An air of excitement hung over the Snowy Oval in Cooma yesterday as the Southern Cats proudly hosted their inaugural home games of the 2025 season for both their men’s and women’s football teams. For the Southern Cats women, this was more than just a game; it marked the beginning of a new chapter as they played their first-ever AFL Canberra Community Women’s Division One home game in Cooma.
PHOTO: Captain of the Southern Cats women – Sarah Burns
Led by Captain Sarah Burns, the Southern Cats women faced off against fellow first-year team, the Yass Roos, in round 6 of competition. Although the Cats ended the day with a 4.9 (33) – 1.4 (10) loss, the significance of the match extended well beyond the scoreboard. “We had a great time out there,” said Burns. “The girls really lifted. There was so much improvement in their game. It was awesome to see.”
The homecoming was celebrated by many, as a strong local turnout provided vibrant support. “Yeah, we were stoked the crowd came out,” Burns continued. “We got a lot of the local girls to come down and join us as well. So we’re getting more involved with the community.”
On the other side, Yass Roos’ captain Kaitlin Dobing shared her thoughts on the win, emphasising the historical and community aspect of the match. “It was great to get the win. It was great to have an away trip up in Cooma against another incredible side and have a great hit out between two clubs making history,” she noted.
PHOTO: Captain of the Yass Roos women – Kaitlin Dobing
With standout performances from players like Emily Banks and midfielder Kellie Parsons, Dobing highlighted the growing momentum and community support back in Yass: “Really positive, lots of buzz going around. We’re growing slowly but surely, recruiting people week by week.”
PHOTO: The Southern Cats ball pressure was strong throughout the match.
Meanwhile, the Southern Cats men encountered a challenging bout against the formidable Murrumbateman Eagles, succumbing to a 12.16 (88) – 4.7 (31) defeat in the AFL Canberra Community Men’s Division Two competition. The match revealed areas for improvement as the team struggled to find their footing against the table-topping Eagles.
Captain Alistair Pollard acknowledged the competitive nature of the clash: “The boys put in good effort. It was a top of the ladder clash. They’re a hard team to beat.” Reflecting on the need for strategic refinement, Pollard added, “I think we just need to slow the ball down a little bit more and focus on hitting our targets.”
PHOTO: Southern Cats men’s Captain – Alistair Pollard
Looking ahead, Anthony Sexton, President of the Southern Cats AFL Football Club, highlighted the tactical adjustments required for the Cats men’s upcoming match against ADFA in Canberra. “The transition out of the defence needs to be worked on.
Senior player Luke Humphris echoed similar sentiments: “We had them for periods of the game. We really dominated, controlled the footy. And I think if we can do that for longer periods of time, we can be much more competitive.”
PHOTO: Senior Southern Cats men’s player – Luke Humphris
President Sexton while umpiring noticed a few things other things to work on. “We were starting to make decisions that we normally wouldn’t make if we were playing the game on our own terms,” noting moments when the Cats hand balled to another player under pressure, or kicked long without a target.
PHOTO: Cameron Moore kicks true for one of his three goals on the day.
He also noted some issues in the forward press saying, “Our midfield was going to help out a little bit too much, and so we were allowing the Eagles to build an outlet kick for themselves.”
Despite the challenges, there is determination within the Cats camp to refine their play and seize opportunities. “We need to work on the way we structure around contests and the way we structure when we enter our forward line to give our forwards a chance of repeat efforts,” Sexton emphasised.
PHOTO: President of the Southern Cats Football Club – Anthony Sexton.