The former Maryborough-based teacher relocated to the south-west to take on a position at Hamilton North Primary School and quickly found himself immersed in the town’s football culture.

His players’ rise focused around learning on the go – a journey which has culminated in an AFL Western District-Wimmera Mallee youth girls grand final berth.

Hamilton Kangaroos will play Horsham Saints in the decider at Melville Oval on Sunday.

The inaugural competition’s other sides – South Warrnambool, Portland, Horsham Demons, Stawell Warriors, Old Collegians and Warrnambool – will play off in curtain-raisers to determine final placings.

Weatherson said he was proud to be a part of the competition.

“I started the Maryborough girls team three years ago and when I moved to town and they (Hamilton Kangaroos) wanted to start a team, they contacted me and asked if I’d be involved,” he said.

“I was going to give them a hand and it turned into the coaching job.”

Weatherson said the Kangaroos, who won seven of their eight home and away matches, had progressed at a rapid rate.

“It’s been phenomenal. We had 20 at the first training session which was beyond expectations,” he said.

“A few girls were quite good because they were involved with the (TAC Cup) Rebels squad but a lot were quite raw and didn’t know a lot about footy.”

The Kangaroos have lost two of their key position prospects – centre half-back Claire McKenry is attending a family reunion in Perth and ruck Erin Powell is on exchange in France.

But pacy winger Maddy Casey, who missed their narrow win over Stawell earlier in the season, is available.

Roos team manager Loretta Kearney – mother of AFLW star Emma – said co-captains Brooke Mibus and Maddison Kaine would lead the way.

“Maddison is an in and under player and runs with the ball and Brooke is an energiser bunny,” she said.

“She’ll run all day and has the capacity to keep going.”

Kearney said the Roos were wary of Saints midfielder-forward Coco Ledger, who tops the competition goalkicking.

Schedule: 10am, Old Collegians (7) v Warrnambool (8); 11.30am, Horsham Demons (5) v Stawell (6); 1pm, Portland (3) v South Warrnambool (4); 2.30pm, Hamilton Kangaroos (1) v Horsham Saints (2).