Photo: Clarence Zebras coach Chris Hey looking somewhat tense at today's media conference, while Olympia Warriors defender Maddie Black looks nonchalant [PlessPix]
The Women’s Super League really is starting to look like the Scottish Premier League.
Just as Celtic and Rangers dominate the top flight in Scotland, here in Tasmania’s Women’s Super League, its Clarence Zebras and Olympia Warriors that rule the roost.
On Sunday, league-leaders Clarence Zebras entertain Olympia Warriors for the umpteenth time at Wentworth Park and a win for the hots would give them a 4-point lead over their eternal rivals.
Hey said that the women’s game in Tasmania lacks depth throughout the competition.
“Olympia have always been a very, very strong side and certainly in the last three or four years these two teams (Zebras and Olympia) have been the top two performers, other than Ulverstone, who won it two years ago,” Hey said.
Clarence Zebras have a couple of injury worries.
Defender Danielle Kannegiesser, who is receiving treatment for a calf injury, is not certain to play, while striker Stacie Burdack is out.
The previous meeting between the teams resulted in a 1-0 win for Clarence Zebras.
Olympia dominated the proceedings but didn’t know the way to goal. They had something like 24 shots to 4, yet lost 1-0.
The closest they came to scoring was when Bonnie Davies rattled the crossbar with a long-range chip.
People criticised Zebras for what they called negative tactics, or ‘parking the bus’, but surely tactics are an integral part of football and it they get you a win, who cares?
It is up to both sides in a game to utilise tactics to beat the other side. The team that loses, obviously didn’t get their tactics right.
In that last meeting, Olympia were predictable and didn’t use the pace they have to overcome a slower Clarence Zebras defence.
If you have pace, balls played over the top of the opposing defence for your fast strikers to run onto should reap dividends.
Olympia did not do this and when they did have chances, their finishing was woeful.
Will we see the same on Sunday at Wentworth Park at 2.30pm?
“Every game against Olympia is a good game,” said Clarence Zebras coach, Chris Hey, at today’s media conference at KGV Park.
“I think both teams respect one another highly and they’re always close games.
“The pressure is on both teams to perform.”
Hey said his team attacks as a unit and defends as a unit, all eleven players, and that his players were very disciplined in the win over Olympia last week in following his instructions.
“It wasn’t a pretty game from our perspective, but there was a lot on the line,” he said.
“People can be critical about the way we played, but we won the game and goals win games.
“I think we frustrated their forwards and they were shooting from distance and our tactics worked.
“It’s not something we normally do, but given what we had on the park on the day, we had to look at some different strategies to get a result.
“We’re normally a very attacking side, but it was just the circumstances on the day. We had a few crucial players out so our depth was tested as well.
“The conditions on the with it being very windy also came into it and we struggled to get the ball out of our half in the second half.
“It was just different from my perspective with the tactics on the day to get a result that we needed to get.”
The two sides will meet one more time in the league this season.
Olympia central defender Maddie Black said she had no complaints about Clarence Zebras’ tactics in the game last week.
She said Olympia would take Sunday’s game as just another game and everyone would try and do their best.
“We understand what it could mean if we lose or win,” Black said.
“But, we’re just treating it as another game and although we’ve been working on a few things at training, it’s just basically as normal.
“We’re satisfied with our defensive structure and have worked on our attack.
“The goal they scored against us is the only goal we’ve conceded this season.”
Black said there were no injuries and the team should be at full strength.
In other matches on Sunday, South Hobart entertain Ulverstone at South Hobart Oval at 2pm, while University welcome Kingborough Lions United to Olinda Grove at 2pm.
Both game should be close affairs judging from the teams’ positions on the ladder.
WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE (As at 6 September 2020)
|
TEAM |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
|
Clarence Zebras |
7 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
32 |
5 |
19 |
|
Olympia Warriors |
7 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
31 |
1 |
18 |
|
Ulverstone |
7 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
11 |
9 |
|
South Hobart |
7 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
13 |
15 |
7 |
|
Kingborough |
6 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
6 |
28 |
3 |
|
University |
6 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
34 |
1 |
11 comments:
If Zebras hadnt merged they wouldnt have been that competitive the 3 girls that returned were Clarence playes.
Old mate is a blight on the game ringing girls trying to get them to come to him .
Hasn'tdeveloped one player unlike Olympia and South .
Zebras social women's team would come 3rd in the WSL. Just shows the other teams standard
TO TRUE Anon 6:03 PM!
Looking at the ladders neither of zebra's championship teams are on top of their competitions. Not sure how that translates to 3rd in WSL? Taroona are the team that seems to be in the wrong division.
So let's put an embargo on all coaches being able to contact players from other clubs, lets do it world wide. How dare he, so shameful. Tell your players to take their phones off the hooks.
Anon 6.03
How very true. It's good to see that many of the young players are loyal to their clubs and won't have a bar of it.
Anon 10.28 am You absolute flog. And yes "so shameful".
How about he develops players he already has instead of trying to replace them with better, younger players from other clubs. How about he looks at players from the "Clarence" side of the merger this year.
I really find all these comments quite funny. Have a look at NPL over many years and look at current squads. How many developed Knights players, Olympia & I could go on, so what is different? I think you wankers having a crack have some significant insecurities as many coaches do the same thing. I reckon Heys is having a great chuckle at you poor insecure people.
Not talking about NPL, this is the WSL and only one coach does it, year in year out. South Hobart, Olympia, Kingborough, all have young players in their squads that have come up through the ranks and have been loyal to their clubs. Their coaches/clubs have developed them and Old Mate wants them. How about, for a change, Clabras start building from the youngsters they have and give them a go. Oh wait - what youngsters?
Oh, and anon 3.11pm your coach's name is Hey, not Heys.
Anon 10.28am You are really showing your age, players all have mobiles now not landlines - so they can't "take their phone off the hook".
Imbeciles!
Here is a challenge for you 6.03pm, 9.07pm, 8.14am and 10.40am, grow a pair & go confront him on his shocking behaviour but you would not do that. It is interesting you except this for NPL but not WSL. Vested interest. Go confront him that would be interesting in itself. Let me know on this site when and where, so I can see the outcome.
Dear Anon 7.47am, I did not say I "excepted" (I am assuming you meant "accept") this in the NPL, I said, and I quote, "Not talking about NPL". This blog has been about the WSL, and people are blogging - get over yourself. And yes, I have a vested interest - my daughter plays in the WSL.
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