Ahead of the NPL Victoria Women’s season opener against Bayside United on Saturday, captain Stephanie Galea caught up with HUFC Media to preview the upcoming campaign.
Opening round provides home comforts to kick-start the season, and additionally for the U19s as well who play before the senior women.
With the pre-season completed – including a training camp and a series of friendly games, the squad is raring to go. Galea discusses how the team is looking, and what the fans can expect heading into this year.
How things have been shaping up:
It’s really good at the moment, we’ve finalised our squad which is nice. We’ve got a couple new signings with A-League Women & international experience so that will really strengthen our squad.
We’ve also added a mixture of young girls that are really good who are training with the Victory squad. In terms of signings we’ve really stepped up this season which is good. We’ve had a good run of pre-season games playing some NPL teams and a few in the league below. Really good results have come from that.
What the new signings can bring:
They really help in regards to the professionalism and really brings a lot of those attributes. The standard of training is just completely different.
When you’ve got quality around you it really brings out the best in everyone else as well. It’s a real positive effect in the consistency with training.
On who to look out for this season:
It’s a hard one, there’s a fair few! The likes of Emily Roach, Rebecca Burrows, and Grace Jale will be the core standouts for us this season.
Grace loves scoring goals, while Emily and Rebecca are really good in the midfield. That combination up front and in the middle of the park is going to be very helpful in scoring lots of goals this season.
How Galea is feeling herself:
I’m feeling fit, I had a few injuries last season but I’m a bit more confident in how I feel now.
I’m looking forward to running out with all the new players and the older girls from last season feel the same way as I do.
A message to the fans:
Get around the women’s because it’s going to be a very exciting season. It will be a very competitive league with all the new signings other teams have made.
We are going to need all the fans’ support to cheer us over the line.
Get down to Olympic Park this Saturday! The U19s kick-off at 1:00pm, followed by the senior women at 3:00pm.
