Darebin Falcons

Darebin Falcons
Full name Darebin Women's Sports Club
Nickname The Falcons
Sport Women's Australian rules football, Women's Soccer, Women's Cricket, Women's Eightball
Founded 1990
League Victorian Women's Football League, Football Federation Victoria
Home ground A.H. Capp Reserve & Robinson Reserve
Anthem "The Falcons Rock"
President Aleisha Leonard
Captain State League - Daisy Pearce (2016), Division 1 - TBC (2016)
Strip
Red and Blue guernsey with white lighting bolts, red or blue shorts and socks
Darebin Falcons Player is wrapped up in a gang tackle by two Melbourne University Mugars opponents in the 2006 WVFL senior women's Grand Final. The field umpire (in orange) is about to signal "holding the ball" to penalise Darebin and award Melbourne University a free kick.

The Darebin Falcons represent the Darebin Women's Sports Club. The Darebin Women's Sports Clubs offers sporting opportunities for women and girls in cricket, soccer, Australian Rules football and 8-ball.

The success of the Darebin Women's Sports Club has been possible because of a strong commitment from players, club members and supporters - all of whom have a passion for women's sport. This commitment and the support for women's sport is unique and will enable the Darebin Falcons to continue to grow as a women's sporting club.

Darebin Women's Sports Club has over 250 registered playing members.

The Darebin Falcons currently field two Australian rules football teams in the Victorian Women's Football League - a team in the VFL Women's State League and a team in Division One (Reserves).

The Darebin Falcons fields one team at Youth Girls level, this team won its 5th consecutive Premiership in 2014.

The Darebin Falcons have two Soccer teams competing in the Football Federation Victoria Women's State League Div 3 & Div 4 North West

The Darebin Falcons have 260 girls playing Soccer in their Junior soccer program in 2016.

The Darebin Falcons have one Cricket team competing in the Cricket Victoria women's league.

The Darebin Falcons have one Eightball team (the Darebin Devils).

The beginning

In 1990, a small group of women in Northcote wanted to play Australian Rules football. Upon contacting the Victorian Women's Football League (VWFL), they discovered that the Fairfield Falcons were looking like folding after three seasons in the competition. There was only one player from the team who wanted to continue playing with the Falcons. Other players had decided to transfer to other clubs or hang up their boots.

News travelled fast - there was a women's football team being re-established at Fairfield Park and the number of women wanting to play football grew to over 30. Only a handful of women had played football at high school, some had played kick to kick with their brothers and others had never touched a football before. The one thing they had in common was that they all loved football and wanted to give it a try.

After a season of developing skills and confidence on the field and club and team spirit off the ground, it was decided the Falcons would move from Fairfield Park and relocate to Northcote. A new home ground was found in McDonell Park. Northcote City Council (now City of Darebin) had set aside McDonell Park as a women's sporting ground. In 1991 it became the home ground to the Fairfield Falcons Women's Football Club.

The early years

During the Falcon's first six seasons, the club worked hard to establish themselves to be a consistent presence in the VWFL competition. The teams on field performances improved with each season. Although the Falcons had only appeared in one semi final, membership was growing and the social environment that exists in successful sporting clubs had become an important aspect of the club. In 2000, the Fairfield Falcons Women's Football Club changed their name to the Darebin Women's Sports Club. The name change was a result of the club wanting to branch out and provide various sports to its members and the Falcons wanted their name to truly indicate their location.

Australian Rules Football teams - 1996 to present

The season of 1996 is one Darebin will never forget. The recruitment of experienced players and the commitment of the team resulted in the Falcons winning important games throughout the season, which consolidated their position on the VWFL ladder.

The Falcons won every game in the second half of the season and secured first position on the ladder. The team convincingly won the semi final against the St Kilda Sharks and in the following week the Falcons appeared in their first grand final.

The Sunshine Spurs took early control of the game and even though Fairfield were six goals behind at half time, the Falcon's loyal supporters inspired a determination in the team that had never before been witnessed at the club. The Falcons won the grand final by 13 points.

2002 saw the club again expand with the inclusion of a second Australian football team, now providing opportunity for more women to participate.

2005 saw the Falcons make the Grandfinal for the Premier Division, eventually going down to Melbourne University. However, this game set them up for the grandfinal in 2006, where the Falcons again played Melbourne University. This time the Falcons would come out winners, with the Premier Reserves team going down to St Kilda in their final.

2007 was the most successful season for the club, with both the Premier Division and Premier Reserves both going through the season undefeated. Both teams capped off great seasons with convincing wins in their respective grand finals.

2008 was another successful year with both the Premier Division and Premier Reserve teams making the grand final. The Reserves were runners up, while the Premier Division team won their 3rd flag in succession.

Players in action at the 2005 VWFL Division One Reserves Grand Final: Melbourne University Mugars (black and blue) defeated the Darebin Falcons (red and black).

2009 once again another successful year with both the Premier Division and Premier Reserve teams winning the flag.

2010 - This was the most successful year the Falcons have ever had. With the Premier, Premier Reserves, and Youth Girls teams winning the flag. All three sides went through the season undefeated to take out the grand final. The Premier Division made VWFL history with their fifth Grand Final flag in succession, and the Premier Reserves going back to back.

2011 - Another successful year with both the Premier and Premier Reserves teams making the Grand Final. The Premier Division were runners up and the Premiers Reserves Division team won their 3rd consecutive flag.

2012 - The Premier Reserves team made the Preliminary Final and the Premier team made it to the Grand Final. The Premier team were defeated by Diamond Creek at Box Hill Oval.[1]

2013 - The Premier Division won their 6th premiership in 9 years, defeating Diamond Creek at Coburg City Oval.[2]

2013 also saw the creation of the inaugural women's AFL draft. Of the 50 players selected nationally, 10 players were from the Darebin Falcons, including the number 1 draft pick, Daisy Pearce. The following Falcons players were selection in this draft:[3]

2014 - The Premier Division team participated in a grand final rematch against Diamond Creek, defeating them by 30 points at Coburg City Oval.[4]

In the second women's AFL draft, 2 more Falcons were selected to participate. Darcy Vescio was taken at pick 3, and Stephanie Simpson at pick 18. Both joined the Western Bulldogs. [5]

2015 - The Premier Division team played in their third consecutive grand final against Diamond Creek, winning by 63 points at Coburg City Oval. This game marked the tenth consecutive grand final of which the Falcons taken part, winning eight of them since 2006. [6]

2015 also marked the 25th anniversary of the Falcons playing women's football. To commemorate this, the club announced their Silver Jubilee Team. [7]The team consisted of:

References

  1. ↑ "Creek a bit too sleek for Darebin in grand final win". NewsComAu. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north/darebin-falcons-make-for-undefeated-season-with-demolition-of-diamond-creek-in-victorian-women8217s-football-league-grand-final/story-fngnvocb-1226695738385
  3. ↑ "News - Darebin Falcons dominate draft". theweeklyreviewmelbournetimes.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  4. ↑ Cavanagh, Chris (8 September 2014). "Darebin Falcons go back-to-back with victory over Diamond Creek in VWFL Premier Division grand final". Preston Leader.
  5. ↑ Cavanagh, Chris (26 May 2014). "Two more Darebin Falcons selected for second AFL-sanctioned women's match". Preston Leader.
  6. ↑ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/darebin-falcons-fly-to-eighth-premiership-in-10-years-with-victory-over-diamond-creek-in-vwfl-premier-division-grand-final/news-story/9d8163b0d4a94fa462e2f337d11b3e3d
  7. ↑ http://falcons.org.au/index.php/dwsc-25th-anniversary-silver-jubilee-football-team-announced/
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