Mullewa Saints Youth Girls make local history

The U16 Youth Girls’ football team brought team mates together from Mullewa, Morawa, Mount Magnet and Geraldton, storming through the season without a single loss before securing the premiership. 

The team’s success was powered by a committed network of volunteers, including family members and community volunteers who stepped up each week to coach, manage, umpire and run the clock. Coaches Cassie Comeagain and Uncle Charlie Comeagain, a life member of the Saints, led the side, with Aunty Denise Garlett managing the team. Together with Shooting Stars Regional Manager Lauren Seelander and her partner Bernard (Bunz) Hala-Poi, both of whom also coach the U16 Boys team, the group rallied to give the girls every chance to succeed. Special recognition also goes to Marty Seelander, who ensured the oval was always ready for the Saints’ home games, and to the many other volunteers and supporters who travelled from as far as Mount Magnet to cheer the team on. 

Backing this community effort was Shooting Stars, a school-based engagement program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls. Shooting Stars supported the team by securing funding for player registrations, registering players, organising uniforms, providing transport to and from training and games, and working alongside the community to keep the team strong.  

“We have Shooting Stars host-schools in the Mid West Region including Mullewa and Morawa District High Schools, and all our girls love their footy, so we thought ‘why not use that as a tool to engage the girls?’ We also had girls on the team from other schools and communities, including Mount Magnet, all the way through to Geraldton as well, so we supported them too.” Said Shooting Stars Regional Manager, Lauren Seelander.  

While many associate Shooting Stars with netball, the program does much more, focusing on social and emotional wellbeing, advocacy and supporting participants to make informed decisions and drive their own futures. Shooting Stars fosters confidence, cultural identity, positive relationships and overall health and wellbeing, which contribute to outcomes like higher school engagement and self-determined success.  

For the Saints, the season has been about more than football. This team has motivated the players to maintain strong school attendance, boosted their confidence, and provided a platform to showcase the Shooting Stars values of Pride, Respect and Success on and off the field.  

“This premiership is such a proud moment for the girls, their families and the whole community,” said Lauren. “It shows what’s possible when we come together to support young women – not just in sport, but in school and in life.” 

“They were amazing. All season just watching the girls from where they started to where they came in that grand final, you couldn’t be prouder of the girls.” 

“Most of the girls have never played registered football before, and I think the luckiest thing is that most of the girls are in year 7 and 8, some year 9s, and we only lose a couple of players for next season so we’re looking forward to next season. We’ve also had younger Shooting Stars participants in the Saints’ U10 and U12 teams, so it’s exciting to see them developing as players, and I’m looking forward to seeing them come through into the youth competition in the years ahead.” 

“Since a lot of the girls live in different communities, we didn’t all train together in one place, they trained locally and then came together seamlessly for the games.” 

“Being able to bring everyone together from all these communities has just been a highlight of this whole football team. And having community on board, supporting the girls, driving each week, even up to 400km each way, and having our staff on board, our Morawa Program Coordinator Eleanor Simpson drive 3hrs each way just to get the girls to the games, and our Mullewa Program Coordinator, Sharna Little driving the girls on weekends too.” 

The team captain on grand final day and Year 11 Shooting Stars participant from Morawa, Helen also reflected on the season and praised her teammates:  

“The first couple games I started playing for Mullewa I was shame and I didn’t know anyone, but then I got to know people and get out of my comfort zone, and we quickly became a team. I’m proud of what we achieved together.” 

One of the standouts of the season was Year 7 player Hannah from Mount Magnet, who claimed awards for both Most Goals Kicked for the Season and Best on Ground in the Grand Final. Her commitment, travelling such a long way each week, along with her impressive skills competing against much older players in the U16s competition, was beyond impressive. 

The Board of the Great Northern Junior Football League (GNJFL) also commented on the team’s success: 

"The GNJFL Board has had the great pleasure of watching the first ever Mullewa Football Club Youth Girl's team achieve an undefeated season and a well deserved Premiership. The distance some of the girl's travel every week to take the field is unbelievable, and it is a real testament to their dedication to their team, their club and the game. The Mullewa Junior Football Club should be very proud of both the team and the community they have built around these incredible young ladies, and we look forward to watching them achieve great success in their future endeavours, on and off the field!" 

The Saints’ victory is being celebrated across the Midwest as a historic first season for the club’s Youth Girls team – and as a shining example of what community spirit, culture and collaboration can achieve.