Easts Women Aiming High In 2016
Words: Callum Dick
Eastern Suburbs Women coach Garrath McPherson has set his side a lofty aspiration – finish the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Women’s season undefeated.
Easts finished 2015 in third place and were neck-and-neck with Grand Finalists Palm Beach SC and The Gap FC throughout most of the home-and-away campaign.
However, with only two losses last year, McPherson is confident is side has the potential for greater success in 2016.
“For us the goal is to be seen as the best team from start to finish of the season proper,” McPherson said.
“We were so close last year – top of the table until the last two games – but we dropped the ball and it was heartbreaking.”
Aiding McPherson’s hopes of achieving an undefeated season, Easts squad remains largely unchanged with 13 of 16 players returning for the upcoming season.
Lynchpins Tegan Riding, Jenna McCormick and Rosie Sutton all return from stints in the Westfield W-League to join a side bolstered by the off-season signings.
Former Easts junior Anna Webby also returns to the club, Mikaela Di Savia joins from Olympic and Brazilian Rani Lustosa, who has been promoted from the club’s Brisbane Women’s Premier League.
“Three (of the W-League players) have returned, while one (Chantelle Ryder) has stayed in Adelaide for next season to pursue a career,” McPherson explained
“The girls went straight from NPL into W-League and really haven’t had a break since, so when they’re ready to come back we’ll integrate them into the mix.
“We don’t expect to see them playing until the first or second game of the season proper.”
McPherson stressed his overarching goal is to make Eastern Suburbs the benchmark for player development in the women’s game.
“It’s a testament to the environment that we created last year that these girls wanted to be a part of it again,” McPherson said.
“We have an underlying interest in trying to push the women’s game to the next level. Our role is that we can be a benchmark in terms of the environment the players have to train in.”
“Our continued goal is to align ourselves with the national league set-up so players don’t have such a big jump when they do move on to the W-League.”
“We want the competition to benefit from the work we’re doing,” he concluded.
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday, 6 February
Cleveland Showgrounds, Redlands City
Eastern Suburbs FC Women v Olympic FC Women
Kick-off at 11am
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