Three seasons have passed since a woman has played in the first grade men’s competition, but a player shortage has forced Junee to enlist Leonard Cup players Ashleigh and Morgan Goode and Angela Barclay.
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Now 11 men in Junee’s squad are injured and the chronic player shortage took its toll, with a loss to last-placed Young on Sunday.
During the game at Young, Junee’s 11th man Dean Scupin sustained a suspected broken collarbone, and Ashleigh Goode ran off the bench to fill his place.
“He went up for a header and fell straight on his shoulder, it wasn’t pretty,” coach Linc Weir said.
Harrison Weir also sustained a shoulder injury, and played through the pain.
Coach Weir has also been playing through injury.
“It’s gut wrenching,” Weir said.
“We had to apply for the girls to join us.
“I feel like I’m going to break, I burned my leg in a slide tackle, and now I can’t even walk.”
Jaguars were polished in attack, scoring three goals in the one-goal loss.
With the players on hand, Weir thinks they will have to make a choice between strong attack and strong defence.
“We’re playing awesome soccer, but defensive lapses are costing us,” he said.
“I’ll play at centre back next week, it might calm a few things down.”
Junee will welcome captain Adrian Merrigan back to play Leeton on Sunday.
