General News
5 July, 2023
Call for female cricketers
MORTLAKE is on the hunt for players to field a women’s team in the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association.
MORTLAKE is on the hunt for players to field a women’s team in the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association.
Mortlake Cricket Club women’s sports co-ordinator Clare Tilley said the club was motivated to launch an inaugural side in the 2023/2024 competition, and had already begun eyeing recruits.
“We’re hoping to have a women’s side in the 2023/2024 Warrnambool cricket competition,” she said.
“That will mean there are seven sides in the competition, which would be a really good addition.
“We’re building from the ground up, which is always a challenge, but we’ve got a rough number of 10 so we’re doing pretty well considering we only started a couple of weeks ago.”
The plan to field a women’s side has been ongoing for a number of years as the club wanted to create further opportunities for people to get involved.
“It’s been an aspiration for a while,” Ms Tilley said.
“It first started being discussed formally when Mortlake entered the Warrnambool league, and has grown from there.
“There was an attempt to introduce the side last year but unfortunately the club couldn’t get the team off the ground.
“I offered to help out this year to try and get a team sorted, but the whole club and the senior men have all been supportive; which has been really good.”
The rapid growth of women’s sport across the region has given sporting clubs a new lease on life, and with increased numbers comes increased representation and funding opportunities.
The Terang Mortlake Football Netball Club has been among those to experience success having fielded a girl’s side in the Western Victoria Female Football League since 2019.
“The future growth of sporting clubs now revolves around these numbers because without women it looks odd in comparison to where we were years ago,” Ms Tilley said.
“The clubs that field a women’s side stand out as stronger clubs with great numbers.
“Having women’s sides also provides more funding opportunities, which is just another exciting aspect.”
The opportunity to grow the women’s game is further strengthened by hometown trailblazers, such as Mortlake’s Georgia Warehamshowcasing a path to professional success emerging for women.
“Georgia is a good role model in that girls can see where a future in sport might land them,” Ms Tilley said.
“It’s a reality that women can leap to the next level and represent their country now.”
Any women interested in suiting up for the Mortlake Cricket Club are invited to contact Clare Tilley on 0488 736 808, or get in touch with the club through Facebook at facebook.com/mortlakecc.
“Head down to your local club because there are so many opportunities for girls and women in sports now,” Ms Tilley said.