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Don’t say the ‘f’ word, yet A letter from the captain
IT’S amazing how quickly things can change. Around this time last year, Newcastle Jets rocked up to this exact venue and as the headlines from the match reports read, we ‘hit the Jets for six’ in a 6-0 win, our biggest ever win against any opponent. But today we take to Kingston Heath Soccer Complex for the first time this season against a very different Jets outfit; the one which beat us for the very first time in Round 1 and will be just as hungry as us to secure a finals spot. A lot has been made externally of this game deciding which team will make finals, but internally that’s not the case. We had a video analysis session on Wednesday morning and Joe basically told us that from that point onwards, nobody was to speak about finals or Japan and that the focus was entirely on Newcastle. He spoke about just how strong Newcastle’s midfielders were and how they constantly work hard in attack and defence. Players like Tori Huster and Emily van Egmond are constantly on the move and very hard to mark, so we’ve worked hard this week on tracking runners from the midfield and we’re confident we’ll be able to nullify the Jets’ strengths and exploit their weaknesses. I have to say that after that video analysis session, the girls took to the track and were extremely sharp, and I think that says a lot about our mindset at the moment. We obviously have a brilliant record against
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the Jets too, and I think that 6-0 win against them was the best I’ve been involved in. We played some superb football and capitalised on our chances, and Caity Friend scored a hat-trick (one of her goals was a total fluke though if you recall). Those were the highlights, but the lowlight on that day was losing one of my best friends Ashley Brown to another ACL on her return. On a more positive note, it’s really lifted myself and the team to have Ash helping us out at training and partaking in some of the drills this season. She’s in great spirits and feeling really good, so hopefully we’ll get to see her at her best soon. And of course, having Caity back has been fantastic. She’s also one of my best friends and is an incredibly talented player who has the ability to finish anything that comes to her inside the 18-yard box. It may be the latter part of the season, but we’re all fit and raring to go and can’t wait to put on a show for you in our final match of the regular season today. We’re confident all the hard work we’ve done will show, and that we’ll soon be able to talk about that ‘f ’ word.
Your captain, Steph Catley
To check out highlights of our mammoth 6-0 win over Newcastle Jets last year, scan the QR Code using your smartphone, or type bit.ly/1BOdG6B into your browser.
Steph Catley scores the opening goal against the Wanderers earlier this year. PHOTO: Getty Images
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Christine Nairn scores the winner against Brisbane Roar last week. PHOTO: Getty Images
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A very valuable three points Melbourne has 90 minutes of regular season football left, and a win is imperative, writes Sean Ellicott.
VICTORY for Joe Montemurro’s side this afternoon will ensure Melbourne Victory secures a spot in the 2014 Westfield W-League finals series. With the rest of the competition holding a game in hand over Melbourne, the hosts will be looking for maximum points in their final home and away match of the season. Meanwhile, fifth-placed Newcastle Jets requires nothing short of a victory in order to keep its final hopes intact. The visitors will be aiming to snap a two-game winless streak with matches against Sydney FC and Adelaide United to follow. Newcastle sit four points adrift of a finals position with three teams inside the top four including Melbourne - currently locked on 17 points. Standing in its way however is a determined Melbourne Victory outfit, seeking vindication following a shock opening round loss at Magic Park. Newcastle registered its first-ever win over Melbourne on September 13, with Angela Salem scoring the game’s only goal shortly after the interval. Currently placed in second position, Melbourne will be searching for its third consecutive win and some form to take into next week’s International Women’s Club Championship is Japan. Victory brought its Round 12 clash against Adelaide United forward to October 29 in order to accommodate for the squad’s departure on Thursday, where it will take on Okayama Yunogo
Belle on November 30. Spurring Melbourne on will be the incentive of a showdown against English powerhouse Arsenal Ladies, if Melbourne is to defeat its Japanese opponent. But its attention will be fixed firmly to this afternoon, where Montemurro will have the luxury of a near full-strength squad with the availability of former Jets captain Gema Simon, who has recovered from illness. Having accumulated four yellow cards, midfielder and leading goalscorer Amy Jackson is the only casualty from last weekend’s win over Brisbane Roar, serving a one-match suspension. The last time these two teams met at this venue, Melbourne prevailed in a 6-0 goal fest. Caitlin Friend was the hero of that day, bagging a hat-trick in the club’s biggest-ever winning margin. The prolific striker will no doubt be seeking to find the back of the net once again against the Jets and open her 2014 W-League account after re-signing with Melbourne only three weeks ago. Aside from Friend, another obstacle for Newcastle will be containing Round 10’s player of the week, midfielder Christine Nairn. The American was instrumental in Melbourne’s 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar, orchestrating her side’s first goal with a raking pass and netting the winner with only 10 minutes to spare. Sean is an intern with Melbourne Victory W-League. Follow him on Twitter: @SeanEllicott
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A moment in history FFV Radio commentator Teo Pellizzerri takes a look at one of his favourite moments in Melbourne’s history, scored by a little known name. Win today and Melbourne Victory will play finals. It’s easier said than done against a formidable opponent like Newcastle. Today is a high-stakes game that evokes memories of arguably the best Victory-Jets match played in the W-League back in 2009. If a Victory player can step up to score the match winner today, they’ll write their own special paragraph in the team’s W-League history. The most important and memorable goals of Victory’s almost-eight-season W-League history pick themselves. Run through the candidates for the most important Victory goal and it reads like a who’s who to have worn the shirt. Jess Fishlock, Jodie Taylor, Jessica McDonald, Tal Karp, Katrina Gorry, and even more big names have scored some very important goals in our history. But when it comes to playing Newcastle Jets, my most memorable goal scored was the one and only time a particular player found the net in her W-League career. Warm weather welcomed players to the Veneto Club in October 2009 as Victory entered the game knowing only a win would keep it on the coat-tails of the top four. It all appeared to be going to plan when Gorry, transplanted in Melbourne from her native Queensland for the season, scored on the stroke of halftime. Newcastle hit back when Renee Cartwright’s shot picked out the top corner and beat a diving Melissa Barbieri in the Victory goal.
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Melbourne’s play became nervous as Newcastle fared better in the heat and looked more likely to nick a winner. Step up Deanna Niceski. Like many of her dozen W-League appearances, Niceski was called up from the bench to go on and change the game. And with stoppage time expired but Victory on one desperate last-ditch attack, it was a darting run onto a through ball and composed finish from Niceski that stole the three points for Melbourne. The outpouring of emotion from the Victory players was intense. To see how much winning meant to the Victory players made a lasting impact on me, sitting in the stands at my first W-League game. In spite of that match-winning goal, Niceski would get only a handful of appearances as a sub thereafter, making her last on-field appearance in a Victory shirt in 2010. But for its timing, drama and celebration, Niceski’s goal will always make my list of the most important scored by the Melbourne Victory women. I can only imagine what Kingston Heath will be like this afternoon if Melbourne can secure a win in similar circumstances. Teo Pellizzeri has been the play-by-play commentator for Melbourne Victory games since 2010 and heads up FFV Radio’s coverage of the Westfield W-League. You can hear today’s game by searching for FFV Radio in the TuneIn Radio smartphone app.
Deanna Niceski is swamped by team mates after scoring the winner against Newcastle. PHOTO: Getty Images
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Melbourne Victory squad
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Newcastle Jets squad
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From the beach to the Yarra Just how are new signings Gema Simon and Hannah Brewer settling in to Melbourne? Pretty well, as Sean Ellicott found out. THE traffic and distance from the beach can be a problem, but former Newcastle Jets duo Gema Simon and Hannah Brewer are loving life in Melbourne. The pair joined Victory at the beginning of the 2014 season, and have since enjoyed a regular spot in Joe Montemurro’s matchday squad. Brewer has featured in all of Melbourne’s 11 matches this season while Simon is available this afternoon following a week off with illness. Simon, the 24-year-old former Jets captain, can’t get enough of the big city. “I love Melbourne, I really do. I just love the city and the girls,” Simon said. “It’s kind of sad that the season has gone so quickly; I’m not ready to leave yet.” A move south has proven to be a revelation for the utility who has rejuvenated her career. “Having the internationals in the squad this season is amazing,” she said. “They’re quality players and just training with Lisa De Vanna and internationals like Steph Catley and Bri Davey, they are all quality players and I’m just enjoying it more.” The downside to living in Melbourne though the distance from all the beaches. “The only thing that I’m missing is the beach but apart from that Melbourne is a winner,” she said. Also, traveling on Melbourne’s infamously busy roads can be a problem as Brewer explained. “[I hate] the tolls, I hate the traffic, the trams; I get confused driving with them,” Brewer said. I’m probably doing the wrong thing most of the time.” Take the traffic out of the equation and Melbourne
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isn’t such a bad place to be for a 21-year-old. “I enjoy it because I’m sightseeing everyday. I’m always adventuring out the house, and going to find something new is always fun,” Brewer said. “I guess its just a big city and I love that lifestyle.” The support of her new teammates has also helped the defender adjust with a little bit more comfort. “I’ve been loving it. I’ve had a little bit going on in my life outside of football and the girls have all been there for me and I guess thats the best thing about being in a team environment; everyone is there to support you and make you happy when you’re feeling down,” she said. To find out how well they have actually settled in, we put the pair through a little test. Can you talk me through a hook turn? GS: “I see them on the road and I just don’t understand what happens so I just try to avoid them.” HB: “You have to get in the left lane and sit in the middle of the oncoming traffic on the other side and you get to turn.” What does grouse mean? GS: “I have no idea.” HB: “Grouse means something is good right?” What is a potato cake? GS: “No idea… I want to say like a scollop?” HB: “I went to Hunky Dory’s the other day with the girls and I thought scollops were potato cakes. I asked for extra scollops and they weren’t potato cakes so I was quite disappointed - not okay.”
“I asked for extra scollops and they weren’t potato cakes.” - Hannah Brewer
“I’m not ready to leave yet.” - Gema Simon
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Rhali Dobson celebrates with team mates after scoring against Adelaide earlier this year. PHOTO: Getty Images
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Jets aim for finals berth The past season has potential to be Newcastle’s best ever, writes Newcastle-based W-League correspondent Blake Jarrett.
THE fifth placed Newcastle Jets enter this weekend’s clash with belief and confidence against a red hot Melbourne Victory outfit, which is currently occupying second place on the 2014 Westfield W-League ladder. The Jets have recorded four wins, one draw, and four losses this season to be within reach of a finals spot with just three matches remaining. A win today would see the side needing just two points from its remaining two fixtures to leapfrog Victory and guarantee itself a finals berth. The Jets are currently experiencing their most successful season since the inaugural 20082009 season when they finished second on 17 competition points. A win today against the Victory would be a huge step in the direction of making this campaign their most successful. Last weekend’s match against Canberra United was a rollercoaster affair from start to finish. A stunning strike by Angela Salem put the Jets ahead 1-0 after just seven minutes, but an own goal and a Michelle Heyman finish saw the Jets go into the break 2-1 down. Rhali Dobson equalised to make the score 2-2, but the match looked all but lost when Ashleigh Sykes scored to put Canberra 3-2 ahead in the 87th minute. Newcastle’s never-say-die attitude was exemplified two minutes later as Tara Andrews
headed home an equaliser, and the match finished 3-3. Andrews’ strike saw her advance to 10th in the all time Westfield W League leading goalscorers list, an amazing feat for the 20-year-old. These two sides met in the opening round of the competition, with the Jets producing what was then the upset of their short history, with a 47th minute Salem strike the difference. Ten matches on and the Jets would not feel as though a win today would be an upset, but just another win on their way to what could be their second finals campaign. Captain Emily van Egmond and imports Salem and Tori Huster have been exceptional for the Jets this season, controlling each game with slick passing and amazing footwork in the middle of the park. They key for the Jets, however, is teamwork, and their positive, never-say-die attitude which has certainly developed this season. Coach Peter McGuinness has done an exceptional job with the new look outfit, and will be hoping that today his side can deliver by standing up and recording its fifth win against one of the benchmark teams of the competition, boosting the Jets’ finals hopes in the process. Blake is a student at the University of Newcastle, and a writer for Northern NSW Football. Follow him on Twitter: @blakejarrett__
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Momentum, it’s a funny thing Banking on Football CEO Margot Sweeny reckons the girls have the momentum at the moment to roll on to the W-League championship.
HELLO again everyone and welcome to Kingston Heath Soccer Complex for today’s match against the Newcastle Jets. What a difference a few weeks make! Just two games ago our girls were fighting an uphill battle to resurrect their finals hopes, and now, back-to-back wins and a few good results elsewhere see us sitting in second position on the table! Momentum is a funny thing in sport. When it’s against you, it can seem as though nothing will fall for you. But when you can get that momentum on your side, it’s amazing how all of a sudden everything you try seems to start coming off. The momentum is clearly with us now, and it’s great to see luck finally going our way. Let’s hope Joe and the girls can ride that wave all the way into the finals and onwards. Last weekend’s win over Brisbane Roar encapsulated the newly found confidence that this Victory team seems to have, as it refused to give in and accept anything less than the three points. Despite the concession of a very early goal, the girls bounced back, eventually breaking down the door with just 10 minutes remaining to take the lead.
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Earlier in the season that early goal may have knocked the stuffing out of this team, but the character shown to shake it off and still find the result we wanted was fantastic to watch. I think that the turning point may have come not in the win over the Wanderers three weeks ago, but in the 3-1 loss to Perth Glory the week before. In that Glory game our girls showed that they were able to match the best team in the competition blow-for-blow, and should have had a 2-1 lead in the second half to show for it thanks to Steph Catley’s controversial ‘offside’ goal. That performance showed us supporters, and the girls themselves, that they are still a team to be feared in this competition, so it’s no surprise to see them on the up and up now. Let’s hope our girls can keep on the roll they’re on and make it three on the spin today against the Jets. I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all of the Newcastle Jets players and staff, and wish them all a safe trip back to the Hunter after the match. Come on you Victory girls, we’re behind you all the way!
Banking on Football CEO Margot Sweeny reckons the girls can use their momentum to go all the way. PHOTO: Anita Milas
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