Fresh from her appearance in the Grand Final on Sunday, Melbourne Victory W-League wunderkind Beattie Goad was delighted to have won the trophy on her first attempt, having had the belief that the team was going to win it all along.
After they lost the Grand Final last season, Victory were driven to make amends for that disappointment, and that sentiment was echoed by head coach Dave Edmondson all the way back in pre-season.
“Right from the start Dave said that we wanted to be here and that we wanted to win a Grand Final,” Goad said.
“I think if you write a goal and you put it on paper it’s more likely to happen.
“We all knew that we wanted to get here and so we did.”
It was a fine end to what has been a very busy week for young Beattie Goad, with all the hype in the build up to the Grand Final and added media attention.
But Goad remained humble in her approach to the week, keeping her feet firmly on the ground.
“I thought it was just another game,” she said.
“I had all this homework so I was just focussing on that and had a few tests throughout the week so just came to training, it was another training, another week, so yeah definitely just another game.”
The 16 year old attacking midfielder had a solid performance against Brisbane Roar, displaying no nerves despite the big occasion and almost capped off her performance in the Grand Final with a goal at the death.
But after wrapping her foot around the ball, she could only watch in vain as the ball smacked against the crossbar.
She admitted she was willing the ball to dip under the crossbar, but in the end was just happy that the team won on the day.
“I thought it was going in and then it hit the crossbar but it didn’t really matter, we were already two up,” she said.
To play ninety minutes of a Grand Final was a bit surreal for Goad, who never thought that she would have made the full squad at the start of the season, let alone get the time on the pitch she received.
But the youngster has taken everything in her stride, and made sure she didn’t let any chance go begging.
“This season I thought I’d just be a train on and learn from the other girls but then I guess I got a little bit of game time and got a little bit of a taste of what it was like and just didn’t look back,” she said.
“I took every opportunity that he gave me and I gave it everything.”
Goad has definitely had plenty of role models to learn from in the Victory squad, with the experience of Jess Fishlock, Lauren Barnes and Katie Hoyle, captain Steph Catley and Lisa De Vanna.
She feels very honoured to have been able to play alongside such big names in women’s football, and has listened to every word they have said to her.
“I feel so privileged, I have been getting so much great advice and support and they’ve really lifted me up and I don’t think I would be here playing if it wasn’t for them,” she said.
“They’ve given me support and given me all the advice in training to put my head up and not look down.
‘I’m so grateful to play alongside those guys.”
Another big influence in her rise to the top has been coach Edmondson, whom she worked with while playing in the NTC in the winter, and now with the Victory.
Goad is sad to see her mentor depart for Bristol, but has really appreciated his faith in her abilities.
“Definitely sad, but I’m sure he’ll do great things over there and I wish him luck,” she said.
“Dave has been so great to have as a coach.
“He’s guided me through so many ups and downs and always there for advice, and support, and I’m really grateful he’s given me this opportunity to play in a Grand Final.”
Like Edmondson, a number of squad are heading for pastures new, taking their own careers to new heights, but while Goad will remain in Melbourne until she finishes her high school studies, she stated her strong ambition for her future.
“I have a lot of dreams and goals,” she said.
“I would like to be picked for the U20 Australian team, then Matildas and obviously go to a World Cup or an Olympics.
“That would be the ultimate dream, that would be so amazing.”