New Williamstown CYMS women’s coach Matt Marsden is keen to lock in as the CYs expand their program in the Victorian Amateur Football Association premier competition.
Marsden step into the role at the CYs as they add an under-19 side to both their reserves and seniors teams.
He said it was a role that really spoke to him and was keen to get involved with the club.
“I’m really excited, really fortunate,” he said. “It’s a great club and has good infrastructure.
“They are building something special with female football.
“They’re completing the pathway with the introduction of under-19s and having the partnership with Williamston Juniors.
“That means there is from under-12s through to senior football and Willy VFL [Victorian Football League women] is around the corner.”
Marsden brings more than 12 years in women’s footy—including leading Geelong West Giants to the 2023 AFL Barwon division 2 premiership and founding Girls Play Footy,
He also has experience with Port Melbourne in the VFL and Box Hill in the VFLW.
Marsden said development was where he saw his greatest strength.
“I feel like I work best with younger groups and we have a young group in the senior team,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot of players under 22-23. This is a role that you dream about.
“You want to try and keep them for 10 years and develop them and see where they go.”
The VAFA competition will be something new for Marsden, who has never coached in the competition.
He said he was keen to further increase structures and the game plan to help the side take that next step.
The CYs finished eighth in their first season in the top division with five wins for the year.
“I’m extremely excited and really positive about the club,” he said. “We’re looking for new players across seniors and under-19s and everybody is welcome if they have a willingness to play.”
The CYs said Marsden will work closing with its new under-19 girls team, which is part of a three-year plan to elevate women’s football at the CYs.
For the coach he said it was a holistic approach.
He said they were now seeing those players coming through under-19s who live and breathe football which was exciting to see.
Meanwhile, the VAFA has released the structure for its women’s competitions for next season.
The premier women’s competition will return to 10 teams after being nine this year.
Second sides from the premier competition will play against each other in a reserves competition.
