Lindenow South Women's Premiership a family affair

People often talk about footy clubs and premiership winning sides becoming 'like a family', after riding the highs and the lows of the home and away season and, giving their all in finals in the hope of winning a premiership.

The Lindenow South Women's team took this to a new level, fielding a premiership side that included an entire family, with Simone Foster and her twin daughters, Brianna and Gabrielle playing together in the 2024 Female Football Gippsland (FFG) Senior Women's Premiership.

Lindenow South finished on top of the FFG ladder, with only one loss for the season, and the team commuted for over an hour to take on Boisdale-Briagolong at Gaskin Park in Churchill on Sunday 18 August.

It was a day that the Foster family will never forget, with Lindenow South 7.5 (47) defeating a sharp shooting Boisdale-Briagolong 5.1 (31). 

For Simone, winning the premiership alongside her daughters was about so much more than just footy.

"It's something that I will cherish forever.

Even when pre-season started, the girls would come home from training asking if I would play this year, and I'd make all sorts of excuses, saying I don't think my body will hold up, I'm not fit enough etc.," she said.

"It really means a lot to me and I'm so glad that they pushed me to do it because I absolutely loved every minute of it."

19-year-old Brianna and Gabrielle played their junior footy at Bairnsdale FNC, and spent some time in Gippsland Power's Coates Talent League program, whilst Simone promised she would make a return to her playing days once the girls were old enough to play seniors.

Brianna said that the support of having her mum and sister out on the field gave her more confidence going into the game, whilst Simone could not have been more nervous.

"It was way less nerve-wracking than any other grand final I have played in, just because I had my mum and sister there alongside me. It made me feel like nothing bad could happen with them out there with me," Brianna said.

Down by two goals at half time, a motivational speech from their inaugural coach, Robbie O'Keefe, inspired them to take control in the 'premiership quarter' and finish the game strong.

"I knew that finals are completely different, anything can happen...it wasn't until we got out there in the third quarter, that he gave us the motivation to push and give it our all," Simone said.

Both Gabrielle and Brianna said that playing alongside family made the day even more memorable and enjoyable.

"Winning a premiership is already a day I will never forget, and playing with my mum and sister made it even more special," Gabrielle said.

"It felt like everything came full circle,...we’ve ridden the highs and lows throughout the season and to be able to pull it all together in the big dance, it was so special to do that together."

To win the best on ground medal was the icing on the cake for Gabrielle, who said it was a complete surprise to win the award in her first ever grand final.

"It was very unexpected, there were some many other girls who stood out throughout the whole season and in the grand final, so to be awarded that it was so special," she said.

Lindenow South Team Manager and Trainer, Kathy Whittingham, said that stories like this are a great reminder of how tightknit the footy community is.

"The club itself has always been really family oriented...we've had father/son duos win a premiership together a few years ago, and it's so great to have it on the women's side as well," Kathy said.

"It brings that family connection and for the girls and Simone it was something really special they were able to do together."

Both Simone and Kathy credit much of the team's success this year to the support the women's team received from the wider club and community, including Kathy's partner, Robbie O'Keefe, who stepped in as a temporary coach when the team first started, and is still head coach five years later!

"I'm absolutely stoked with the support from the club for the women's team, they make sure we always have a trainer, water runner, goal umpires," Simone said.

"About 5 years ago when I played for another club there wasn’t that support which made it difficult to field a team, but Lindenow South is absolutely amazing in that way."

Kathy hopes to see women's footy in the region continue to grow, allowing for talented youngsters like Gabrielle and Brianna more opportunities to develop their game.

"It's great to have some women's football in our area, we are the only clubs in the East Gippsland Shire that have women's footy, and I think it would be awesome to have a few more teams, with only the four teams this year [in competition]," Kathy said.

"We really want to see women's footy in our area grow, and to give those younger girls more opportunities to play football as well."

"We hope our story encourages people from small communities and small clubs to create a women's team, you don't need a lot to get started, just a footy oval and some dedicated volunteers and players who will get out there and do it."

For more local footy finals results, visit the AFL Victoria Local Footy Finals Hub.