consistently improving each week and showing that growth as a whole!” said Hoffman.
“There have been some standouts — Yasmen Roe, Emily Laidlaw, Emily Allan — and we are excited to see girls like Angel [Pokora], Chantelle [Jacobsen-Auld] and Nyanthier [Malual], who have been playing with PCFC since their junior years, really stepping up.”
After finishing just outside Division 2 finals contention in 2022, the Doggies have made a solid start of Season 2023, registering 4 wins under the tutelage of new Head Coach Lisa Said and Assistant Playing Coach Tegan Hamilton.
This fresh leadership, along with Emily Allan and Ella Taig as Captain and Vice-Captain respectively, have helped to revitalise the side, and as Hoffman puts it “…remember why they are playing in the first place — to go out and enjoy the game they love.”
Their Round 7 match-up against Laverton was one that Hoffman was particularly looking to with anticipation, despite her side eventually suffering a narrow, 1-goal loss to the Pies.
“We’re keen to keep building on our teamwork and development, and were excited to match up against Laverton, because they are another team that have built themselves up this season with lots of new faces,” Hoffman reflected.
This upcoming weekend marks the first time that the Senior teams of Point Cook will don an Indigenous guernsey — to celebrate the beginning of NAIDOC Week. The women’s side will wear a special design created by their teammate, Tiwi artist Russellina Puruntatameri.
Puruntatameri is no stranger to the process, having been the artist behind Carlton Football Club’s Indigenous guernsey, worn during the AFL’s recent Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
“We’re honoured to be able to represent the Tiwi culture, with a design by not just a Tiwi artist, but our fellow teammate Russy — we’re super proud and excited to be able to play this Indigenous round wearing her design,” Hoffman said.
Catch Point Cook in action this Saturday, as they don their inaugural Indigenous jumpers in their twilight hit out with Caroline Springs at Saltwater Reserve.