James Murphy
THE South East Women’s Football Zone team was announced this week.
Players were selected from within the Limestone Coast Women’s Football League and will make the trip to Whyalla in July for the South Australian Women’s Country Championships.
While there they will compete against zone teams from across regional SA made up of the best country players from the state.
Mundulla’s Michael Hunt will coach the side again this year and looks forward to another successful carnival.
In 2021 the South East finished runner-up in a nail-biter grand final against the Northern zone.
“We have some really good players in the zone again this year,” Hunt said.
“I am hoping if they work together well, they can be very competitive again.”
South Gambier and Kybybolite both feature prominently in the side, having been the benchmark of the LCWFL competition this year.
League best and fairest, Penola’s Caroline McGrath is another unsurprising inclusion, while each of the nine clubs has at least one player included.
Hunt is excited for the opportunity to coach the side again, while he will be aided by South Gambier’s Simon Radley and North Gambier’s Fiona Young as assistant coaches.
“Once again I am very honoured to be allowed to do this,” he said.
“Last year I was really pleased with the results, considering we were out of season and we came up against some magnificent teams.
“Our girls really worked together well and played a really good team game.”
Hunt said it will be important again for players to work together and adjust their game to suit the higher standard of competition.
The team will have its first training at Penola this Sunday at 10am and will have five or six sessions prior to the event.
With opposition teams midway through their seasons, Hunt said it is important to ensure the girls are match fit, since they have not played since April.
However, he is optimistic about the championships and looks forward to seeing what this team can achieve.
Captains are yet to be announced but Hunt said there are no shortage of candidates for the role.
SOUTH EAST ZONE TEAM
South Gambier: Lauren Frost, Kendell Saffin, Alice Tentye, Chelsea Frost, Mel Bateman, Tess Andrews, Scarlet Creek; Kybybolite: Annabel Mould, Ella Jones, Suzie Maber, Georgia Gill, Dellie Brown, Emily Cattuzzo; Penola: Angela Broad, Shandeen Balshaw, Caroline McGrath, Nell Eastough; Kalangadoo: Emmason Ilsley, Taysha Marshall; Casterton Sandford: Scarlett Jarrad, Sophie Arkun, Erin Horsnell, Zhane Crawford; Mundulla: Casey McElroy, Zoe Hawker, Kellsie Turner, Kellsey Hinge; North Gambier: Chloe Perryman; Millicent: Laura Chester; Kongorong: Jade Longbottom, Kate Wright.
