By
Jo Button
 |
|
Corporal
Katie Staines, from RAAF Base Wagga, tackles an opposition
player in the recent Australian AFL Women’s Championships.
|
CORPORAL
Katie Staines is encouraging more women in the Air Force to have
a go at Aussie Rules. “You are never too old [to start] and if
you have kids, it doesn’t mean you can’t play Aussie Rules,” CPL
Staines said.
“In fact, my kids think I’m a bit of a hero.” The mother-of-four
recently represented the ADF at the 2004 Women’s AFL national
championships where the ADF came away with its first win against
the Northern Territory and its first goal against Victoria.
CPL Staines grew up with a predominantly rugby league background,
however her husband provided her inspiration to try Aussie Rules
as he plays the game.
She started playing in Wagga in 2003. Army Corporal Paula Bunting,
who played with her in the championships, has also been very inspirational
to CPL Staines. “Paula returned to the field with a broken finger and kicked a goal in our last game just before the siren
sounded,” she said.
The mateship and physical attributes are what attracts CPL Staines
to the game. “I wasn’t getting these out of other sports,” she
said. She has a final word for all Air Force women: “If you want
physical fitness, if you want to form special bonds as well as
have fun, you’re going to get it all with Aussie Rules.
Put on some boots and tight shorts and have a go,” she said.
Credible
effort in football
ADF
women fought hard to score a credible fifth overall in last month’s
2004 Women’s AFL National Championships in Adelaide. Victoria
won the championships.
The ACT came second. According to Jo Button, the communications
officer of the Australian Services Australian Football Association,
the ADF’s result doesn’t reflect the high standards of play and
closeness of many of the scores.
“The ACT team came second overall but beat ADF by only one goal
in both games,” she said. “Other factors contributed as well.
The ADF team came together as team only three days before the
national championships, as opposed to the other state and territory
teams who come together up to four months prior to the championships.
“Also, the national championships games comprised only two 20
minute halfs, as opposed to the normal four 30-minute quarters.
“Had these been full games the results could have been different
as the ADF members’ strength is their fitness and endurance.
“There is a good chance they could have outshone the competition
had there been two more quarters,” she said.
