The ACE Women Reserves took on a huge challenge this season – but had a major factor in their favour.
The Ressies made the transition from junior to senior football by stepping up not one level, but two – from Under 16 to Seniors – when they joined the Women’s Capital League 1 Reserves.
It was a sizeable leap, bypassing the Under 18s, and the squad has impressed thanks, in part, to having one of the most settled squads on the ACE development pathway.
Eight of the current players have been in the team for four successive years, from the Under 14s; three have been in the squad for five years, from Under 13 level; and two for six years, from the Under 12s.
Pictured above are, from left: Stephanie Simpson, Jemilla Halliday, Marli Raihman, Eliska Pettit, Alicia Meehan, Leisel Clements. Below, Lani Raghavan, left, and Emily Crabb,
“I wonder how many clubs in Brisbane that can say they have such loyalty to a club by a group of players and team?” said coach Nathan Charles, who delved into the archives for these impressive statistics:
Leisel Clements:
70 games (U14, U15, U16, Capital 1 Reserves)
Alicia Meehan:
77 games (U13, U14, U15, U16, Capital 1 Reserves)
Marli Raihman:
82 games (U13, U14, U15, U16, Capital 1 Reserves)
Lani Raghavan:
83 games (U12-U16, Capital 1 Reserves)
Jemilla Halliday:
85 games (U13-U16, Capital 1 Reserves)
Emily Crabb:
86 games (U13-U16, Capital 1 Reserves)
Eliska Pettit:
88 games (U12, U14, U15, U16, Capital 1 Reserves)
Stephanie Simpson:
107 games (U12-U16, Capital 1 Reserves)
Our young side won three of its 10 games in the Capital League 1 Reserves competition and in phase two of this season first takes on Caboolture on Sunday and then Southside Eagles, Brisbane City and North Star in the Plate round.
Fixtures:
Round 1: Caboolture Res v ACE Res, Sunday October 18, 3pm
Round 2: ACE Res v Southside Eagles Res, Friday October 23, 6.30pm
Round 3: Bye
Round 4: Brisbane City Res v ACE Res, Saturday November 7, 5pm
Round 5: ACE Res v North Star Res, Friday November 13, 6.30pm
