IF their first session of pre-season training is anything to go by, numbers won't be an issue for Dubbo CYMS as they tackle their first season in Group 11's womens league tag competition.
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The Fishies took to the paddock for the first time on Tuesday night, with upwards of 60 male players joined by an eager and enthusiastic bunch of girls keen to make history.
CYMS and Macquarie didn't field teams in the inaugural league tag competition last year, but with huge interest in the ever-growing area of the sport, both will be involved in 2016, meaning a nine-team competition.
"It's good to have the girls involved in the sport and proving that we can get involved in football as well," Chrystal Thompson said.
"Myself and our coaches Shane Madden and 'Chicka' Merritt have been doing plenty of work in the off-season trying to get a playing group together and we were stunned by the amount of girls that turned up on Tuesday night.
"We will have a large playing roster due to family commitments and other sporting commitments so it's positive we'll have numbers on hand."
Despite the heat, Madden and Merritt trained the girls hard, with plenty of running coupled with some ball work sessions designed to help the players make decisions when fatigued.
While each of the players are involved for different reasons, being able to run out in a green jersey will carry special significance for Thompson.
Her husband - former CYMS, Wellington and Macquarie prop Chris Thompson - was killed in a car accident in late 2014 and her appearance will help keep his memory alive within Group 11.
"Something has been missing since I lost Chris and football is part of that," she said.
"Being able to run out and play football for CYMS is something I think he would get a chuckle out of. I've gone from being that loud, screaming wife to a player so it should be fun.
"It means our kids can also be around and involved with the club, and with Group 11 and football in general, so that is something I'm looking forward to.
"Our first competition game will be against Macquarie, so that is something to look forward to, but before that we will have the West Wyalong knockout, the Group 11 Nines and maybe a trial as well so we're going pretty full-on right from the start."
