BUTLER FALCONS IMPRESS FOR JOONDALUP IN WAWFL

THE Butler Falcons continue to break down barriers in 2015 with five players moving through the female football pathway and joined the Joondalup Falcons Youth Girls team.

The transition has been a close collaboration between the Edmund Rice Centre and the Joondalup Falcons and is supported strongly by the West Australian Football Commission and Junior and Youth Girls Teams within the West Perth District.

The journey began for these girls in 2013 and 2014, when they joined the Butler Falcons. Their intensity and determination to succeed left them undefeated at Junior Girls level throughout 2014. In 2015, when the girls were finally old enough, five of them joined the Joondalup Falcons and were supported heavily by the club.

Former Butler Falcons captain Scovia Anzoa earned runner-up and outright best player in her first two matches. "Scovia is an outstanding example of how well the female pathway is working between the two clubs," club president Dave Burton said.

WAFC Female Football Coordinator Allana Dickie couldn’t have been more impressed with their progress.

"It's so exciting to see a number of girls transitioning into Community Football with the Joondalup Falcons," Dickie said.

"I love watching them play, as they do it with so much passion and bring a whole new level of excitement to the game with their enthusiasm and athleticism."

That’s not all the girls have achieved.

Early in the year, three of them tried out for the State U16s team and two of them made the first cut, being selected in the top 50 players in the state. Both girls, Akoor Dhelbai and Scovia Anzoa, are 13 and had never played a game of club footy when they tried out.

"I was so impressed with these girls. Not only are they amazingly passionate and enthusiastic about the sport, their skill level is remarkable considering they have been playing for such a short time," said State U16s coach Oliver Beath.

"Even though they are still so young, the girls certainly did not look out of place at a State level. With continued application to understanding the game of Australian Rules Football, I see no reason why they will not have a big future in the sport."

The Butler Falcons Youth Girls played their first match of the season against Irene McCormack Catholic College at the school in Butler on last Thursday, and followed up on Sunday against Coolbinia/Ellenbrook at Coolamon Oval, Ellenbrook.

The team is coordinated by the Edmund Rice Centre Mirrabooka and supported by the West Australian Football Commission, West Perth District, the City of Wanneroo, the Joondalup Falcons Women’s Football Club, Wanneroo Rotary Club, Edith Cowan University and Fair Game.