Great opportunity for Narrogin youngsters as they get a taste of women’s footy with Collie Eagles

Four aspiring young girls from Narrogin pulled on the Collie Eagles jumper for the first time, as they played in the opening round of the South West Football League Women’s competition.

Sharny Shipway, Harley Heywood, Trazine Farmer and Asha Slawinksi developed a passion for football after playing in a Stephen Michael Foundation carnival last year.

They made the trip to Collie on March 25 to represent the Eagles in the season opener.

Participants in the SMF 2022 Rising Leaders Program at Narrogin Senior High School, the four have been preparing for the 2023 campaign by training alongside the Upper Great Southern Rams program in Narrogin.

Collie Eagles women’s coach Matt Stevens tackled the three-hour round trip himself to take the talented group to and from the game.

“Logistics are ‘however we can do it’ week to week,” said Stevens.

“We’ll do whatever it takes to get the girls down to play, the Collie Football Club see the importance of women’s football.”

The Eagles lost by 19 points but Stevens was proud of the girls’ performance.

They came up against a South Bunbury side that contained WAFL experience and have won three premierships, keeping them to five points in the first three quarters.

“Three of them had never played league and altogether we had 10 girls who had never played before,” Stevens said.

“Their growth and their improvement has been exponential and that’s the rewarding part of it.

“They’re like sponges, they absorb the information.”