With the 2025 season set to kick off on May 3, the Cowra AFL Women’s Blues are deep in preparation, putting in the hard work during preseason training and upcoming matches in Canberra.
The team is determined to improve on last year’s performance, with a strong focus on fitness, skills, and team cohesion.
Coach Marc Hyland is pleased with the progress the squad has made so far, especially with the addition of new players who have adapted quickly.
“Our numbers have actually started to pick up, with a few new faces at training,” Hyland said.
“We’ve been working hard on fitness, and our ball work and skills are already above where we were last year.”
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“Everything we’ve built on from last season is preparing us well for this year.”
The team is showing increased determination and hunger, after coming close to securing more wins last season.
Hyland believes that extra effort in fitness and skill development will help them close the gap.
“We felt we should have won a few more games last year, and that’s been our motivation this season… To make sure our fitness is at the next level and our skills are sharper,” he said.
“The girls have a goal in mind, and they’re determined to get it done.”
One of the early challenges this season will be helping newer players adjust to the physical demands of the game.
“Some of the newer players haven’t experienced the physical side of the sport yet, but we’re doing drills at training to get them as prepared as possible,” Hyland said.
Despite this, he is confident that the squad will come together as a strong unit.
“I think we’ve got a whole team of players to watch this year,” he said.
“There won’t be just one or two standouts… We’ll have an entire team making an impact.”
The Blues are also eager to renew their rivalry with Orange, a team they split results with last year.
“Orange was our closest rival last year,” he said.
“We beat them once and narrowly lost another, so we’re looking forward to facing them again,” Hyland said.
“But you never know how teams will change with new and departing players, so we’re just excited to get back out there and compete.”
With the season approaching fast, the Blues are still welcoming new players and encourage anyone interested in joining the squad.
“It’s great to see new faces, and we’re always looking for more players,” Hyland said.
