Darebin Falcons

Full name	Darebin Falcons
Nickname	The Falcons
Strip	Red and black guernsey with a vee, red shorts and socks with a white stripe
Founded	1990
Sport	Women's Australian rules football
League	Victorian Women's Football League
Ground	Capp Reserve
Club song	The Falcons Soar
President/Chair	Sal Rees
Coach	Kerry Saunders
Captain	Lauren Arnell
2006	2nd of 18

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 have two Australian Rules football teams competing in the Victorian Women’s football league - a team in Division One and a team in Division One Reserves. Image File history File links MelbourneDesign. ... This article is about the year. ... Womens Australian rules football (also known as Womens Aussie Rules, Womens footy) is a fast growing sport played in Australia, United States, Papua New Guinea and Japan. ... The Victorian Womens Football League (VWFL) is the oldest and largest Australian Rules Football league for women in the world, made up of clubs from Victoria, Australia. ... Australian Rules and Aussie Rules redirect here. ...

History

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).

The Beginning In 1990, a small group of women in Northcote wondered what it would be like to play Australian Rules football. Upon contacting the Victorian Women's Football League (VWFL), it was 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. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1730x1280, 361 KB) Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Australian rules football Victorian Womens Football League Sport in Australia Womens Australian rules football Australia... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1730x1280, 361 KB) Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Australian rules football Victorian Womens Football League Sport in Australia Womens Australian rules football Australia...

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.

Melbourne University Mugars player jostles for best position in a marking contest.

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 Womens 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.

VWFL Premiers 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.

The success of the Darebin Womens 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. Another factor that has enabled the growth and success of the club, is the continued assistance extended from the City of Darebin and club sponsors. 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 130 registered playing members and another 30 registered as volunteers and social members of the club.

External Links

• Official website