Amidst criticism following a string of defeats, EAP team manager Dave Edmondson has hit back at the heightened expectation that has been put on the developmental side to produce results.
“You can look at the start of the season and say we’ve had wins, and that’s probably our biggest issue that we’ve started the season with wins. You guys and everyone else who’s been watching expected us to be the doormats of the league, because that’s what’s happened in the past,” he said.
“No points, getting battered every week, suddenly we get a couple of wins at the start of the season and then you expect us to win the league – We’re going to wear a couple losses during the year, but I’ll lose 10-0 every week if I produce three players for the Matildas. And that’s all we’re here for.”
Much of the criticism has also fallen on the style of play being implemented by the EAP, as they continue to stick to their philosophy of playing out from the back, even when at times it seems to be the cause of their problems.
Mixing things up is not on the agenda however, as the EAP are following a clear mandate sent down from the FFA.
“The way we’re trying to play – to say that we’ve found out is ridiculous because all we need to do is go and look at FFA’s National Curriculum and that’s the way we play. It’s no secret and we’ve not hidden anything, we’re a development side and that’s the way we’re playing,” Edmondson said.
Following the heavy 5-0 defeat to Sandringham on Monday night, Edmondson felt the players could learn from the experience, and that the loss of confidence following Stephanie Tanti’s spectacular opener was the key aspect of the defeat, rather than the philosophy.
“The learning experience from tonight is that we have to be brave enough to do that for 90 minutes in a game, not just when its easy, because for the first 15 minutes of the game [Sandringham] couldn’t get a touch. We then make one mistake, give a goal away, we shrink, it’s got nothing to do with the way we’re playing,” he said.
“It’s got nothing to do with the fact that we play out from the back because we proved for 15 minutes that we can do it against one of the best teams in the league. But when we go hiding, when we’re too afraid to do it, then it fails. The girls will learn from that.
“When these girls come out of this, they’ll be better than any of these [WPL players]. But it’s a tough experience for them. Tougher for some than others obviously because they’re in positions that are exposed playing this type of football.”
When they do get it right, Edmondson feels they can send shivers through the competition. This is evidenced by recent progression shown in training and in performances in the final third over the last couple of weeks.
“The last couple of weeks we’ve been creating more chances, we’ve been getting balls into the box, we’ve been putting ourselves in better positions to score, and that’s against your South Melbournes, it’s against your Bundooras,” he said.
“If we score first in a game I fear for whoever we’re playing against. Because if the confidence grows, the stuff that they can play, we played the boys team Tuesday, won 4-2 – they started the game like they started tonight. Really confident and they’re playing and the ball’s zipping around and they’re playing out from the back and they’ll receive the ball under pressure.”
So with all the excitement around these talented young girls, he reiterates his point about the expectations being put on the side while singling out some star performers.
“Our expectation is not to be there but our expectation is to produce players. And I think if you watch Beattie Goad against Bundoora last week, unbelievable. If you watched Eleni Fakos, if you watched Alex Natoli on Wednesday against the boys, these players are going to play international football,” he said.
The EAP’s next test in the WPL is against Ashburton, and they’ll be looking to show more signs of their progression come that Sunday afternoon.