An off-season move to Canberra United has presented Allira Toby the “perfect” opportunity to put everything on the line in pursuit of a place in the CommBank Matildas camp at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The 27-year-old striker made 14 appearances at Sydney FC last season – coming off the bench on each occasion – and despite missing the first three rounds of the 2021/22 Liberty A-League season, Toby believes consistency and goals are to follow as she forms part of a lethal Canberra attack.
Toby will look to excel and impress CommBank Matildas boss Tony Gutavsson as he looks ahead to the highly-anticipated international tournament set to take place between Australia and New Zealand in 2023.
“For me, I want to have a good, consistent season and put myself in good stead, with the World Cup coming up which I’d love to have a shot at,” Toby told KEEPUP. “Even just to be called into the Matildas camp.
“But for me at this point, it’s focussing on having a good season with Canberra, being consistent, playing minutes, scoring goals obviously, and just putting myself in a good position where that can open up opportunities beyond this season. That’s probably my biggest one at the moment.
“I think it’s the perfect time to have a good season and score goals. So that’s the plan, and hopefully I can do that and deliver.”
Toby brings momentum to the nation’s capital after helping Football Queensland Premier League outfit Olympic FC earn promotion into the National Premier League for 2022.
Toby then wondered if the familial nature of Canberra United – which had stood out so clearly to her over the years – would provide her with the same benefits of the rejuvenating stint at Olympic.
“To be honest, it’s actually been a very easy transition for me,” she said. “It’s only been six weeks and it feels like home to me, which is a testament to the girls and the culture Canberra and the team provide, as well as how (head coach Vicki Linton) is with everyone.
“I always like a new challenge and a new adventure. I think coming here to Canberra was something I was excited to do, and once I arrived it was very easy for me.
“Canberra is exactly how it seems on the outside: you get here and it’s a family, everyone wants to be here and work for each other whilst getting better individually.
The whole culture side of Canberra is honestly second to none. I’m glad I’m able to for once be a part of it and not against it, actually.
“Canberra has always been that club and team, it’s obvious to everyone outside that there’s a fantastic culture and all the players here are here for the right seasons, and the same reasons.
“They are a family. It’s honestly exactly how I expected it to be when I got here.
“I’m very lucky that Vicki took the chance on me and gave me the opportunity to come and be a part of the culture Canberra have forged over many years.”
It’s the culture which not only lured Toby over from the Sky Blues, but helped a pair of club legends return from retirement through the club in as many years.
Last season former CommBank Matildas spearhead Michelle Heyman returned to the club after a one-season hiatus, bagging ten goals on her way to clinching the Julie Dolan Medal as the league’s best player, and helping Canberra return to the post-season – a place Toby believes the club always belongs.
This year it’s the club’s all-time league appearance record holder Ashleigh Sykes’ turn for a comeback. Toby’s initial excitement to link up with Heyman in Canberra’s attack increased tenfold as Sykes dusted off the boots to join in on the act in Canberra’s attack.
“(Heyman) has got so much knowledge, she’s so skilful and powerful as a player on the field and as a person off the field, so I was already excited to play with her and see how I can learn from her – and now we’ve got Ash,” Toby said.
“She came into pre-season and has been flying. She’s been great, she’s catching up to everyone and once she’s fully fit and raring to go shell be so good to play with.
“I can learn from her as well, and I’m just excited to have the opportunity of all three of us playing together. Hopefully we can be a front-line noone really wants to play against.
“They come to training and they’re happy. They want to be there, they want to work hard and they push everyone as well. They’re just such great leaders, and I know everyone in the team looks up to them.
“We count our lucky stars that we get to have such talented and experienced players who are so willing to give us their time to help us grow as players, to help us be great this season, because that’s what we want: we want to be winning, we want to go to the finals and we want to win the whole league.”
Toby continued: “We’re all excited at the possibilities, and the opportunity we have to play together as a team to hopefully achieve something great, and put the club back where it belongs, back at the top.
“We want to win. At the end of the day, that’s what we’re here for isn’t it?”
