Melbourne is a great place to live.
It didn’t take me too long to be adopted into the ‘coffee addicted’ group here at Melbourne Victory. You can find us spending an hour every day just kicking back and relaxing over a coffee together. Being new to the squad, I am building on already made friendships and also forming new ones. It helps spending time with a variety of team mates away from football and getting to know them off the field.
Moving interstate all on your own to play football is never easy, but it helps when there are familiar faces around. I’ve trained quite a lot with Steph (Catley), Ash (Brown) and Bri (Davey) through national team camps so I’ve got to know the three of them closely in particular. There is already a very friendly vibe in the dressing rooms though, everyone gets along and helps make it an enjoyable environment for to be a part of for all, and I’ve been getting to know the internationals and the experiences they have had in football.
One thing that had me really nervous was moving in with someone who I had never once seen or met before, but I’ve been lucky in that respect. I’m currently living with Kat (Smith) the assistant coach and she’s been very welcoming from the start, making me feel right at home and allowing me to settle in. It’s a great location too, being only walking distance away from training, public transport and of course some great coffee shops!
Coach Dave (Edmondson) was one of the big attractions for my move. Of course he was my coach back in Adelaide, where I debuted in 2011 at the age of 15 after being invited out to a handful of training sessions to get a feel of what it was like at that level the year before. I’ve a lot of respect for him and his way of coaching, the passion he shows and the desire to not just win but play good football convinced me that he will be able to bring the best out of me this season.
Obviously our first round result against Sydney wasn’t ideal, but I believe the last two games have shown that we have the potential to move on and be a chance for Finals. It’s such a tight league though with many teams right up there so it won’t be an easy goal to achieve but one well worth aiming for and looking towards.
Adelaide in Round 2 was a real highlight for me. It was definitely a big game coming up against my home side, but in the end it did just have to be treated like any other game. There were many familiar faces for me but in the end, both teams were there to win and play good football. It was very exciting having my whole family there, my Mum, Dad and younger brother watching along with many friends who were willing to make the drive up to the not so local ground in Burton. It certainly made it special being able to play in front of them all. Coming away with the win definitely was a great feeling, not just because it was against my home side but because it was crucial that we bounced back from our first game.
There were more surprises in store for me though, as my break and weekend off ended up in a dash to the airport after a late call up for the international games with the Matildas against China. I had just gotten home from the Jetts gym and I got a phone call from the national team manager. My immediate reaction was shock, nervousness and excitement all in one. Which turned to panic of course, because I’m the slowest possible packer and usually take days to prepare my things for trips like that. I’d gone to the gym with Caity (Friend), so I rang her straight away in panic mode to ask for a lift to the airport.
It was certainly a great experience being coached by Hesterine (de Reus) for the first time and getting to know the expectations and requirements of being a part of the team. It definitely added to the enjoyment of the trip that we came away with two wins and even though I didn’t manage to get on the pitch, hopefully I’ll be able to be back again soon!
All in all, it’s been a blast. The girls here in Melbourne have been great, they have all been welcoming and made me feel like a part of the team right from the start. I’m lucky enough too to have Caity, Bri and Rach (Alonso) in particular as my personal taxi drivers to save me from walking or relying on public transport to get around. What more could I ask for?