https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Hansard/Pages/HansardResult.aspx#/docid/HANSARD-1323879322-104131
Dr HUGH McDERMOTT (Prospect) (22:41): With a great deal of pride I inform the House that the Holroyd-Parramatta Blacktown Australian Football Club Goannas women's seniors team has won the 2018 Division 2 Premiership in its first season of playing Australian Football League [AFL] in the Sydney competition. The women went through the final series undefeated, beating Camden in the second semifinal and cleaning up again in the grand final. This was no mean feat, considering that Camden was undefeated all season apart from the round 17 clash against the Goannas. The amazing thing is that at the beginning of the season only three of the women had ever played AFL before. The players' ages range from 16 to 37, with a mother and two daughters playing together. Most of the women come from other sporting backgrounds—touch football, soccer, netball, rugby league and rugby union—and some women had never played competition sport at all.
In February when the team came together there were only five players. Then word quickly spread through the Holroyd region and by May the club had 27 young women training two nights a week. They showed amazing dedication and wanted to improve each week. The players came together and bonded so well that friendships soon grew with people who had never met before coming to join the Goannas. This shows what sport can do for our community. The club is immensely proud of its achievements and this was seen on 13 October at the 2018 Goannas Gray Medal and Presentation Night held at the Merrylands RSL, which has been a major sponsor of the Goannas since 2004. It was a great night and I congratulate all the awardees. I particularly congratulate the coaching staff of the women's team, Miguel Limson, Tony Cocks and Pat Ockwell, as well as the Goannas captain, Ashley Gray, and vice-captains Lisa Hodge and Kimberley Jacob.
I also congratulate the extended team including those who contributed throughout this season to make the finals. They were Annaleise Barton, Jacqui Brown, Karley Stretton, Monique Cocks, Kaitlin McCaffery, Kelly Giuliano, Stephanie Pahuru, Brianna Keogh, Caitlin O'Hehir, Jessica Wright, Tahliya Kennedy, Danielle Taylor, Hayley Nolan, Hollie Turner, Tamara Shirley, Maddie Finch, Seanna Robson, Tamara Lewis, Kylie Williams, Matize Kennedy, Michala Ford, Tamara Kennedy, Gabrielle Hickson, Cherie Tamanalevu, Danielle Silvestro and Gabrielle Mansour. The Goannas women's team is planning to have a second team for 2019 season, with a team each in Division 1 and Division 2. I wish the Goannas well and look forward to seeing it dominate in the 2019 season, bringing home yet another flag.
Last Modified on 02/02/2020 14:40