The Road to Mason

Our end-of-season trip to US Nationals in Mason, Ohio, gets underway next week. We are very lucky in 2009 to achieve another of our club development goals in sending two squads internationally to the tournament, enabling us to expose more girls to the fun of travelling with our club and helping to improve their footy at the same time. It is our understanding that we will be the first women's footy club to fly two squads to a tournament anywhere in the world!

Mason, Ohio, will be the third US Nationals tournament that we have participated in. At Louisville in 2007, we partnered with Baltimore-Washington to field a team, and lost games against Arizona/Denver, Milwaukee and Atlanta, before beating our partners in a final match to record Calgary's first footy win. Last year we visited Colorado Springs and won the tournament after defeating Milwaukee, Arizona, Denver and Atlanta in the final. It was a Cinderella story for our club and an experience that was celebrated long afterward.

We want to build a bigger club that gives all girls the best chance to enjoy their footy and improve their skills. Our 'one club, two teams' structure for tournaments is a key to achieving our goal. This year, our coaches have selected two strong teams with enough skill to give US Nationals a red-hot go. Testament to this is the fact that both squads boast Northern Lights and All-Alberta Team representatives. The teams are:

Calgary White
L. Benoit (vc), K. Han, L. Howard, C. Lanigan (c), A. Layther, L. Mantei, K. Nanka, S. Ouellette, D. Pereira, A. Scanlon, L. Smith, R. Stoddart, J. Wardle, E. Zaloum.
Coach: D. Bauer.
Team Manager: D. Mantei.
Runners: M. Kidd & J. Anson.
Schedule:
Saturday - Milwaukee @ 9am, Atlanta @ 3pm. Sunday - Denver @ 9am, Eastern Canada/Sacramento @ 1pm (TBC).

Calgary Blue

L. Bossert, S. Eddie, H. Greatwich (vc), L. Gurba, V. Hewitt, M. Howard, R. Jones, R. Kelly, C. Kidd, E. LeBlanc, S. McLean, R. Mrdeza, K. Ross, K. Zakus (c), L. Zmurchuk.
Coach: J. Anson.
Team Manager: A. Anson.
Runners: M. Kidd & D. Bauer.
Schedule:
Saturday - Eastern Canada/Sacramento @ 10am, New York @ 4pm. Sunday - Arizona @ 11am.

Note: If either team makes the final, it will be held on Sunday @ 3:30pm.

Club captain Kathryn Zakus and vice captain Holly Greatwich were asked about our club's preparation for Mason and how they feel the teams will perform.

Kathryn:

We've seen a lot of changes around the club over the past year, with a lot of new girls trying footy for the first time. Eleven of the girls who won US Nationals with us last year aren't returning this year for various reasons, so we don't know how we will go. Plugger (Amanda O'Rae), Ginger (Meg Goodfellow) and Mumf (Kathryn Mumford) especially will be big losses, as they were all in our starting side. But we're lucky to be taking a fun group of girls in both teams that will do us proud in Mason.

Holly:

I got hurt during pre-season, so I haven't had the smoothest year. I think I played seven games and missed about ten, and it was frustrating to sit on the sidelines with our other injured girls and just watch. I'm really looking forward to my first Nationals as a 21-year-old, and all the fun and partying that that will entail. I'm really stoked that we're sending two teams, and I'll be supporting Calgary White as loudly as I can from the sidelines. They're an outstanding group of girls and I'm just so proud to be a part of this club!

We are fortunate to be joined in Mason by three girls from other western Canadian clubs. Lauren Mantei and Katie Nanka from WestCoast and Amanda Layther from Edmonton will be warmly welcomed into the Calgary fold for a fun weekend of footy. We also have Debbie Mantei from Vancouver and Adrienne Anson from Warrnambool (Australia) joining us as guest Team Managers for the weekend. The team will arrive in Mason on October 8 & 9 and train on Friday afternoon before flying out on Canadian Thanksgiving.

Calgary Tested in First Battle of Alberta Match

The Calgary Kookaburras have completed their final local hit-outs for the summer and have their sights set on next week's end-of-season trip to the US National Championships in Mason, Ohio (Oct. 8-12).

In a fitting end to the 2009 season, the club travelled north for the inaugural Battle of Alberta game versus the Edmonton Emus and escaped with a narrow win. The Emus fielded their strongest squad yet and showed how much they have improved in being first to the ball and holding their structure, causing problems for the Kookaburras midfield. Edmonton coped with 12-a-side footy better and led by 7 points going into the first change. Calgary coach Jake Anson was animated during the break and urged his girls to get first use of the ball and to provide better movement up forward. The Kookaburras responded in the second quarter, kicking two goals to go into half-time with a 7-point lead, despite losing key forward Lori Bossert with a broken finger.

Edmonton lifted a gear in the third, throwing themselves at the contested ball and attacking relentlessly, until a knee injury sent Emus ruckwoman Neda Dalili to hospital and upset their structure. Erin Leblanc and captain Steph Tooke kicked goals for the Emus, but Calgary responded through Beck Jones and Vicki Hewitt to lead by 12-points at three-quarter time. Edmonton coach Tristan Waldock used the break to ask his charges for one final quarter of polished football, but Calgary used the wind to their advantage and capped off a hard-fought win with a Kate Ross goal on the siren.

Battle of Alberta - McNally Senior High School (September 19, 2009)
Calgary Kookaburras 6.5 (41) def. Edmonton Emus 3.3 (21)
Goals Calgary: Ross 2, Scanlon 2, Jones, Hewitt. Goals Edmonton: LeBlanc 2, Tooke.
Best Calgary: Zakus, Ross, Scanlon, Hewitt. Best Edmonton: LeBlanc, Galick, Tooke, Norsworthy.

The game was followed by an end-of-season function at Edmonton's sponsor pub - the Walkabout Pub on Whyte Ave. The following Alberta Footy Women's League awards were presented:

AFWL Best & Fairest (tie): Lori Bossert (Hillhurst) & Kathryn Zakus (Kensington).
AFWL Rising Star: Sarah Eddie (Hillhurst).
AFWL Top Goalkicker: Kathryn Zakus (Kensington - 18).
All-Alberta Squad: Lori Bossert, Sarah Eddie, Caitlin Kidd, Alicia Scanlon, Lyndsay Smith, Lesley Zmurchuk (all Hillhurst); Rebecca Jones, Vicki Hewitt, Char Olm, Kate Ross, Kathryn Zakus (all Kensington); Neda Dalili and Marie Galick (both Edmonton).

The presentation was a great conclusion to a very fun summer of footy. The Emus also presented their club awards on the night, winners of which are reported here.

Calgary backed-up on September 24 in a final intra-club night match. Calgary White stole a narrow victory over Calgary Blue and the coaching panel would have taken a lot away from the game to assist in the selection of US Nationals squads, details of which will be posted online shortly.

Hillhurst Go Back-to-Back in Alberta Footy Women's League

The Hillhurst Nighthawks have recorded back-to-back premiership victories after stunning their Alberta Footy Women's League opponents in Edmonton last Saturday. The 'Hawks went into the finals in second-place, having lost four matches to their cross-town rivals the Kensington Kingfishers. Those losses - including an 86-point drubbing in round 3 - meant that Hillhurst would have to overcome an improving Edmonton Emus side in the preliminary final to have any chance of winning the premiership in 2009.

For a re-cap of 2009 season results and statistics, click here.

Preliminary Final - Hillhurst Nighthawks vs Edmonton Emus

Hot weather at Edmonton's McNally Senior High School made for challenging footy conditions, but Hillhurst came out fighting, winning a lot of the ball through midfielders Shelby "Buddy" McLean and Caity Kidd. Stand-in coach Jake Anson's rotation of players off the bench and through the forward line had a visible effect, as the 'Hawks posted eight goals in the first half, each kicked by a different player (including Stacey "Spacey" Ouelette's first).

Hillhurst struggled to keep their work rate up in the second-half heat, despite enjoying a bigger bench than that of Edmonton's coach Tristan Waldock. Emus ruckwoman Neda Dalili and captain Steph Tooke were particularly influential, winning contested ball but struggling to find a forward target. The 'Hawks kicked four more goals to run out the game, with Lori "Boss" Bossert and Rachel "Paws" Mrdeza posting two apiece in the 81-point win.

Hillhurst Nighthawks 12.9 (81) def. Edmonton Emus 0.0 (0)
Goals Hillhurst: Bossert 2, Mrdeza 2, Benoit, Greatwich, L. Howard, Kidd, Lanigan, McLean, Ouelette, L. Smith
Goals Edmonton: None.

Emus coach Tristan Waldock was full of praise for his young team following their loss. "It was the Emus' first finals game and another good experience for our girls. We keep improving every week and I'm happy with where we are going and look forward to next year. We will be recruiting over winter and fielding two Edmonton teams in 2010. It may be a step back in the way of winning games next year, but it's the best way forward for the sport to grow and it will only benefit us in the long run. If we keep growing the way we are, we will be a force in international women's football."

Grand Final - Kensington Kingfishers vs Hillhurst Nighthawks

The AFWL's two Calgary clubs have enjoyed an epic rivalry over the past two seasons. In 19 encounters - including the 2008 Grand Final - the clubs had been virtually inseparable, and in 2009 it seemed that the girls from Kensington had a slight edge over their neighbours. However, the loss of Beck Jones (concussion) and Leslie Gurba (unavailable) and injury clouds over Char "Broiler" Olm and Roxy Kelly meant that the Kingfishers' depth was questioned going into the finals.

Despite playing an earlier match, Hillhurst came out hard and dominated the play early. Holly "Witchy" Greatwich and Lesley "Zed" Zmurchuk were prominent across the midfield and the wind helped to lock the ball in the Nighthawks' foward line. Boss, Witchy, Zed and Lori "Lolly" Benoit recorded first-half goals for Hillhurst, while the 'Fishers nuggetty onballers Vicki "Lleyton" Hewitt and Erin "Sav" LeBlanc struggled to gain ground into the wind.

With a change of ends, Kensington began to pin back the 28-point deficit. A goal to Sav lifted their spirits, and for 10 minutes they peppered the goals. Accuracy was a problem though, with seven behinds not an adequate return for the effort put in by ruckwoman Kate "Spider" Ross and Kathryn "Gangles" Zakus across the middle. 'Fishers coach Dave Bauer rotated his less experienced bench as best he could, though the hot day took its toll on the Canadians. Spider in particular found it tough, rucking alone against two Nighthawks. With a couple of minutes left of the clock, Boss kicked the sealer into the wind for the Nighthawks and they ran out 24-point winners with Witchy best-on-ground.

Hillhurst Nighthawks 5.7 (37) def. Kensington Kingfishers 1.7 (13)
Goals Hillhurst: Bossert 2, Benoit, Greatwich, Zmurchuk
Goal Kensington: LeBlanc

Kensington captain Kathryn Zakus was disappointed after the loss, but looked toward the future. "We were missing a few key players and did not come out with as much intensity in the first half as we should have. To the 'Hawks credit they had their full squad and outplayed us in the most areas of the game. Obviously the loss was disappointing after a great season and finishing on top of the ladder, but it just means we will come back next year with even more incentive to win the cup."

Hillhurst captain Holly Greatwich praised her side's toughness in the come-from-behind win"Hillhurst had a bit of an inconsistent season this year, due mostly to injuries. However, this enabled our less experienced girls to improve their game skills dramatically. We really stepped it up in the final under tough conditions, and played with a lot of heart. The Nighthawks seem to thrive as underdogs and it certainly made this year's win all the more memorable for us.

Alberta women's footballers now turn their attention toward the US Nationals tournament to be held in Mason, Ohio over Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. The 2010 AFWL season is already in the planning stage and will see an expansion of the league to five clubs with new teams in both Calgary and Edmonton and a greater share of home fixtures in both cities.

Greatwich expects the inclusions to lift the level of competition. "The opportunity to compete against different teams, with varied levels of player experience enables new recruits to improve pretty quickly. Also, the strong social atmosphere will only improve as we grow and it's very exciting to see everything coming together. I'm looking forward to being involved again next year, and I have no doubt that the AFWL will continue to involve more girls in this great sport and a be an inclusive social sporting choice."

President's Mid-Year Review

To have more girls playing more Australian football, more often. Such is the gist of our club's vision statement. Getting women involved in our game and passing on a love for the sport is a goal that many around our football club strive toward daily. Whether by leading training sessions, kicking a footy in the park or sitting down to watch an AFL match with friends, each Kookaburra is an integral part of the successes that our club has enjoyed over the past two years.

In reviewing our season to date, I happened upon some statistics concerning the growth of women's footy in Alberta. Though statistics can be interpreted to support any argument, I believe these show we are on the right track in 2009.

After four rounds of the Alberta Footy Women's League, one exhibition match during the Stampede Cup and a trip over the Rocky Mountains to Canadian Nationals in Vancouver, we have had 72 Alberta women play footy in 2009. That's up 80% on the 40 women that played during the entire 2008 season. Encouragingly, 24 of those players are from our Edmonton expansion club, which indicates that footy is putting down strong roots in central Alberta. So we are definitely achieving our aim of 'more girls playing'.

More enlightening yet from a coaching perspective are stats showing the level of dedication to footy that our members exhibit. Each time a player runs out onto the ground, they gain experience. This is especially critical in a challenging footy environment like Canada, where the weather often cruels our outdoor skills acquisition, fields are scarce and where new recruits often lack even a basic knowledge of our sport. I believe it takes at least 15 games played for the average Canuck to grasp fundamental concepts and begin to understand our sport's nuances.

During the entire 2007 season, 72 'player games' were recorded, denoting each time a girl participated in a footy match. That increased to 305 player games in 2008, as we founded a local league competition and went on to triumph at US Nationals. This year to date, we have amassed 407 player games, with half a season yet to play. That's up 33% on last year, and whilst this statistic says nothing of our improvement as a footy club, I feel that our players' skill and game understanding are increasing monthly. The Emus have been a factor in this increase, with 104 player games of experience to date. We are definitely playing 'more footy', and playing it 'more often'.

Alberta boasts the largest concentration of women's footballers outside Australia, and our sport continues to grow nationwide. When I first coached our national team in 2007, each player in the Canada squad had yet to play a match. Two seasons on (this week), our most-experienced club players are approaching their 50-game milestones. Kathryn Zakus (35 games), Lori Bossert (34) and Elise Botero (34) are among our club members who will have served lengthy apprenticeships by the time Canada tackles the USA again in August 2010.

Life is more than the sum total of statistics, it is about experiencing something more complex than what is obvious. I am proud to be associated with this football club and each training session, game, social event and national championship excites and rewards us all. Keep enjoying your football and together we will go back-to-back at US Nationals in October. That's one impressive statistic!

Go Kookaburras!

Jake Anson
Calgary Kookaburras President

Alberta Blues Win '09 Stampede Cup

Stampede Cup is the biggest day of footy annually in Alberta, with men's and women's clubs from across western Canada travelling to play during North America's biggest outdoor festival - the Calgary Stampede. Stampede Cup 2009 was a great showcase of footy, with men's clubs from Burnaby, Edmonton and Vancouver joining the local Kangaroos and Bears teams in a round-robin tournament, and the best of Alberta's women playing an exhibition match in front of a large and lively crowd at Saints Rugby Fields.

The women's exhibition match provided an opportunity to mix our three squads up and to provide opportunities for our new players to lead on-field. A rule allowing only first-year players - specifically Edmonton Emus - to play in the midfield was introduced to encourage their development.

Several first-year players impressed during the match. Alena Manera, Neda Dalili and Marie Galick of Edmonton, Emilie Zaloum and Lauren Howard of Hillhurst and Melanie Howard of Kensington all showed remarkable improvement since their debuts in May and June, and the standard of women's footy is improving markedly each month. Marie and Lauren both kicked their first goals in Alberta Blues' 40-point victory over Alberta Teals. Erin LeBlanc was best-on-ground, kicking three goals and dominating in the midfield for the Blues alongside fellow Gaelic-convert Lesley Zmurchuk. Alena was named best first-year player.

The teams celebrated the match long into the night at Kookaburras' sponsor venue Bottlescrew Bill's Pub, which was busy with a large Stampede crowd. Squad lists, scores and goal-kickers from the day are featured on the Alberta Footy Women's League results page.