Former Shepparton United youth girls mentor and representative coach Dean Walton has been appointed the region’s female football advocate by AFL Goulburn Murray.
Walton assumes the role having previously coached United’s youth girls from 2017 to 2021, before more recently taking on representative coaching roles with the Goulburn Murray V/Line Cup girls’ squad, Goulburn Murray girls academy and the Northern Country Women’s League interleague side.
Walton said after being involved with women’s football at a variety of levels in recent years he was ready to take on a more operational role at league level.
“After five years of coaching the local girls at Shepp United, I’m still involved with girls Bushies and V/Line Cup and academy, I’ve stepped away from the local coaching to try and enhance girls footy numbers across the region which is really important,” Walton said.
“Because it (women’s football) is still fairly new in the region, there is a lot of excitement.”
Walton said a wealth of experience in building up the youth girls’ program at Shepparton United had put him in good stead as he moves into the role.
“I was part of the initial set-up at Shepparton United, we went from having no team to a squad of 25-30 every year,” he said.
“Just seeing the enjoyment at that level, it’s about ensuring every club has the chance to build their membership and players and giving the chance to get involved with women’s football.
“It’ll also help the AFL Goulburn Murray guys in having someone dedicated to helping out the clubs and guiding them through.
“Hopefully with my coaching and experience I can help identify good coaches, male and/or female, and help new volunteers who are taking on team manager roles in understanding what to expect and what’s required.”
AFL Goulburn Murray region manager Shaun Connell said he and the league were looking forward to seeing what Walton would bring to the role.
“Our aim with the appointment of Dean is to help clubs to establish new teams and grow both our youth girls and senior women’s competitions in the NCWL,” Connell said.
“Dean has fantastic insights into the region and we are excited with what he brings to the team.”
Growing numbers at clubs would be a clear focus next season, Walton said, which would in turn increase the talent pool for representative football across the Goulburn Valley.
“Increasing numbers at club level will increase our talent acquisition for V/Line Cup and NAB League Murray Bushrangers throughout the region,” he said.
“I had to give up the club football coaching, but I can now give them knowledge and experience of seeing those pathways, and help out with what’s required for girls to live out their dream or continue their journey.
“We’ve seen a real growth in 13s, 14s and 15-year-old girls’ participation and we’re seeing some really good football at a younger age.
“They can then continue to improve as they get older and from a Shepp Utd perspective we’ve had success in the past with girls who that have been drafted after playing since they were 13 or 14.
“Aurora Smith, Keeley Skepper, Cassidy Mailer and Sophia McCarthy all got picked up at last year’s draft.
“We’ve got live examples — if the girls have a dream of playing AFLW — we’ve got live examples of girls who have done it.”