Second women’s footy team for Port Hedland as new Rovers squad revs up

It’s a new dawn for Port Hedland Rovers who are gearing up to unleash their first women’s team in the 2023 North Pilbara Football League season.

The Rovers will become Port Hedland’s second women’s league team, representing the town alongside the Hedland Blazers.

Pre-season training kicked off at the home of the Bulldogs last Tuesday night with 27 women heading down to Port Hedland’s Colin Matheson Oval to hone their skills.

Rovers president Kris Gobbart said they were on the hunt for a pack of 35 players to take on the next season, with women aged 15 years and over of all skill levels encouraged to sign up.

Gobbart said they were encouraged to field a women’s side following a push from players’ partners who also wanted to play for the club.

“There was a fair bit of drive from them and they were pretty keen to start up a second women’s team and we thought it was viable to do so,” he said.

“We have had a great response so far.”

Despite the main competition being a few months away, Gobbart said he was quietly confident in the fledgling team’s skills.

“I think if they put their heart and soul into it and get onto the track I think they will be quite competitive,” he said.

Gobbart said it was an exciting time for the club which has been slowly expanding in recent years.

“Last year we got a men’s cricket team, in the future we are going to try and go down the avenue of getting a women’s cricket team and then further on maybe even a netball team — the sky is our limit basically,” he said.

“It’s just a great environment to be around.

“I moved up from a small country town and . . . it was like my second family basically.”

Last year the Karratha Kats, Karratha Falcons, Wickham Wolves, Dampier Sharks and Hedland Blazers battled it out in the women’s league.

The Karratha Kats emerged victorious in the grand final against the Hedland Blazers, securing their third straight premiership.

Women interested in joining the Port Hedland Rovers can join pre-season training at Colin Matheson Oval on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For information, email admin@porthedlandroersfootballclub.com.au.