Sport
15 August, 2025
Grand final awaits young Wolves
IN the inaugural year of Football Southwest’s junior female football division, the Warrnambool Wolves under 14 girls have had a stellar season.
The team celebrated 10 wins from 11 matches.
Going into the final round of the 2025 season with an untouchable three-game clearance (and 48 goal difference) the team will now play a semi-final.
Team coach Melissa Condo attributes the team’s first year dominance to a well-disciplined defensive structure and a full-pitch press – with most scores the result of attacking as a team, rather than breakaway efforts.
“I’m proud of so many aspects of the way this team plays; our defensive line is consistent, focussed and reliable,” she said.
“Our midfield players have been utterly formidable with defensive trapping and slowing the ball down while our forward pressure has been immense.”
Almost every player in the team has scored during the season, illustrating the group-attacking style.
“It’s been so encouraging to see our girls playing out of defence, sometimes down lines, sometimes through the centre corridor, drawing defence and then creating angled passes, and offensive pushes that usually have 2-3 players involved,” Condo said.
“A big part of our scoring success this season is having multiple attackers in each effort.
“It’s hard to defend, and it places goalkeepers under huge pressure because on any given day, any one of our girls can score.”
Condo also praised the efforts of Jeppesen and Francis.
“It helps having players like those two who can score from distance, as well as others like Wicks who can grind their way through a defensive wall to either score themselves or assist to other forwards like Vu, Nield, Cabugao, Edwards, and McCulloch.”
Condo also applauded the discipline of her defensive players, keeper McGoldrick, Daffy, Smith, McLaurin and Morden.
“These girls are so motivated to achieve something truly special this season,” Condo said.
“Our attendances at training are high, which is hugely rewarding as a coach, and our fitness has really stood out. We have a big, full squad and the girls are so positive to each other.
“We’ve tried to keep our matches fun, but our training serious, and the improvement and tenacity these girls have is really evident as the grand final gets closer.”
Next year the Warrnambool Wolves hopes to field an under 15 and under 12/13 girls teams, and invites inquiries for next season from interested players.
For more information about playing or supporting local football email juniorsoccer@warrnamboolwolves.com.
