Tara Murray
New Williamstown CYMS women’s coach Xavier Smith wants to continue the legacy of the program in the Victorian Amateur Football Association.
Smith, who has been an assistant coach for North Melbourne’s Victorian football League side, takes over from the CYs inaugural women’s coach Lawrence Henry.
Smith aid the opportunity to coach his own side was one of the big things for him.
“It’s really exciting,” he said. “It’s not something that I was condensing during the year.
“It popped up and I was excited to come on board. Knowing the Willy CYs was such a great club that had such great success for women’s program, it was something willing to jump on and see what I could really do.”
?Smith said he spoke to a lot of people at the club and said he got a real sense of community.
He said a lot of people feel like the club is home and it was something he wanted to be part of.
“Knowing what great pathway they have for all female footballers is something important,” he said. They’ve got a really strong connection with Willy juniors and Willy VFL and knowing that there is that strong connection between the three clubs, that the girls can play footy from Auskick all the way up to the elite end is something that really attracted me to it.”
As well as coaching at North Melbourne, Smith works at the club.
He said he was looking to bring a bit of that professilism to the CYs.
“Speaking to a lot of the girls from this year they’re really wanting to take their football and the team to the next level, hopefully i can bring a bit of that high performance expertise to the club.”
The CYS finished on top of premier B division in their first season at that level. The side was knocked out in the finals in straight sets.
Smith said they want to build on this year
“It’s very easy to look at it as an unsuccessful year, I certainly see it as a very successful year,” he said. “It was the first year that the club has field two female teams.
“The reserves come so close to making finals in their first year. Obviously the seniors finishing undefeated on top of the ladder and just missing out on a grand final by a kick, there’s definitely that motivation to go that next level.
“I would describe it speaking to some of the girls, they’re proud of the year last year, certainly not happy with how it finished.”
The CYs are back at training thus week. Smith said they were looking for players for both sides.
