Harper Sercombe
Williamstown’s defensive stocks have received a major boost with the club securing former Gold Coast speedster Gabrielle Biedenweg-Webster ahead of the Victorian Football League Women’s season.
Biedenweg-Webster joined the Suns ahead of the AFLW season seven and played three games in two seasons on the Gold Coast.
She made her debut in round 4 of season seven and also played in the club’s first home final last month.
Now, as she prepares to head back to the Seagulls, where she won a club best and fairest award. she said it is an exciting time.
“I’m super excited to be heading back to Willy, there was really no other option in my mind,” she said.
“I knew that I wanted to be back down at Willy just because I had a great couple of seasons there, they were the reason that I got up to the Suns. So I’m keen to come back to the club and then see how next season goes which is looking pretty exciting with recruitment and the way the club succeeded last year as well.
“Coming back and being able to be more of a leader within the group without formally being in the leadership group.
“To be able to add a little bit of knowledge and having played at the club previously, I know some of the girls and how we play and coming back from AFLW experience and being able to watch and play at that level will add a little bit more knowledge and hopefully I can bring that and help out the girls.”
Biedenweg-Webster said she loved her time up north but thinks she has plenty more to give in the top level.
She said she thinks she’s only scratched the surface of what she can do within it.
“Willy set me up to get to the Suns, so I think it’s a really good place to be and I think Melbourne is the place to be as well to be dealing with other clubs and having the contacts down there.”
Another positive in returning to VFLW level is the extra opportunities to play games, with the season being 14 games long compared to 10 at AFLW level.
“I’m looking forward to more opportunities to play, obviously with the AFLW we’re pretty limited to the 10 games a season, which kind of puts a lot of pressure on you, if you’re not getting games,” she said.
“So I’m excited to have a longer season, I don’t know how keen I am to be back at Willy in the winter, I think it’ll be a big difference. I’ve just acclimatised to the heat up here and training in the middle of the day. So I’ll just make sure to have the skins and long sleeves ready.”
