AJAX women wreak havoc on debut
IT was a landmark weekend for AJAX football, as the club’s first ever women’s side, the Jackettes, triumphed on debut playing away to Montemorency, while men’s senior coach Marty Pask picked up his inaugural win.
Coached by former in the Victorian Women’s Football League (VWFL) champion Marnie Rosenberg, the Jackettes dominated the VWFL East Division 5 opening round fixture on Sunday, denying Montmorency a single goal in their 4.17 (41) to 0.3 (3) victory.
Freezing conditions and heavy rain couldn’t put a damper on the women’s passion for the contest, with coach Rosenberg praising her squad for their enthusiasm in Round 1.
“They were super nervous,” Rosenberg told the AJN. “The conditions were obviously pretty average, quite cold and wet, but I don’t think they really cared. They just wanted to play, busting to get out there.”
Nerves were riding high in a goal-less first quarter, but the Jackettes eventually settled thanks to the side’s opening goal from star forward Vanessa Mrocki and standout displays from Tamara Epshtein, Alex Fleiszig, Toni Hamilton, Jess Marget and Danielle Robinson.
“I had told them at quarter time that as soon as we get the first goal it will be fine, its just a confidence thing, and then Vanessa popped one though,” Rosenberg said.
“They all got a bit hungry after that; they all wanted to score a goal with a couple girls running off the halfback line.”
After 12 years playing with the St Kilda Sharks and three years coaching, including a premiership last season, Rosenberg was ready to take a break from footy, but admits the opportunity to take charge of the first Jewish women’s footy team was “impossible to refuse.”
“None of them have played in any league as such, just a couple have played for their schools and some haven’t even really picked up a footy before,” she said. “But it’s amazing — considering they have all gone to different schools and the age difference is probably 18 to 25, they’ve really gelled and come together for the love of the game.”
Jackette’s hard-hitting skipper Chelsea Fisher described leading out the side as “unreal” and says she and the other women will take confidence from the result.
“We’re not just a bunch of girls who got together to kick a ball around,” Fisher said. “We do mean business and we’re here to show everyone that we’re here to play, here to win.”
When asked about the Jackettes’ biggest strength, Fisher gives a somewhat surprising answer: “To be honest, I never though I’d say this, but this bunch of 35 Jewish girls know how to tackle! I was very impressed with how hard the girls went in … the effort, fitness and determination was all there.”
With the Jackettes’ maiden home game scheduled for 3pm Sunday on May 3, Fisher confesses to a “little anxiety”, but says the team is “excited to show everyone what they’ve learnt and hopefully get a victory”.
Coach Rosenberg said she is equally thrilled for the home debut and paid tribute to AJAX for supporting this initiative.
“To see a Jewish club foster a women’s team, senior as well as junior, is absolutely amazing and I wish it was around when I was younger.”
AJAX FC director of football Andrew Shenker chimed in: “The club is very proud of how the girls have conducted themselves through the preseason, both on and off the field, working hard to gather momentum and improve their skill levels, culminating in a sensational win in their first ever game.
“Hopefully, the start of even bigger and better things to look forward to for the AJAX women’s footy team.”
Meanwhile, the AJAX seniors side bounced back from a seven-goal loss in the opening round with a courageous 15.3 (93) to 11.15 (81) victory over Parkdale at Albert Park.
Five goals from sharpshooter Jake Lew led the Jackas in Saturday’s match, which saw the home side get off to a barnstorming start, slamming on seven unanswered goals before the momentum shifted Parkdale’s way, with the visitors only trailing by three points at halftime.
Veteran Jason Ritterman turned back the clock with a dominant performance, including an exquisite running goal, while Richie Simon added three majors and Asher Burstin chipped in with two, as AJAX’s inform forwards helped the side out to a 21-point lead heading into the final stanza.
Kicking with the wind, Parkdale outscored AJAX in the final period, but a late goal from Burstin and some relentless tackling ensured the spirited Jackas held on for Pask’s first win as coach.
“The thing about coaching is its about making sure we are heading in the right direction and learning from the previous week’s game,” Pask told the AJN. “But it was good to get a reward for effort early in the season and for the boys to share in a win.”
The Reserves team fell short by 19 points to Parkdale. Daniel Janover-Rocha, Jamie Lewis and Nadav Greenberger were among the best, while Brandon Joel the only multiple goal-kicker with three.
Inaccuracy cost the AJAX Thirds Blacks in their 24-point defeat to Old Carey, with Benji Jones, Daniel Wein and Jeremy Herz performing well, while St Kevins thrashed the Thirds Reds by 95 points despite strong showings from Daniel Klotnick, Jarred Swire and Adam Shapiro.
ADAM BLAU
Skipper Chelsea Fisher pushes forward in the driving rain during the Jackettes round 1 win on Sunday. Photo: Michael Grek
AJAX play Fitzroy on Saturday at Brunswick Street Oval, Fitzroy. Seniors 2.00PM and Reserves 11.40AM.
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