Sport
9 December, 2025
Lady Redbacks to host season launch
The Carisbrook Lady Redbacks will be hosting a season launch training night this week, open to any current or prospective footballers to join.
The session will be held at the Carisbrook Recreation Reserve on Thursday at 5.30 pm, as the club hopes to boost player numbers ahead of the 2026 season.
After being forced to pull out of the Ballarat Football Netball League junior competition last year, the Lady Redbacks are optimistic about re-implementing a junior team to complement their senior side, who began to hit their stride late in 2025 with competitive defeats against East Point and Lake Wendouree.
Carisbrook Lady Redbacks head coach Simon Booker welcomes women of all ages and all abilities to come and try playing footy for Carisbrook.
“We are hoping to have some returning faces alongside some fresh faces on the track on Thursday night,” he said.
“We are looking to start pre-season training a little bit earlier this season and get the group together and socialising again before the Christmas break and the new year.
“Anyone can come along to enjoy some fun physical exercise and can decide in the summer months if they want to join the team.”
Former Carisbrook Lady Redbacks players and current AFLW stars Lauren Butler (Collingwood) and Paige Scott (Richmond) will be in attendance for the season launch, hoping to impart their wisdom on the next generation of AFLW players.
“When Lauren and Paige first started playing, it was kind of a new thing for women to play football, so they didn’t have the opportunities we are trying to implement locally,” Booker said.
“I believe some of the younger girls have the talent to join Lauren and Paige at the AFLW. They are fantastic role models and are well respected in the community.”