Hutchy's A Hit

With nearly a thousand women playing in the Victorian Women's Football League in 2009, there are so many talented players running around each week that you'd be hard pressed to choose your favourite. Whilst I don't have a favourite player, each week there are always opposition players that you admire for their talent and respect for the manner in which they play the game.

East Burwood's Meg Hutchins (pictured below left with Penny Cula-Reid) has to be one of the most talented players I've played with or against. A former VWFL best first year player and Helen Lambert medallist, she has represented Victoria for a number of years now.

'Hutchy' as she is known around the football circle, reads the game really well to be able to find the football. Once the ball is in her hands, her finishing skills are outstanding. Having a long kick with a beautiful action ensures that if she is anywhere within reach of goals, she'll kick accurately nine times out of ten. Hutchy works incredibly hard on her fitness throughout the year to have the strength to hold down the all important positions of Centre Half Back and Centre Half Forward. She has the engine to switch on the ball and the mindset to adapt to such positional moves with ease.

Off field she is well respected for her commitment to the game and for her work ethic. Hutchy speaks positively about both her team mates and opposition players and shows great leadership around newer and younger players in representative teams by ensuring they feel welcome and included.

When AFL Victoria established the Female Football program in 2004, one of the program's key initiatives was to establish a school based clinics scheme for girls. Hutchy jumped at the chance to be involved in the program, coordinating the clinics and placement of coaches to run them for the next four years. It was only when she was appointed as Director of Rowing at Methodist Ladies' College, that she relinquished the role.

Hutchy continues to support the growth of female participation through her voluntary involvement in East Burwood's Youth Girls team, that was established in 2009. She's never too far from the sidelines on a Saturday morning whilst her mini-Devils are playing. Young up and coming players at East Burwood, such as Sarah Perkins, are lucky to have the opportunity to train alongside and play in front of someone who genuinely cares about them and their football.