25 years after the men’s Aussie rules football league was launched in London, the first women’s league will finally get under way on Saturday 25 April. The South East London Giants, the Wimbledon Hawks, the North London Lions and the Wandsworth Demons are committed to fielding women’s teams this year, and AFL London have created a six game season for them to contest, which includes a Grand Final to be played in August. Marianna Graham of the South East London Giants and Wimbledon Hawks’ Lisa Wilson share their insights into how their pre-seasons have been, and what the expectations are for the weeks ahead when the league kicks off in earnest.
Marianna Graham is the Ladies coach for the South East London Giants, and she is more than happy with the way pre-season has gone. “Training commenced on a cold gloomy day in late January, but that didn’t stop 10 girls turning up to play the game for the first time. Since the first official training session in mid-February the number of girls has doubled to over 20.” The team is made up of women with an interesting mix of occupations from very diverse backgrounds. “There are teachers, accountants and office workers in the team, and it’s not just the Australian girls that are coming out to play. There are Irish girls with a useful Gaelic football background, English and South African girls with rugby backgrounds and Spain is also represented in our team this year.”
Training takes place two nights a week at both Victoria Park in East London and at South East London Giants’ home ground in Peckham Rye. Both the men’s and women’s teams warm up and do drills together before breaking away to focus on specific areas of their game. Marianna is very pleased with the facilities. ‘The ground at Peckham Rye is fantastic. On match days we have access to the changing rooms behind the Café on The Rye. Southwark council maintain the ground and it is always at a high standard.”
They hosted the annual pre-season Shea Sports Cup on Saturday 18 April, where the first London women’s games were played. Unfortunately for the hosts the team didn’t fare too well against the other sides, but Marianna expects constant improvement ahead of the league season for both the men’s and women’s teams, pointing out that the men’s team made their first grand final last year after being knocked out early in the pre-season showcase. “The Giants are the newest club in the competition so our budgets and constraints will be higher in the first few years while we establish ourselves in the league. This is the first year so it’s going to be a challenging year, but I’m hoping it is also going to be a very rewarding one which will allow us to set up a legacy for the future Aussie rules stars of London.”
The South London Giants will kick off their season against the North London Lions at their home ground on Peckham Rye Common, Saturday 25 April at 12.30pm
Lisa Wilson joined the Wimbledon Hawks a year ago, and is thrilled about the progress the team has made since then. “When I originally joined, there were only a couple of girls involved, but now the number of girls at training can be as high as 19.” Lisa explains that while the team is made up of a strong English contingency, there are plenty of nationalities represented in the side. “ Our Australian players are usually only around for a couple of seasons, making the most of their Visas, but we have German, French and Irish players in the team.”
Originally from the north-west of England the 23-year-old project manager fell in love with the sport during a university semester in Brisbane. “When I came home from Brisbane in 2014, I moved to London. I had Aussie fever and, having already actively played netball, hockey, football, basketball, ultimate frisbee and dodgeball, I wanted to try my hand at a new sport. AFL England said the only club taking girls in London was the Wimbledon Hawks. Luckily they trained a short walk away from my house.” Lisa also represented the England Vixens in last year’s Axios AFL Euro cup. They went head to head with France, Scotland and Denmark and Ireland, and finished with a silver medal after a final defeat to defending champions the Irish Banshees.
Whilst the weekly Tuesday and Thursday training sessions take place on Clapham Common, Wimbledon Hawks play their home games at ‘The Nest’ at Motspur Park. Lisa is in no doubt that the team have some of the best facilities in the league. ‘We are lucky. The changing rooms are excellent, and there are always barbecues and other social events at the clubhouse after home matches.” The Wimbledon Hawks are also hosting a Ladies Day on the 30 May, teaming up with The Pink Ribbon Day charity in aid of breast cancer. ‘There will be a pink theme and the players will wear pink socks for the occasion.”
The Wimbledon Hawks won the pre-season Shea Sports Cup, having defeated the Wandsworth Demons in the final, and Lisa thinks the signs are good for a positive season ahead. “We have already had two pre-season trips to play Oxford Uni and Birmingham Uni which have been excellent as bonding sessions ahead of the season. The social element is important to the club. It’s a great community, we are like one big massive family.”
The Wimbledon Hawks kick off their season against the South East London Giants on Saturday 9 May.
