Big expectations for Great Northern Football League’s squad in Women's Country Football Championship

Big expectations surround the 25-strong squad selected to represent the Great Northern women’s team in 2023 Country Football Championships next month. Coming off a third-place finish in last year’s championship, the team is hungry to go further and coach Nathan Johansen said they have been putting in work all season. “The squad’s been pulled from the local GNFL women’s comp, and it’s been on their form throughout the year, form from last year’s carnival and how they’ve been tracking throughout the year,” he said. “We started back in March with the all-star game where we had probably 42 players, and from there we had to cull that squad to a travelling part of 25.” With the talent that Great Northern has produced in recent years, the players have made it tough for the coaches to pick just 25. “In the last month we’ve cut that squad to the 25 that have shown commitment to training, their forms maintained and they’re able to travel and partake in the carnival for a couple of days,” Johansen said. “It’s quite difficult, there’s some hard selection decisions made, that’s really tough because we’ve got some quality girls in the competition.” A third-place finish in 2022 was a big effort, but Johansen said they missed opportunities in the semifinals and left feeling disappointed. “Of course everyone’s trying to win the competition. . . so to finish third we were disappointed to drop that game against the Kimberley,” he said. “We had our chances in the semifinal, they took their chances and we didn’t and that’s what eventually cost us.” However, the coach commended his squad on the way they were able to pick themselves up and push for third place after losing against Kimberley. “You could go into that game with your head down but they didn’t, with all the heart and desire that I expect from them, so third place was fantastic,” he said. “But with the squad I’ve got this year, I’m expecting bigger performances then third place finish.” As a result of retirements, injuries or unavailability, eight players from last year’s team were unable to play this year, which opened the door for fresh blood. Johansen said he was excited about the youth coming into this year’s side. “We’ve got four under-18 players who have played really strong football throughout the year for their local clubs,” he said. “We’ve got two from Towns being Charli Bidwell and Ava Gould, and two from Railways being Geneva Johansen and Jaimee-Lee Gregory-Smith. . . those four girls, they’re all in the East Fremantle Academy up here in Geraldton, they’ve shown massive progression throughout the year.” Choosing leaders to command a pulled together team can be difficult for some coaches, but Johansen said it was an easy decision for him. “Jess Guidice-Nairn from Brigades, she’s the Brigades captain, led from the front all year, she’s a really solid leader. . . so Jess was a no-brainer for captain, she’s a fantastic leader and the girls listen to her as well,” he said. “Taylah (Broadhurst) was from Chapman Valley, she’s their captain and a great leader, Jasmine another good leader, she’d young but she’s played high level footy. “Really good leadership throughout the middle of the ground where it’s much needed.” Women’s football has been growing around the country and Johansen is happy to see the support the GNFL has provided the youth girls teams. Starting from only two teams of Chapman Valley and Railways, now most clubs have a youth team, which allows girls who want to play football develop from a young age. “The growth has been awesome, you look out our youth girl’s competition, I was involved in that in its formative years, and that’s just grown from strength to strength,” he said. “We are now seeing those junior women’s footballers coming through the ranks with two or three seasons under their belt, where they haven’t had to play against the fellas.” The team will be presented their country week jumpers on Thursday, September 28 at the Railways Football Club after training. The GNFL’s first country week match is against Great Southern on October 5. GNFL WOMEN’S COUNTRY WEEK TEAM Charli Bidwell — Towns Jasmine Johansen — Railways (VC) Tayah Palmer — Chapman Valley Olivia Bidwell — Towns Jaime Ahearn — Railways Emilee Beven — Brigades Geneva Johansen — Railways Gemma Dix — Brigades Lani Paradella — Towns Ava Gould — Towns Jaimee-Lee Gregory-Smith — Railways Sam Williamson — Chapman Valley Jorja Beven — Brigades Jessica Giudice-Nairn — Brigades (C) Gemma Burges — Chapman Valley Abby Green — Rovers Breeanna Hamlett — Brigades Keeley Hunt-Svenson — Towns Lucinda Rouse — Chapman Valley Lexi Chapman — Chapman Valley Taylah Broadhurst — Chapman Valley (VC) Selina Kiddle — Northampton Michaela Clarke — Towns Tessa Daly — Brigades Tara Rangi — Brigades