Under 12 Girls

Left Photo: Alyssa Foster, Jade Jerome, Amy Ivandich, Shoniquah Wilson-Bandy, Amelia Tooker, Ava Hagger
Right Photo: Tayla Keillor (Asst Coach ), Jasmin Hall, Alyssa Foster, Jade Jerome, Amy Ivandich, Ellie Suriano, Ben Tooker (Coach), Amelia Tooker

I brought my daughter down to the club at the beginning of the year to see if she would be interested in playing Australian Football.  A few weeks in and I was approached to assist with the training.  Before I knew it I had been nominated the head coach and was wracking my brain trying to remember my junior footy days and the drills we used to do 30+ years ago. The assistant coach Tayla was a big help here as she has a much better knowledge of modern training structure and drills than I.

The girls bonded quickly and showed a level of skill and tenacity that was far beyond what I was expecting.  The team developed well throughout the year and it was a real pleasure to watch their skills improve.  It was also great to see the girls start using tactics like quick handpasses and marking up without having to think about what they were doing.  Despite our small numbers I felt that we outperformed the other teams in most of the games we played and had heaps of fun in every match along the way.

I thoroughly enjoyed the season, and Milly and I will be back next year.  I think we will see some of these girls in the Women’s Football League in the not too distant future.

Gooooo Bulldogs – WOOF WOOF!

Ben Tooker (Coach)

Back: Shakia Wilson-Bandy, Amalea Lawrence, Arabella Marsh, Tyana Johnson (coach), Chloe Hogg, Charlotte Gibbons, Jade Jerome
Front: Janinda Wilson-Bandy, Gabrielle Gibbons, Holly Brisbane, Jessica Creighton, Ellie Suriano
Absent: Alicia Fogwill (Inset), Lee Lawrence (Team Manager), Tim Gibbons (Assistance Coach), John Marsh (Assistant Coach)

This was the first year of an “All Girls” team at Booragoon Bulldogs playing in the Under 12 Girls Competition, with the large amount of pre-season interest the club was able to create 2 well rounded teams ahead of the 10 round competition. I was not initially the Whites Team Coach, but was approached by the President when the team fell short of a coach as my younger sister was training in the team (and watching me kick the footy with her before the first few weeks of training). The White team had girls from Years 3-6 of all abilities, some who had never played before, some who just kicked a footy with their older brothers through to some who had played Auskick.

A highlight of the season was a visit from the Fremantle Dockers along with 2 woman’s AFL draftees (Brianna Green and Jessica Woosha), the girls got to play a game with the Dockers players, ask questions and have items signed.

We had our very own Booragoon Derby’s against the Girls Booragoon Blue Team, these were always fun. The team developed well throughout the season with everyone’s range of skills improving significantly, even the cartwheels and handstands I encouraged after kicking many goals every game as celebration.

Also on our last game I invited Caitlyn Edwrds, East Fremantle’s Youth Girls Coach to come and watch their last game and the incredible skills they had learnt, she was mighty impressed.
Special thanks to Tim Gibbons and John Marsh who were my Assistant Coaches and my Mum Lee who put her hand up for Manager they all put in an huge amount of effort in throughout the season, I couldn’t of done it without them.

And the ongoing support of the parents and families (even the brothers and sisters) throughout the entire year, from helping out with water running to goal umpiring and bringing fruit for the girls at half time, your efforts definitely didn’t go unnoticed and were greatly appreciated.

Tyana Johnson (Coach)

Back: Phylllis Bandy (Assistant Coach) Millie Jones, Tyler Jones, Jasmin Jones (Coach) Subeedha Rijal, Stacey Collier, Alyssa Foster, Erin Clarke (Manager)
Front: Georgia Clarke, Ainslee Clune, Scarlett Carroll, Amy Ivandich, Lily Jones, Jessica Muggeridge

The 2015 season saw the start of the first ever all-female junior teams being born at Booragoon Bulldogs Junior Football Club. With 23 registrations we proudly formed two teams to compete in the South Fremantle District competition in the Under 12 Junior Girl League.

What a great first season the Junior Girls BLUE team had! The girls competed with enthusiasm, determination and absolute respect for each other and the other teams competing in this competition against: Booragoon White, Riverton, Bibra Lake, Freo City Dockers and Hammond Park.

Our 10 week competition consisted of Tuesday training, Sunday morning Home and Away matches and half time Little-League matches at ATOM Stadium during one of the Senior WAFL matches and two of the WAFL Women’s League games. This gave the girls even more chances to bond and our two teams have become a very tight-knit group.

Some of the mighty Fremantle Dockers players came down to Karoonda for a training clinic, which the girls (and parents) thoroughly enjoyed.

To see friendships formed and constant support from stronger players to help the less experienced girls of the group improve each week was the highlight of the season for the coaching/management staff and the parents.

Thank you to all the parents who assisted in helping the games run smoothly. A special thanks goes to Lee Lawrence (White Manager) and Leigh Wardell-Johnson (Coach Co-ordinator) for your knowledge and support that you gave us all.

Girls: It has been wonderful to get to know you all. Each week your smiles on the field and cheers of delight were what we all came to watch and enjoy. Your skills have improved and we cannot wait to see you next season, with some more of your friends, so that Booragoon Bulldog Girls can continue to grow! Congratulations on a great first season.

Erin Clarke (Manager) and Jasmin Jones (Coach)