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WOMENS NEWS |
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 The
Season that was - 2008
Tuesday 13 January
2009
(Victor Sekulov) - Who would have
thought that the 2008 season would end in a penalty
shootout to get into the Grand Final when Andy Fry started
off preseason on those warm Sunday mornings almost a year
ago.
As more and more girls came to training there was a buzz
at the ground as some of the older Preston girls saw some
quality players come join their ranks., including Paula
who came back home. The Committee and coaching staff were
beginning to build up an optimism and belief that this
would be a good year.
The season kick off drew closer and Andy worked the girls
harder, mixing some training sessions with pool and gym
work. Spirits were high and anticipation for the season
kick off began to mount. Many of the players could not
wait for the season to start. As this went on Andy and
Victor talked more and more about the squads and the
potential - could we make finals this season? Both Andy
and Victor were secretly confident and Andy knew that he
would mount a serious challenge to the title. And he did.
With the season about to kick off Victor went off to see
what the Dutch were doing with their women’s football,
Steve Briffa came in to help and Julia Baldwyn came from
New Zealand to see what all the fuss was at B.T.Conner
Reserve. Andy had the teams ready… and the season began.
And what a beginning!!
The Lionesses brushed aside all before them as Andy’s
early training program proved successful. Keilor, South
Melbourne, Bendigo were quickly dispatched. More players
came to Preston and a few left, some to join the NTC ( a
questionable program) and the only number 4 ever to play
for Preston decided to hang up her boots.
A loss to Sandringham was bitter because it was the game
where Kate broke her arm and the game where Preston
dominated but ended up losing. Nevertheless the Preston
girls would exact revenge on the return game and Kate
would star, helping Sandringham miss out on finals
football. Despite losing two more games on the trot the
Lionesses played eventual champions Box Hill in what was
best described as Champagne football – a brilliant
performance but not the result that we wanted. Still there
was enough evidence on display to let the rest of the
league know that the Preston lionesses meant business.
So much noise was coming from B.T. Conner Reserve now that
even players from as far as Scotland and the USA were
arriving – just to see what it was all about. Jimmy became
an instant hit, though to date she is the only player ever
to play for Preston that couldn’t speak English!! Amanda
arrived as well and was instantly named Boston ( we are an
inventive lot). Both girls settled in well despite their
funny accents, though as part of Australia’s balance of
trade Eva went back home. We miss her.
The football heated up as Preston continued on their
winning ways, beating everyone they played. A home game
against South Melbourne resulted in Peta being sent off
and unfairly so. A victim of her own reputation and very
poor refereeing. She had been on fire before that winning
games for the Lionesses against Keilor. Maybe the gods
were worried about just how good this team could be and
tried their best to hold us back.
Then Preston went on a bus trip – to Gippsland. Before the
bus arrived there was speculation as to how big a bus
would we end up with – a Tarago that fits only 8? A mini
van? A double decker? It started to rain and we watched it
fall on our beloved turf, waiting for this bus. Would we
get there on time? The bus arrived and we can all fit in,
including Michael the physio who has to lie down in the
back with the luggage. Just as we are about to leave
Victor asks the girls if they need to go to the toilet.
Everyone says no but within seconds the bus is empty as
girls race off. Eventually we are on our way. Andy is
sitting in the front making sure the driver knows where to
go. We are running late and it is a two hour drive.
As with all bus trips ( long ones) boredom sets in so
pretty soon Victor, Nat and Niki V begin to sing. Despite
the best efforts of the other girls – throwing chips,
lollies, rubbish etc the three continue to sing. Niki V
lets everyone know that she kissed a girl and liked it (
over and over ) in her loudest singing voice. Soon Nabby
joins in and the singing is soothing the whole team (not).
Running out of songs Nat, Niki and Victor begin to sing
Macedonian songs, which prompts Nabby and Paula to sing
Lebanese songs. There is laughter and loud chatter on the
bus. It is here that Julia tells her team mates she is
leaving for the US. L
Lovett is now bursting!! She needs to go!! We stop at a
Rest stop and Sarah races off. Walking back with a
relieved smile we are back on our way.
Gippsland!! We are there – well technically. Kick off is
in about 5 minutes and we cannot see any ground. All of us
are now looking for a large number of lights, which may
indicate stadium. We hit a side road and it is pitch
black. Someone suggested we knock on a door and ask
directions – all 25 of us!! Fortunately we see some lights
in the distance and Yes – it is the stadium.
The game kicks off 20 minutes late and the first thing
both Andy and Victor work out is the referees are not much
older than 15!! Andy gets sent back to the bench and does
so, only to come back out again. The adolescent kid sends
him back again.. which he does but comes out again. The
other funny thing we noticed was for every throw-in the
referee would disagree with the linesman, every decision.
This was now more fun to watch than the game itself. The
ball went out – which way would the linesman indicate, bet
the ref says it went the other way. Yep. He does!!
The trip home was quiet and many tried to sleep. Oh yeah –
we won that game as well.
Preston lost against Heidelberg but beat Sandringham so
convincingly they never recovered. A loss to Ashburton was
our worst on field performance, but it was good to get it
out of our system. From there we easily defeated the
eventual champions Box Hill. Once again the gods tried to
stop our efforts, but not even lightning, thunder, hail
and driving rain was stopping us now. A come from behind
win against Cranbourne and a thumping of Eltham in front
of the TV cameras ensured we would be playing finals
football for the first time!!
Meeting Ashburton again, this time Preston showed their
class and dispatched them with clinical finishing. The
Semi against Box Hill was disappointing but the
preliminary against Heidelberg was labelled by many
independent viewers as one of the best games of football
played this year (men or women). The Lionesses gave it
their all and secured a well deserved draw. The lottery
called penalty shootout had to determine who would go on.
We did not but we have grown stronger as a result. Whilst
other clubs are finding it difficult people are noticing
the roar from B.T Conner Reserve is getting louder. |
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