CONTENTS
CAPTAIN’S LETTER 4 VICTORY’S ROAD TO THE GF 6 SQUADS 8 BRISBANE’S SEASON 11 GIRLS FC 14
#SilenceTheRoar
It comes down
to this Dear Melbourne Victory fans,
HERE we are, in the grand final. A few weeks ago after the Perth result, I’m not sure many thought we’d make it this far. But a week is a long time in football, and results don’t always reflect the type of football we have played. We’re playing a good brand of football, we’re playing for each other, and most of all, we’re playing for you. I know a lot of people have thrown around statistics this week. Yes, we haven’t beaten Brisbane Roar in six seasons. But let me hit you with a few stats of my own: we’ve scored more goals than Brisbane, and conceded less. We’ve had more than 6,500 people pass through our gates in only six home games, and our Facebook and Twitter fans have grown by the thousands. This season has proved that there is a market for women’s football in this city. With your support, we can get over the line, silence the Roar, and bring the trophy home to Melbourne! Your captain for the last time this season, Stephanie Catley 4|
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QUICK VICTORY STATS
26
TOTAL GOALS SCORED THIS SEASON BY THE VICTORY
6-0
BIGGEST BEATTIE GOAD YOUNGEST GOALSCORER AT 16 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AND 5 DAYS # S I L ENCETHE R O A R
WIN EVER IN ROUND 4 AGAINST NEWCASTLE JETS
ROAD TO THE
IT has been a season to remember for Melbourne Victory’s fans and players alike. The build-up to this season’s success begins back in February 2013, with coach Dave Edmondson taking the helm after the end of 2012/2013 saw the Victory fall at the last hurdle: the grand final against Sydney FC. Edmondson announced his intentions early, luring one Emma Checker, a prodigy
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who made her debut for the Matildas when she was just 16, and Lisa De Vanna over to Melbourne from their respective clubs. He continued to lure the big names to the club, convincing Welsh midfielder Jess Fishlock to join the club for the full season, as well as fellow internationals Jessica Samuelsson and Katie Hoyle. It was a tumultuous start to the season with Victory beginning proceedings with
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a 5-1 loss at home to Sydney FC. Edmondson was not happy; he put the result down to a lack of fitness in the side, but remained optimistic for the weeks ahead. “We started off OK and then one or two really struggled in terms of fitness to last out the game,” he said. “We didn’t defend that well, but having said that, I don’t think the score line does us justice.”
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GRAND FINAL The next week, the girls bounced back. They travelled to Adelaide looking for a win over Edmondson’s old side, and found one. Victory forced keeper Melissa Barbieri into action from the first whistle, but it wasn’t until Enza Barilla was dragged down that the door finally opened.
“
I would never have expected this at the start of the season
Striker Lisa De Vanna didn’t think twice about it, and blasted the penalty past Barbieri. A lofted cross from captain Steph Catley found Caitlin Friend in the second half, who nodded it past Barbieri to make it 2-0. That win was the start of a run which saw the girls set a new club record of nine games without a loss, from Round 2 to Round 10. The undefeated streak came crashing down at what was potentially the worst time of the season: the penultimate regular WLeagueGF
season match that could have put Victory into top spot on the ladder. Back-to-back 1-0 losses against Perth Glory and Brisbane Roar were not how Edmondson and his girls wanted to finish the season. The semi-final saw them face foes Sydney FC, who themselves had thrown away their chances for the minor premiership with a 2-1 home defeat to Canberra United. A ball from Lisa De Vanna put Jess Fishlock through on goal, with the Welsh magician pulling off a magnificent turn, followed by a one-touch finish past the helpless Casey Dumont. The rest of the game saw a tit-for-tat battle, culminating in a penalty decision for Melbourne Victory from a contentious handball. American guest player Lauren Barnes slotted past the right of the wrong-footed goalkeeper, putting Victory into the grand final. “It feels amazing,” captain Steph Catley said after the match. “I would never have expected this at the start of the season. “I’m just so excited, I can’t believe it.” @victorywleague
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MELBOURNE VICTORY SQUAD
* One to be omitted
1
3 HUMBLE
Bri
Jessica
DAVEY
Laura
5
FISHLOCK 10
CATLEY DE VANNA 11 Lisa
Jess
Emma
15
18HULBERT
GOAD
19NATOLI
Emily
Alex
22
21
Lauren
BARNES
MASTRANTONIO 8|
16
Beattie
CHECKER
Ella
7
Steph
SPIRANOVIC
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4
Katie
HOYLE Caitlin
FRIEND
12
9
Jessica
SAMUELSSON G端lcan
KOCA
17
20
Cassie DIMOVSKI
COACH
Dave
EDMONDSON WLeagueGF
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BRISBANE ROAR SQUAD
* One to be omitted
1. Nadine ANGERER (gk) 2. Laura ALLEWAY 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE (c) 5. Brooke SPENCE 6. Joanne BURGESS 7. Kim CARROLL 8. Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT 9. Larissa CRUMMER 10. Katrina GORRY 11. Vedrana POPOVIC 13. Tameka BUTT 14. Natasha WHEELER 16. Hayley RASO 17. Emily GIELNIK 18. Sunny FRANCO 19. Ayesha NORRIE 20. Kate STEWART (gk) /melbournevictorywleague
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ROAR AIMING FOR BRISBANE ROAR’S MICHELLE TOBIN TALKS US THROUGH THE SEASON THAT WAS WHETHER it’s your fifth Westfield W-League grand final or your first, the message from the Brisbane Roar camp is simple – keep focused on the football and enjoy yourself. Brisbane is one of the most successful sides in the Westfield W-League since the competition’s inception in the 2008/09 campaign, having won two titles, and playing in their fifth grand final in six seasons. Roar playmaker Tameka Butt has not only played in each of her club’s grand final appearances but incredibly, has also found the back of the net on each occasion. She’s the definition of ‘big game player’, also notching a hat-trick in her 50th Westfield W-League match – last season’s final game of the season and the one that clinched the club’s second premiership. On the other hand, 17-yearold Brisbane midfielder Ayesha Norrie is drawing to a close a memorable first season in the competition. Handed her first start by head coach Belinda Wilson in the last regular season match against the Victory, Norrie maintained her position
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for the semi-final win over Canberra United and is set to play her maiden Grand Final today. 22-year-old Butt said it was important for the more senior members in the side to ensure the younger brigade, like Norrie, would stay focused but make the most of the experience. “I think you just want to make sure they have the same experience as you did in your first grand final so the build-up is important to keep them calm and relaxed but enjoy it as well,” she said.
“
Everyone can get pretty nervous and you deal with your nerves in your own way
“Everyone can get pretty nervous and you deal with your nerves in your own way. “But the mood has been good, everyone is obviously happy with the win and I think we’re still building momentum.” Norrie, who names last year’s FIFA World Cup qualifying 2-1 loss to China with the U17 national team as the biggest match in her
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career so far, said she’ll learn from the older players heading to the grand final. “They’ve been through these experiences before and they know what’s expected,” she said. “They know how important it is to be focused and to be quick and sharp on the ball. “For me, I don’t really know what to expect but I’ll take it as it comes and enjoy it.” She said she wasn’t expecting any game time in her first Westfield W-League, let alone the chance to play in a championship decider. “I was even surprised to be on the bench in round one,” Norrie said. “To start for the team has been fantastic but it’s definitely not something I was expecting. I’m proud that I’ve gotten to this point but I’m also nervous, very nervous.” No matter what happens today, Butt knows one thing is for certain – the build-up of a grand final week will whet the appetite of the squad’s youngest players. “You do have more nerves going into it but it’s just exciting,” she said. “It’s a feeling that you enjoy, so you aspire to it each season.”
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THEIR THIRD TITLE
“
You do have more nerves ... but it’s a feeling you enjoy, so you aspire to it
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| 11
THE MINIROOS HAVE LANDED THIS season will see small sided football in Australia played under a new banner: MiniRoos. MiniRoos is designed to introduce boys and girls, aged between four and 11, to a smaller version of football that allows them to have fun, learn new skills and make lifelong friends. Matildas defender, Melbourne Victory captain and MiniRoos ambassador Steph Catley says the program gives kids a chance to embrace the beautiful game at a young age. “MiniRoos lets kids get involved in football in a fun
filled environment where players get more touches on the ball,” Catley said. “This is because of the smaller number of players, and it provides more opportunity for players to develop their technical skills.” Catley said this change helps bring Australia’s youngsters in line with some of the world’s best. “Many of the larger football nations in the world such as England, Holland, Germany, and France play with modified versions of the game because to the many benefits that it provides.”
TODAY’S HALFTIME TEAMS...
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THE BIG
CHANGES - A SMALLER PITCH - LESS PLAYERS - NO GOALKEEPERS UNTIL U8 - NO RESULTS RECORDED - MORE TOUCHES ON THE BALL - MORE FUN
WLeagueGF
IT’S GETTING CLOSER GIRLS FC 7-A-SIDE
22-23 MARCH 2014
FFV’s inaugural seven-a-side football tournament for young women, Girls FC, is now less than a month away and teams are beginning to get their registrations in. Girls FC is a tournament aimed at young women between the ages of 10 and 16, and teams across Victoria are encouraged to take part. Watsonia Heights FC girls’ coordinator Chris McLaren said pre-season tournaments like Girls FC were a great way to ensure your players come back for the rest of the season. “When we heard Girls FC was going ahead, we jumped on board and pretty much registered four junior teams straight away,” he said. “It’s great to introduce new players to soccer in general. “In previous years we’ve found we get a 99 per cent conversion rate of girls who play small sided football, coming back to play the winter season.” Melbourne Victory player and inaugural Girls FC ambassador Gulcan Koca is urging young girls of all skill levels to get involved in this exciting competition. “Girls FC is a great opportunity to come and play the game in a fun and social setting before the winter season begins. It’s a very inclusive program too as it is open to players of any skill level,” Koca said. “I’m very excited to be an ambassador and can’t wait to see the girls enjoying themselves and having a great experience.” Girls FC will be held at the State Football Centre, Darebin from March 22-23, with registrations closing at 5.00pm on Wednesday March 5.
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it’s showtime
FAshioN sAturdAy 1 march Join us for a one-day celebration filled with fashion, events, giveaways and more.
Find event details at the new westfield.com.au