OLD Collegians coach Xavier Couch and his Stawell counterpart Melissa Bibby are concerned by player shortages across the Western Victoria Female Football league's junior ranks.
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The opening round fixture between the two teams was marred by player shortages with Stawell only having 10 troops available.
Old Collegians lent its counterparts players so the teams could take to the field for six 10-minute quarters on Sunday.
Couch said player shortages was an issue with all clubs in the region.
Timboon Demons, North Warrnambool Eagles and Ararat pulled out of junior competition on the eve of the season, forcing the league into a last-minute fixture shift.
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Bibby said it has been a tough task getting a side up for the season but is hopeful it can turn a corner in coming weeks.
"It has been a struggle to even get a team up after COVID. It's been difficult in a lot of leagues and a lot of levels," she said.
"We have next week off now and there was a couple who couldn't come this week and then we have a home game.
"We are going to get the players up but it is a struggle, which is disappointing because the girls did really well."
Couch says more is needed to be done to promote the women's game at grassroots level with clubs across the region struggling.
"COVID didn't help but maybe the promotion of the game isn't really big. There needs to be a little more promotion form AFL level," he said.
"It is good at AFLW level and it floats down but it doesn't seem to get as much attention at grassroots level so promotion would be a big thing."
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"I'm not sure if it (shortages) is a time issue or is it a problem that people don't want to give up Sundays to play footy. Girls are studying or working and don't want to give up that so not sure how we get around that."
Couch encouraged more girls to get involved in the fun and friendly environments at clubs across the region.
"Most of my girls have never played before and they were all nervous and anxious but once they train and play they have a ball," he said.
"It's about having fun and making new friends and getting fit. Having fun is the biggest thing."
In the WVFFL's other junior games reigning premiers South Warrnambool kicked off its premiership defence with a strong win over Terang Mortlake at D.C Farren Oval.
The Roosters defeated the Bloods 8.3 (51) to 2.7 (19).
Horsham Demons handed Warrnambool a first-round defeat in both seniors and juniors. The Demons won 13.9 (87) to 2.0 (12) in juniors and 6.15 (51) to 3.4 (22) in seniors.
Hamilton Kangaroos started its 2021 season with a thumping victory over Portland. The Kangaroos saluted 14.18 (102) to 0.1 (1).
In the senior competition it was Portland's women who claimed a big victory, winning 13.15 (93) to 0.
South Warrnambool started its seniors flag defence with a comfortable 101 to seven victory over Ararat.
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