Williamstown CYMS jumped at the opportunity to be part of the “best women’s competition in the state” this season.
The Victorian Amateur Football Association announced last week that the CYs had been promoted into the premier division.
They replace Collegians in the top flight, with the Collegians to replace the CYs in premier B.
CYs coach Xavier Smith said they are super excited by the opportunity.
“We were not expecting it, but we’re certainly excited by the opportunity,” he said. “We got news this week that it was a possibility.
“Once it got confirmed it was all very exciting.”
The CYs went through the premier B regular season undefeated last season, before going out of the finals in straight sets.
They have won the division 2 premiership the season before.
For Smith and the group, it’s the next step in the journey.
“We didn’t second guess this opportunity,” he said. “Last year didn’t end the way that we wanted it to.
“We are playing in the best competition in the state and the girls are really excited. It’s been a big couple of years and two successful seasons.”
Smith said they see every game as a new opportunity heading into the higher division.
He said the group would take the experience of last season and playing the unknown, but this season would be different again.
“It’s a challenge against the best in the state,” he said. “There’s a different way of looking at it.
“Every game is an unknown, but every game is a new opportunity.
“New doors open and it’s an opportunity to grow.”
Smith said it had been a really good pre-season. He said he was as excited as he was when he took on the role late last year.
He said everyone had made him feel at home.
“We’re looking to get better every week on the track and we will take each game as it comes and look to get better,” he said.
“We’ve been able to maintain a lot of players from last year and we have some new recruits.
“We’ll be a young list with lots of players stepping up this season and playing footy in the first team.
“I can’t wait until the games begin. We have a couple of practice matches in a few weeks time.”
The CYs will kick off their season against reigning champions Old Scotch on April 5.
