Building the Leaders and Community We All Need -Together
- Port Melbourne Chargers
- Mar 20
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 20
At the Port Melbourne Chargers Women’s Football Club, yes - we love our football. But for us, it has always been about so much more than the game.
It’s about investing in leadership, community and connection. It’s about aspiration — creating the leaders and the environments we wish we always had, so those who follow do. It’s about being the visible role models who keep girls and women playing sport, and building communities where we can all thrive on and off the field — communities where we feel we belong.
Yes, as a club we’re only in year two. But for our people, the dream has been alive for far longer, a dream of a club where women lead, where girls see what’s possible, and where community is the engine of everything we do.
That’s why our first major event of the year is Navigating Networking Like a CEO. Because navigating leadership, navigating opportunity, and navigating community connections sits at the heart of our vision for every girl, every woman, and everyone who walks through our doors.
And that’s why we want you to join us.
Join Us — Navigating Networking Like a CEO
We’re inviting people from business, community organisations, education, and sport
because leadership doesn’t just live in one place, or person — it grows in everyone through the connections we build and the communities we shape.
If you believe in building leadership, expanding your networks, and being part of a community that shows others what is possible, this event is for you.
10.30am for 11am start-1.30pm
Saturday 28th March
JL Murphy Reserve
Be part of building the future you want to see — with us.
Why This Event Matters: Because Leadership Starts Early
You can play with the Port Melbourne Chargers Women's Football Club if you turn 16 this year, but our leadership pathway starts even earlier.
At the Chargers, our senior women coach teams at the Port Melbourne Colts Junior Football Club. They’re visible. They’re capable. They’re building the future in real time.
We know the importance of visible role models for leadership, because when girls and
young women see women leading, they imagine themselves as leaders too. This is what leadership looks like in community sport, women leading, and a club that makes leadership visible to every age.
This is why we are working with Michelle Redfern author of the Leadership Compass. Michelle often talks about the importance of visibility and fixing systems, not women. We are building a club where women are supported, empowered and set up to lead, set up to succeed.
Our Vision & Values
What we are creating at the Port Melbourne Chargers is the future we always wanted little girls to imagine. A community that changes what girls and women believe is possible for themselves. It’s the environment where leadership is modelled, shared and grown. It’s the kind of club where every person, whether they’re pulling on a jumper, coaching from the sidelines, volunteering, or cheering with a toddler on their hip, is part of something bigger.
More than simply words on a page, they guide how we coach, how we connect, how we show up for one another, and how we create the environments we always needed so those who follow do. They shape the way we lead on the field and far beyond it. They’re the foundation of every decision we make, every opportunity we create, and every person we welcome into our club.
A club where leadership is visible, shared and grown. A club where belonging isn’t an aspiration, it’s a lived experience.
The Serious Business of Women’s Sport
The data is clear:
· 80% of female Fortune 500 CEOs played sport growing up — sport builds leadership, confidence and resilience.
· Girls who play sport have higher self-esteem, stronger mental health and better academic outcomes.
· Sport reduces anxiety and depression in women, and improves long-term physical health.
· Girls drop out of sport at twice the rate of boys by age 14, often due to confidence, visibility and lack of supportive environments.
· Positive role models and strong club culture are two of the biggest predictors of girls staying in sport.
This is why partners like Salta , Life You Choose and Michelle Redfern matter — because they share our belief that community sport is a powerful engine for gender equality and leadership development.
Leadership Lives Here: Harriet Cooper & Pepa Randall
We have highlighted two members of our coaching team recently, if you haven't seen these articles, take a look now. Harriet and Pepa embody our values in everything they do.
Harriet Cooper — Director of Coaching & Head Coach
Harriet leads with clarity, care and conviction. Her philosophy: Culture first. People first. Growth always.
Pepa Randall — AFLW Defender & Chargers Skills Coach
Pepa brings elite experience, humility and a fierce commitment to culture and player development.
Read more about Pepa, who is one of the humblest and genuinely kind people. Pepa brings incredible skill and experience to the Port Melbourne Chargers. Having seen the difference between poor culture and great culture, we are so proud that Pepa chose to join the Port Melbourne Chargers
Together, they’re shaping a club where leadership is visible, accessible and expected. In the coming days you will here more about the rest of our amazing coaches.
But for now, join us and come and be a part of the future you always wanted!
10.30am for 11am start-1.30pm
Saturday 28th March
JL Murphy Reserve
While you're here, do you want to know more about how to Join The Charge? There are many ways to get involved.
Interested in Playing?
Be part of something bigger. The Chargers are building a women’s football club where everyone belongs — whether you’re picking up a footy for the first time or looking to take your game to the next level.
Come down to preseason training and get involved
Volunteer With Us
The Port Melbourne Chargers Women’s Football Club is a community‑driven, values‑led club building a sustainable pathway for girls and women in football — from juniors through to senior competition. We don’t exist without volunteers. Full stop.
Volunteering with the Chargers means contributing to a club that prioritises belonging, inclusion, leadership, and excellence, while helping shape the future of women’s sport in Port Melbourne. Whether you can give a few hours a month or want to be deeply involved, there’s a role for you.
Interested in Partnering or Sponsoring a Player?
The Port Melbourne Chargers Women’s Football Club is a community‑driven, values‑led club building a sustainable pathway for girls and women in football — from juniors through to senior competition. As a new club, partnerships and sponsorships play a vital role in helping us grow that pathway and strengthen opportunities for women in our community.
Player Sponsorship — $750
Player sponsorship is an accessible way to directly support our players while aligning your name or business with the growth of women’s sport. Sponsors receive recognition across our channels and at club events, and help reduce the financial barriers for players representing the Chargers.
Club Sponsorship Opportunities
We’re also welcoming conversations with businesses interested in partnering with the club more broadly. As a young and rapidly growing program, there are still opportunities — big and small — to join with our Foundation Sponsor, Salta, on our jumpers and across a range of club assets.
Whether you’re looking to support a player, elevate your brand, or contribute to the future of women’s football in Port Melbourne, reach out to find out more.
Your next chapter starts here.
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