Yesterday, I had the enormous privilege to witness the three quarter time huddle of the Hillside women’s senior football team in a match against Aberfeldie.
Hillside had gone into the match undefeated and Aberfeldie were second on the ladder with two losses. At halftime it was a point the difference but Aberfeldie completely outclassed Hillside in the third quarter to go five goals ahead.
The determination of Hillside to fight back reflected in the fierce raw of their voices in that huddle was the most passionate sound I have ever heard from a group of footballers.
Previously it has been my contention that women’s footy is not as ferocious as men’s footy.
I stand corrected Hillside.
You dominated the first half of the final quarter.
With raw passion you clawed back two goals of the deficit.
Then this incident might have taken the wind put of your sails:
Perhaps if female football had more field umpires (the state government has recently cut back funding to female football), such violence would not effect the result of a game as I believe might be the case here.
I may be wrong. Aberfeldie is a very good side. They played well.
Also, I am not a psychic. I do not know if the violence was intentional or accidental. But I was standing a few meters away and the distress of the Hillside woman, who collapsed crying to the fetal position was so severe that I consciously made the decision not to film it, feeling in my gut that filming it would have invaded the hurt player’s personal space. 30 years of being a Registered Midwife has taught me that sometimes, no matter how much you might want to help, you have to let the woman do what she needs to do on her own.
That type of passion, of agony (cf Jesus on the cross), is a result of being a ball winner and a ball carrier and liable to be hit in a robust contact sport.
Here are some more examples of wonderful passion for the contest from the Hillside senior women.
Up forward Patty (spelling?) can crash through the packs to mark the ball in ways that remind me of the power of Travis Cloke.
Hillside player number 21 gets around an Aberfeldie players attempt to tackle with strength and peace:
I am not sure if the above is “selling candy” (fooling a chasing player by pretending to move one way and than going the other way) or a “don’t argue” (fending off a tackling player with pure strength) or both or neither. But I think the beautiful poetry in motion of these woman is great to savor in stills.
True athleticism is always beautiful.
Hillside and Aberfeldie will meet again this year and in my eyes are favorites to play in the grand final for this year’s premiership. What a prospect.
Women’s footy:
Magnificent!
Geoff Fox, 1st June, 2025, Melbourne, Australia
These physicalities take courage.
FOOTY FOR FREEDOM 