Sport
5 December, 2024
'There's such a need for it'; Minyip Murtoa pursuing women's football
The Burras are hosting a come and try night on December 11.
With women's football continuing to grow across the region, another local club is getting involved.
Minyip Murtoa has undertaken online forum's and meetings in recent months and will hold a come and try night at Murtoa Recreation Reserve on Wednesday, December 11 at 6pm as it looks to field a senior women's team in 2025.
"We've had representation of female football in a region for quite some time now, but we were really hoping that we could branch out and make our club one of those," Minyip Murtoa women's football representative TJ Kerrins said.
"I think it's what the region needs. I feel like the more we can get this out there and create a pathway for the younger generation, the better."
The Burras women's program, if launched, will be one of two Wimmera clubs to join the regions female footballing ranks in 2025 alongside the Laharum Demons.
And, both sides will join the Horsham Demons, who have had a presence in the Western Victoria Female Football League for several seasons, and will be defending their 2024 senior premiership.
Interest in establishing a women's program began in early 2024.
"The discussion started really early on. It's just kind of taken some time to come to fruition. And now it's grown legs, and it's taken off, which is really exciting," Ms Kerrins said.
"We've had a lot of girls and females that have gone through the ranks of junior football with the boys, but it's a pretty exciting prospect to be able to give those young girls and females that opportunity to play against other women."
Ms Kerrins credited the club and president Chris Delahunty for the support they have given throughout the process
"From the very start the club said we will do anything needs to be done to get this up and running," she said.
They've been supportive the whole time and and they can't wait to have female [footballers] running around in the Burras colours."
After the information sessions and online forums the club received a bigger response than they first thought.
"We we quickly realised that there is such a need for it," Ms Kerrins said.
"What that looks like at the moment, we're unsure, but it all just takes time, and it's all coming together. But our hope is to have definitely have a senior side for the 2025 season.
She encourages anybody interested to attend the come and try night.
"It's just more so for our club to get together and really show that we're we're for this and to gain momentum and keep rolling with it," she said.
"It does strengthen our club, and we're such a family club, and we'd love for to bring in new families. You're always wanting to to broaden your horizons and and build on what's already good."