The Southern Cats are eagerly preparing for the commencement of their AFL Canberra 2025 season, as both their Community Men’s Division Two and Community Women’s Division One teams get ready to take on the Batemans Bay Seahawks this Saturday, April 5, at Holt Oval, Canberra. The women’s match kicks off at 10 am, followed by the men’s game at 12 pm.
PHOTO: Coach Asanovski with Captain Sarah Burns, Vice Captains – Amy Morgan and Taylor Moore, along with Millie Drury, and Emily Stewart who complete the women’s Leadership Group.
The Southern Cats’ women’s team is set to make club history by competing in their first official competition match. Speaking about this milestone, club President Anthony Sexton said, “This year our women enter the competition officially, so this weekend, is the first ever competition match.”
Leadership roles were formalised after the training sessions tonight, Wednesday April 2, with Alistair Pollard named as the men’s team captain and Sarah Burns entrusted with leading the women.
The men, face a formidable challenge as they go up against last year’s reigning premiers. Sexton remarked, “Round 1 presents big games for us, the men come up against last year’s premiers and the women face last year’s grand finalists. You never know what happens year to year in clubs, but generally, it’s usually pretty safe to say if someone won a flag or made a grand final last year, they’d be strong this year.”
PHOTO: Anthony Sexton (centre) talks to the men’s team at the quarter time break.
The club boasts significant new recruitment, with the women’s team being composed entirely of new players and approximately 10-15 new additions to the men’s team. Key signings include the talented Bryn Larkin, who will be a key midfielder, and strong forward Cameron Moore. “Bryn… he’ll bring a lot of intensity to our midfield, he’s a fit player with good skills,” mentioned Sexton.
PHOTO: The Cats first home games at Snowy Oval, Cooma are on May 15.
Adding to the excitement, Southern Cats’ fans eagerly anticipate the team’s first home games in Round 6, set for May 15 at Snowy Oval, Cooma, against the Murrumbateman Eagles—marking the initial opportunity for local supporters to witness their team compete on home turf.
Sponsorship support this season has come from The Old Canberra Inn and Baby Sensory Canberra, alongside a substantial government grant from the Play Our Way Program aimed at bolstering the women’s team.
PHOTO: The Cats women’s team at an early March trial game in Pambula CREDIT: Southern Cats.
With coaches Luke Humphris for the men, and Damien Asanovski for the women at the helm, the Southern Cats are poised for both a historical and well structured season in 2025.