GFLW coach setting high standards for annual country series in Mandurah

Notwithstanding selection challenges, Goldfields Football League women’s coach James Unwin has backed his team’s across-the-board strength in pursuit of division two success at the annual country championships in Mandurah, starting on Thursday.

Unwin, who has been elevated from an assistant-coaching role at Boulder to lead the representative team, said work and family commitments and official carnival regulations had affected final selections.

But he was confident the 2024 group was in good shape to make a push for the title, against division rivals Esperance, Great Southern and North Pilbara.

“The hardest part has not being able to take some of our best young players away,” Unwin said.

“You can only take two juniors as development players, who must be 17.

“The likes of (GFLW fairest-and best-winner) Marley Kelman and others couldn’t be selected, but are among some of the top players in the GFLW.

“But I’ve encouraged those younger players to still have a look at the championships and hopefully get a feel for things.

“Some of them will still be involved by running water and other roles.

“There’s been some withdrawals for various reasons, but I still think we have a strong team.”

With matches decided on two 20-minute haves, Unwin said fast starts were crucial.

“It’s going to be harder than usual, but we’ll be focusing on attacking as hard and often as we can,” he said.

“Ideally, we’ll be able to build early leads and then strongly defend those leads.

“We have a good balance in each of the departments, although it’s been challenging (finalising key positions) — mainly because the majority of the best players from each of the clubs are onballers, so it’s been about striking a good balance.

“Our practice match, though, showed that it’s not always about being that player who has the most possessions, but instead being handed a role and applying that role.

“Each player fulfilling their role goes a long way towards winning.”

Unwin’s move into the coaching ranks of the GFLW occurred after injures curtailed his own career.

“Last year I had some injuries which led me to helping out the girls at Boulder where Ella (Unwin’s partner, Ella Smith) plays,” he said.

“Towards the back-end of my own footy career, I’ve enjoyed helping out T. J. (Boulder coach Terrence Winner) because I’ve found something that keeps me involved with the game.

“Hopefully my footy brain is OK, but I prefer to share the workload and have input from other knowledgeable people.

“That’s why this week I’ve got T. J. and Brendan Ryan (alongside Jess Coad) as assistant coaches, just to share that load around.

“And the girls are great — you tell them something and they take it in because they want to learn.”

Goldfields’ opening game on Thursday is against Esperance at Rushton Park, starting at 1pm.

The local team’s second game is at 3pm against North Pilbara and on Friday the GFLW opposes Great Southern at 11am.