Bringing People Back Down to Community Footy, Woden Blues Eyeing a Big 2022
The Woden Blues have held a strong presence in the AFL Canberra Community grade competitions over the last decades and heading into 2022 the Woden men will have their eyes set on regaining their position as one of the top teams in the 3rd and 4th grade competitions, whilst their women will look to continue their 2021 season form.
Club President and Women’s coach, Russell Fort spoke about his eagerness for the 2022 season, having community footy back in Canberra after a couple of interrupted seasons and, Woden’s partnership with Lifeline Canberra.
“We’re really keen to be partnering with Lifeline Canberra… making an emphasis on supporting our players mental health, wellbeing and footy life.
“We’re looking forward to hopefully having a full season… to get together, play a game of footy and have a beverage at the end.
“We are looking forward to bringing people back down to football this year… on the eve of our first home game we are looking forward to seeing people back at the footy, regardless of if they’re our supporters or our opposition supporters… because that’s what community footy’s strength is.”
In a dominant showing from the Woden Blues to start their season, both the women and senior men started their 2022 campaigns off with big wins in round one.
A confident Woden outfit saw the women keep their opponents scoreless, running out as 31-point victors, whilst the senior men sit atop of the Canberra Times Third Grade Men’s ladder, after an 82-point win.
On their quest for their first finals birth since their debut season in 2018, the Woden women are looking to continue their upwards trajectory.
“We just want to improve week in, week out.” Fort stated.
“We have spoken about having a crack this year… we want to see if we can achieve making our first finals officially.”
Atop of the ladder, Woden’s senior men also look to improve on years gone by. Senior men’s coach Russell Stewart spoke after his first game at the helm in his new Blues colours, instilling that he is taking the season one game at a time whilst his new squad continues to gel, although Stewart’s eyes are firmly set on the finals.
“It was good to come through with a strong win, and with so many new players to the club we are hoping that we can have a solid season.
“When you coach footy your aim is to make finals, if we can get around finals somewhere, we will have had a successful season.”
The Woden Blues kick off their first home game of the season with a triple header this Saturday at Phillip Oval against the Molonglo Juggernauts.
Written By: Robbie Stewart
