Oliver Lees
Yarraville-Seddon has bolstered its list ahead of the Western Football League women’s season, with the signing of former AFLW player Ashleigh Guest.
The club announced the signing on social media last week ahead of the Eagles first match of the season against Laverton on April 20.
New Eagles coach Emily Fox said Guest will add a touch of class across all aspects of the football department.
“It’s fantastic to have a player of her calibre, we’re really excited by the experience she’ll bring as a player and a coach,” she said. “Ashleigh currently is a coach with the Western Jets.
“She will be working alongside our team and our juniors and within her coaching role she will be helping players access programs and transition into higher level football.”
Guest played a total of 40 games across five seasons in the AFLW, playing at Greater Western Sydney, Melbourne and finally the Western Bulldogs.
In 2022, her final year in the competition, Guest averaged 11 disposals for the Bulldogs playing as a defender.
But Fox said Guest’s on-field placement could differ from week to week.
“For Ash, it’s going to be what balance we need on the day, most of our players will play across multiple positions,” she said.
Since being hired for the senior position in October, Fox has looked to continue to build the women’s program.
“Peter Lazzaro over the last few years has laid down a very strong foundation for this club and given the players an opportunity to develop,” she said.
“So a lot of what I’m doing now is building on to that.”
A total of 18 new players have signed with the Eagles for the season, giving them as many as 36 players to choose from in round one.
According to Fox, some players joined the club expecting to play in a women’s masters team, but that never eventuated.
“Those players will still remain with our program, so I think we’ll be able to hit the ground,” she said.
The Eagles will take on the Magpies in round two on April 20 after a bye in round one.
Last year the Magpies played in division 2, but a decision was made at the end of the year to combine both competitions, creating a range of new matchups in 2024.
Fox said this context made it difficult to prepare a game plan.
“We’re certainly going into that game with a focus on our program and our structures, because we have no idea what we’re going to be up against,” she said.
In round one results, Parkside Spurs lost to the Suns, West Footscray smashed North Sunshine and Laverton lost to Wyndhamvale.
