THE popularity of women’s football in the area will intensify this weekend, with Kerang to feature in a double-header at Riverside Park.
The seventh-placed Blues will take on sixth-placed Mooroopna in the Northern Country Women’s League match of the round on Sunday.
Larger than anticipated crowd numbers have supported the women’s team – both at home games and on the road – leading to the double-header featuring the Victoria Country Masters Australian Football League match between Kerang-Swan Hill and Melton.
“The event shows the increasing exposure we are getting, as well as the backing from the community,” Kerang women’s team captain, Justine Farley said.
“We will watch the boys show us how it is done, and hopefully the guys can stay around and we can show them how hard we can hit the contest.”
The Blues have won one match this season, back in round three against North Bendigo, and will take on a Cats outfit that has produced two wins from five games.
“I feel like we keep on surprising ourselves and everyone when we take to the field,” Farley said.
“A couple of weeks ago we played Bendigo Thunder, who are the benchmark of the competition, and in my opinion we did a fantastic job in standing up in an 88-point loss.”
The day will also be a coup for the district’s Victoria Country Masters Australian Football League side, featuring players over the age of 35.
It will potentially be the largest crowd the team has played in front of since featuring in the Golden Rivers Football League’s carnival of football in May 2015.
“Hopefully the occasion will get people interested to come down, have a look at both games and get a bit of interest,” Kerang-Swan Hill team member, Ash Wise said.
“Our motto is ‘footy for fun’, and for many of us, playing enables us to have a game and to socialise afterwards, which is something we all did when we were younger.”
The men’s game will open proceedings at 12.30pm, with the women’s match scheduled to start at 2pm.
Entry is free, with canteen and bar facilities available.
