WITH the enormous success of the AFLW season, there is an unprecedented amount of buzz and excitement surrounding the first bounce of the new Northpark NFLW competition.
John Mangos, head coach of Pascoe Vale’s senior women’s team, is perhaps one of the most enthusiastic about the inaugural Northpark NFLW season after his team’s 2016 VWFL Division 1 campaign ended in a nine-point preliminary final loss.
Mangos and his fierce women’s team are ready to face the different challenges that the Northpark NFLW league promises and are hopeful of going two wins better in 2017.
Pascoe Vale will compete in Division 1 of the Northpark NFLW competition this year along with Bendigo Thunder, Darebin, Deer Park, Diamond Creek, Kew, La Trobe Uni, Melbourne Uni, VU Western Spurs and Whitehorse.
Mangos acknowledges it was a “massive achievement” to advance from winning just three games in Division 2 in 2015 to finishing second on the ladder in Division 1 with nine wins last year.
He believes the improvement stemmed from his team’s ability to “do everything together” and is hopeful of another finals appearance in 2017.
“The other teams won’t take us lightly. We are ready to go,” Mangos told NFL.org.au.
“We want to prove that we are there for a reason and we expect to finish in the finals.”
In saying that, Mangos is aware there will be challenges to overcome and has reminded his team of that.
“We are going to make mistakes along the way but we are going to make mistakes together,” he said.
“If someone’s not pulling their weight, we need to grab them and still make sure that they are sitting in that circle with us.”
Mangos believes Pascoe Vale has the right people off the field which has put the club in good stead to improve across all levels and head in a positive direction.
“We want to become a powerhouse like Darebin and Diamond Creek” Mangos says, referring to two successful clubs that Pascoe Vale will be coming up against this season.
“We want to become a club where other teams feel intimidated to come and play and to know that they will have a hard game when they play us.”
With Pascoe Vale’s 2016 captain Jessie Coletti spending time at the AFL Women’s Academy and the team having enjoyed a strong pre-season with an average of 30 to 40 women across the two sides, Pascoe Vale is certainly ready to take its game to a new level this year.
If you are looking to play in the Northpark NFLW competition, click here to see the list of clubs and register you interest.
