Sport
25 May, 2023
Carisbrook Lady Redbacks to play first senior home game against reigning premier this weekend
After weeks of getting on the road, it’s a homecoming for the Carisbrook Lady Redbacks as they finally play their first senior women’s game at home since the club relaunched at the start of the season. The Lady Redbacks will be welcoming...
After weeks of getting on the road, it’s a homecoming for the Carisbrook Lady Redbacks as they finally play their first senior women’s game at home since the club relaunched at the start of the season.
The Lady Redbacks will be welcoming reigning premiers Redan to a revamped Carisbrook Recreation Reserve on Sunday afternoon, with their new rooms operational and ready to be used.
The new rooms were used for the first time last weekend when the under 16s team were able to run out on the field, earning a big win against Lake Wendouree.
However, this weekend will see both Carisbrook women’s teams run out on the field to protect their home ground advantage for the first time.
According to co-coach Steve Atkinson, it’s been the light at the end of the tunnel after a difficult period of long road trips to start the season.
“We’ve worked very hard to get a team up and running, which was difficult, it hasn’t been an easy thing and it was harder as we had to travel every week so far and keep the girls interested, on top of injuries and trying to plan around that. So it’s super exciting to be at home and the girls get a facility they can use, which is perfect for us,” he said.
“It’s special to have our first home game. The scoreboard hasn’t reflected our effort so far, and it’s as we’ve rebuilt from scratch. It’s the first time we’ve had a team for a couple of years. The other teams are years ahead of us, and their skillset is quite good.”
Despite losing their opening six games, other clubs have marvelled at the development of the club so far in its first year back, something which impresses Atkinson.
“We’ve had comments from teams such as Redan and Darley that have grabbed our girls after the game and have said they can’t believe the standard they’re at, with the grit and their hard tackling being commended, which is amazing, and makes me super proud of the girls,” he said.
“When the girls started at the start of the year, it was a process of teaching them how to play football, teaching the skills, as we had only a number of girls who knew the game.
“The newer girls have come through, such as Anika Munn, who might be a perfect example. She is getting best on grounds and she had never played a year of football before. She has a natural talent, along with other girls who didn’t know they could play football until they’ve had a go at it, and they are amazing.
“We are starting to pick up girls from strong clubs — we have picked up a couple of girls from Redan recently who can’t quite break into a strong team at the moment. They’ve come in from very successful clubs, and their comments about Carisbrook is that it’s a good family club and a very proud club. That’s a good thing looking forward for the club.”
Atkinson said there have been some big learning curves coaching in women’s football.
“For me, being a coach has been the biggest learning process, not just as a coach, but learning about women’s football, which is so different to men’s football, with all sorts of different factors,” he said.
“They are mothers, they are providers, they work and they are trying to fit in football at the same time, and it’s a total credit to them that they can do it.
“They go to training and come on a Sunday. The goals for this year are for them to have fun, build that rapport and get extra girls to join the club and make it successful.
“We also have our 16s coming through who have had a couple of wins on the board already, which is so good, as they’re the ones coming through who’ll keep the team flowing into the future.”
Captain of the senior women’s team, Caitlin Butler, also has a lot of sentiment behind returning to the club, running out for the first time at Carisbrook as a leader of the club, emulating her father, Greg, who has a rich history at the club as a captain and a coach.
“It’s super exciting having our women’s team back this year, obviously this is our first weekend with the new rooms open as well, so that is pretty special, and I’m looking forward to it,” she said.
“Dad has a lot of history at the club, being a captain and a coach, so it’s great to captain the women’s team and be a part of it, representing women’s sport in the area as well, not just the club.
“The new rooms are awesome. It’s great to have female-friendly facilities, and we’re excited to be able to use them.”
Butler agrees with Atkinson that while it’s been a tough start to the year on the scoreboard and with travel, the team will show what they are made of in their upcoming home stand.
“We’re in a rebuilding stage of the club, we weren’t expecting to win a premiership in our first year back. But it’s good to be able to field a team and give ladies and girls the opportunity to get out there,” she said.
“It’s been a tough few weeks travelling, which has stretched us. But it’s good to be back at home and have a few numbers coming back in, which means we’ll field our best teams over the next few games.”
Both Atkinsonand Butler are calling for people to show their support in the club’s first game back at home.
“We would love to have everyone come around and watch, and we’re looking forward to having a home crowd supporting us as well,” Butler said.
Atkinsonalso believes the opportunity to show their worth can attract more numbers to the club.
“We’re encouraging anyone in the district that is even half-thinking about women’s football to come on a Wednesday night to Carisbrook, you’ll be welcomed with open arms and you’ll have a ball,” he said.
Carisbrook’s games will start from 11.15 am on Sunday, with the under 16s to be followed by the senior women’s game at 12.45 pm.
