The Geelong Cats have announced their inaugural VFL Women’s player leadership group for 2017, with Bec Goring named captain.
Goring, 23, will lead the Geelong Cats VFLW team this season, after a team vote count on Tuesday night.
Goring, originally from Torquay, played in the VFLW for Melbourne University in 2016 before arriving at the Cats.
“I’m very excited to be named captain of our 2017 Cats team,” Goring said.
“I’m definitely a lead-by-example captain, ticking the boxes, doing the right things and hopefully the girls follow on.”
While a leadership role is new to Goring, she said she is looking to develop and learn in the job.
“It’s been a really long pre season and credit to the girls for staying so enthused and passionate throughout that period.
“We are pumped for round one, we can’t wait to get out there and play the Hawks,” Goring said.
Goring will head an eight-woman leadership group, which includes co-vice captains Maddie Boyd and Lily Mithen.
Mithen and Boyd have both returned to the Cats after playing with Melbourne in the AFLW competition.
Boyd, 24, was a talented basketballer before turning to football and playing with the North Geelong Magpies.
In 2016, Boyd took out the Magpies best & fairest award and was also named in the VFL Women’s Team of the Year.
Mithen was a decorated Youth Girls player for Vic Country before being drafted by Melbourne in the AFLW draft.
The 19-year-old was awarded a rising star nomination in the AFLW competition along with selection in the AFLW All-Australian squad.
Mithen said she was honoured to be named vice-captain after learning of her inclusion earlier this week.
“I got a call from Hoody (coach Paul Hood), I was thrilled. It’s quite a shock to be honest.
“I haven’t spent a lot of time around this group but definitely very honoured, I can’t wait to play among these girls and see where my leadership can go,” Mithen said.
AFLW player Jordan Ivey, netball convert Renee Garing, basketball convert Anna Teague and former North Geelong Magpies Alisha Habib and Krista Woodroffe round out the eight-woman leadership group.
