By Tara Murray
New Western Bulldogs Victorian Football League Women’s captain Steph Asciak says her younger self would be proud of where she is today.
Asciak has been named the Bulldogs captain for the 2025 season having played 31 games for the club across the past two seasons.
At just 21, Asciak said it came as a shock to have been named captain.
“It’s really exciting,” she said. “Not something I expected this year but really honoured to get the captaincy.
“I was stoked. To take over after Dom [Carbone], is a big job but I’m pretty excited to do it.”
It was Asciak’s teammates that voted her into the role and she made her really happy that the girls wanted her to be in that role.
Asciak said she does feel pretty young to be captain with the rest of the leadership group older than her.
Jaimi Tabb, Bri McFarlane and Millie Klingbeil have been named co-vice captains with Mali McLeod and a former captain, Mary Sandral, named in the leadership group.
“I’ve been voted in for a reason,” she said. “I think I can do the job well.
“I think it will definitely help me out having some really good experienced leaders with me in the group, I think it will be great.”
Asciak takes over from Carbone, who has moved to Collingwood. Carbone won the Lambert-Pearce Medal last season.
Asciak, who still aspires to play AFLW, said that her former skipper is an inspiration.
“She was such a hard worker, very inspirational,” she said. “I think that is something that I want to take and be like her.”
For Asciak, the experience to captain a team in the area that she grew up in is pretty special.
She played her junior footy with Caroline Springs and played for the Western Jets, with both those clubs having a big impact on her football.
“Starting off at Caroline Springs as a junior they’ve been so supportive of me, they’ve helped me develop so much,” she said.
“Then going into the Jets program, I think was a really good opportunity to step up.
“I was actually thinking about the other day. I grew up being a Western Bulldogs supporter and I know little Steph would be so proud right now.
“It feels really good, my parents were stoked as well.”
The Bulldogs come into this season on the back of a grand final appearance last season.
Asciak said they would love to go one step further this year. She said they had an exciting squad this season with a few new girls, a lot of young players.
“To keep sticking to what we know,” she said. “Rhys [Sullivan] has built a really good foundation and we’ve built our method, set down for us this year.
“I think if we keep sticking to what we know, we will make it there again. Keep doing it and don’t let the other team get back on top.”
