Fifty female players were selected to represent Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs in a curtain-raiser during women’s round on June 29. 

The MCG hosted the May 15 draft, which was streamed live around the country for interstate players and viewers at home. 

Several Thunder representatives made the trip down the Calder to attend, but unfortunately, no girls from the Bendigo region were selected. 

While it was a shame the talent we have in Bendigo at both senior and youth girls level wasn’t recognised, I am sure it will only make those ladies more hungry for success. 

On the field, female football has been thriving. With the Thunder stretching their winning streak to six in a row, the girls are showing the competition they are the real deal again this year. 

The scary thing is that the coaching staff believe they are yet to produce four solid quarters of football, so there is plenty of improvement still to come. 

The youth girls competition is going from strength to strength as the girls enjoy their football and improve their skills. 

On May 14, Weeroona Oval hosted the State Schools Victoria year 10-12 female football competition. 

Bendigo Senior Secondary College continued its impressive school football tradition, beating Weeroona College 47-0 then accounting for Catholic College Bendigo 29-0. 

It was a fantastic day of football with lots of laughter and enjoyment. 

BSSC travels to Swan Hill next week for the Loddon Mallee region finals. 

Inter-league training for the Bendigo youth girls development squad kicked off last Wednesday.

On June 2, the team will head to Mooroopna to take on Shepparton’s youth girls inter-league team in what is tipped to be a great battle. Bendigo will contest the  Goldfields Cup against Ballarat on June 15. 

Dower Park will showcase female football this Sunday. Action starts at 11.20am, when Strathfieldsaye takes on North Bendigo in the youth girls competition, followed at 12.40pm by Huntly battling Castlemaine.

From 2pm, Bendigo Thunder will tackle the Sunbury Lions.

Emma Grant is the AFL Victoria-Bendigo Advertiser Female Football Ambassador for this region. Secondary schools interested in having Emma host a girls’ football clinic should contact Tony McNamara on 0419 103 178.