THE next step in new Geelong VFL Women’s coach Natalie Wood’s football journey will take her back to where she started.
Wood will take charge of the Cats for the first time for premiership points in Sunday’s Round 1 meeting with Melbourne University – the club she played her first game with back in 1998.
“Earlier in the week, I realised I started my football career at Melbourne Uni’s home ground 21 years ago, so it’s kind of fitting, ” Wood said.
“It feels quite nice that I’m coaching my starting career against the club and on the same ground that it all started.
“They do say things go around in circles, and it definitely feels like that at the moment.”
Wood is looking forward to the opportunity to take charge of her own team, having spent the past two VFLW seasons and this year’s inaugural AFL Women’s campaign as an assistant.
However, she hasn’t noticed a massive change since moving into the seat previously occupied by Paul Hood.
“It’s been a really similar coaching team. We’re really collaborative coaching team with different people taking charge at different times.
“It wasn’t until Monday when it dawned on me, “Oh! OK, the practice matches are over and we start for real on Sunday, and it’s my first coaching job”.
“There’s definitely a wave of excitement. I’m not nervous yet, so that’s a good sign.
“I’m sure that will come as it gets closer.”
Geelong is allowed to field up to 12 AFLW listed players from the previous season but will go with only nine against the North Melbourne-aligned Uni team.
Among them are AFLW vice-captain Bec Goring, key forward Kate Darby and young ruck Rene Caris, who along with Zoe Inei, will battle the Mugars’ Kate Gillespie-Jones.
Meanwhile, Geelong could field up to 21 AFL listed players in Sunday’s VFL Men’s clash with North Melbourne at Werribee’s Avalon Airport Oval.
The Cats will make at least three changes to the team that lost to Essendon on the MCG last week, with Nathan Krueger (concussion), co-captain Aaron Black (hamstring) and 23rd man Curtis McCarthy going out of the side.
Twitter: @tom_king79
VFL WOMEN’S ROUND 1
MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY vs. GEELONG
Melbourne University
Sunday, May 12, 2:30 pm
[supsystic-tables id=’27’]
VFL MEN’S ROUND 6
NORTH MELBOURNE (14th) vs. GEELONG (12th)
Avalon Airport Oval – Werribee
Sunday, May 12, 2:30 pm
[supsystic-tables id=’13’
