The Lower Plenty and Bundoora women’s programs will look to create a formidable side this season after they joined forces for season 2022.
Both sides had terrific 2021 seasons in Division 1, with Lower Plenty finishing sixth in their first season whilst Bundoora finished 8th in their second top tier season.
However this year they’ll become one, with Bears coach Dan Wilcox set to continue coaching this combined side.
Wilcox recently told NFNL.org.au that the prospect of Lower Plenty and Bundoora playing as one side only came about recently.
“Three weeks out from the season us at Lower Plenty were struggling for numbers or were just going to scrape by with about 21 or 22 on the list,” Wilcox said.
“Then we were approached by the captain of Bundoora last year saying we’ve got about 10 girls, we all want to play together but it’s not really possible and we’ve heard that you guys are struggling for numbers.
“From there we got the ball rolling very quickly and made the combined team about two weeks before the season kicked off.”
Whilst he was relieved they came knocking on his door, Wilcox feels the combined side could benefit both women’s programs.
“Bundoora’s women’s team [has] a really good history and for me it was a good opportunity for the girls to have a little bit more experience in the side and for Bundoora to keep their girls together and look to build their program in 2023,” he said.
Some of the girls from both sides last year have stayed for 2022, including team of the year members Antonietta Parisi, Ashleigh Smith and Molly McCormack.
Wilcox said the tight-knit Lower Plenty group have bonded quickly with both the Bundoora girls and the new girls coming to the side.
“As soon as the new girls have come in, as well as the Bundoora girls, it’s been fully embraced by both teams and to see the way we played as a team last weekend was fantastic, so the girls are getting along really well.”
Despite only recently coming together as a team, Wilcox said there is a determination among the side to make finals after missing out on it last year.
“The girls are really hungry and definitely the goal is to make finals and go as far as we can,” he said.
“Obviously [we’re] playing against some really quality, established sides like Darebin and Diamond Creek Women’s, but we feel like we can match it with them and really push deep into finals.”
This weekend they’ll face the Creekers 1’s’side at Montmorency Park South, with Wilcox excited about this challenge in the second weekend of grading.
“We’re obviously a very fresh side so [we’re] still working to get them gelling and they’ve been together a long time so it’ll be a good yardstick for us this week to see where we’re at and what we can work on,” he said.
