Report by Tommy Doleman

There have been plenty of celebrations for Northern Redbacks down the year's, including the 2020 Finals Series victory over Fremantle City. Photo by Football West/FotoEnzo

Sunday night’s NPLWA - Women’s Night Series final will mark the end of an era as Northern Redbacks take to the field for the last time against Balcatta Etna.

Redbacks announced a merger with NPLWA - Men’s club ECU Joondalup in February, with the two northern clubs now under the Perth RedStar name.

It brings the curtain down on 31 years of history which has seen Matildas and A-League women’s stars nurtured and international players call Redbacks home. In that time the club has collected 15 league titles, nine State Cups and numerous other honours.

Carla Bennett has represented Redbacks over 250 times, a club record, since she was a teenager and said Sunday’s final will likely be an emotional occasion.

“It sounds really cliché, but I really have grown up with this club,” the midfielder said.

“The coaching staff and the players have been at my 18^th birthday, my 21^st birthday and have been involved in the major milestones of my life and it’s always been a safe place for me.

“It’s been the one constant thing since I was 15. I’ve changed jobs, careers, schools, universities, but that’s the one thing which has stayed the same and it’s probably played a big part of who I am today. It’s always going to hold a special place in my heart and I’m so glad that I was able to spend the last 15 years of my life there.”

Bennett has been part of various WA State teams, the NTC and also represented Perth Glory in the W-League for two seasons. But her association with Redbacks has stood the test of time.

“As a young player, I enjoyed the social aspect of it more than the football initially. I loved playing but my focus was more about my friends because I had a tight-knit group when I started where we hung out every single day,” she said.

“As the years went by and the league grew, we then started getting players over from different countries which was really exciting. The one team which stands out for me was the team where had two Northern Irish Internationals in Nadene Caldwell and Demi Vance, and I think that year we really clicked and they brought so much to the team.

“We loved having them here because they were so much fun and we definitely miss them. They brought the levels of training up, it was more competitive, and it was nice having that level of player around to learn off and help push me out of my comfort zone.

“It’s been nice to see the club evolve over the years as more than just a senior team with the junior girls coming through – and seeing them watch the older girls and aspiring to be in that team environment. It definitely molded me growing up and it’s nice to think we have the potential to help mold them into good young players and good people too.

“Once I’ve done playing and have some time to dedicate, I’d love to be able to give back and join in the coaching and bringing them up. Obviously, we want to have home grown players in our team and it’s satisfying when you see the juniors grow and develop from a young age, stay and then become a senior player.”

Of the merger, Bennett says she initially had mixed feelings.

“I was equal parts excited and apprehensive, because I love Redbacks and what we’ve built over the years and the focus purely being on the women,” she said.

“I didn’t want that to ever be overshadowed by what happens with the men because that’s what can happen at other clubs sometimes, where they can be the focus and the women kind of get pushed to the side.

“But after hearing what ECU Joondalup were pitching, and with their philosophy aligning with ours for developing players, once I’d heard that it put my mind at ease. I’m looking forward to it and I think the rest of the girls are too.”

First, Redbacks will play one final match in their current guise, with silverware on the line against Night Series holders Balcatta Etna at E&D Litis Stadium.

Etna defeated eventual treble-winners MUM FC 2-1 in last year’s decider and have recruited well this off-season. Tayna Campos, Monique Prinsloo and Mia Yeo should add extra attacking quality, while former Redbacks Lauren Continibali and Georgia Cawley have also joined.

Redbacks last won the Night Series title in 2015, but this weekend’s curtain-raiser will understandably carry added weight for obvious reasons.

“We spoke about it at the semi-final and acknowledged it was possibly the last time we will ever play as Redbacks and it’s a very sentimental thing,” Bennett said.

“It was a special moment to have potentially done the Redbacks cheer for the last time, so I know we will be feeling it that a little bit extra this weekend, because it is a final and we know we won’t be playing as Redbacks again. It’s bittersweet, but we’re all excited to move forward.

“We’ve always sort of said that Balcatta are our kryptonite. We don’t know what it is but every time we play them, they bring their A-game. So, I don’t doubt that it’s going to be a really tough, but we’re looking forward to it.

“It would be good to end on a high, particularly as we didn’t win any silverware last year, so hopefully we can win one last trophy, have one last flag to hang in our clubrooms and it would be one that’s extra special.”

The Redbacks-Balcatta clash is the first time that a Football West NPL first-team final will have three female officials in the middle. Caleigh Ormerod is the referee while her assistants are Libby Caldewell and Chloe Smith.

The game kicks off at 6.30pm and is one of three Night Series finals taking place at E&D Litis on Sunday.

First up is the Hyundai Women’s Amateur League decider between Hamersley Rovers and Subiaco (1.30pm).

This is followed by the Hyundai Women’s State League final involving Hyundai NTC U15s and UWA Nedlands (4pm).

All matches will be live streamed through Cluch on the NPL.TV site. To register for FREE please click here: https://npl.tv/

The match between Hamersley and Subiaco will also be live streamed on Football West Facebook and YouTube.