Our competition is full of exciting and inspiring stories, pieces photographer Rachel Bach (@bythewhiteline) is passionate about capturing. For KEEPUP, she writes about what she is most looking forward to this Liberty A-League season as players she’s seen come through the ranks take their chance on centre stage.
Two weeks ago, I packed my camera bag for a football game for the first time since July.
I arrived at Casey Fields an hour later – the new home of Melbourne City. It’s not often that I’ve had the opportunity to photograph preseason matches, but after months without live football in Victoria, I
simply couldn’t resist.
As the teams lined up, I scanned the field. Whilst there were some well established players standing in position, I was intrigued by a number of faces that I didn’t recognise.
I’ve been photographing local leagues in Victoria for five years, and following along since well before I ever picked up a camera. As teams start to announce their squads each year, I watch closely for new
names.
I love seeing players get a chance to prove themselves in the top tier. For me, it’s a chance to tell new stories.
On one half of the pitch, Victory’s Maja Markovski started up front. I first photographed Maja in 2016, when she was playing in an U15 grand final.
She was a standout back then – skilful as could be.
Later on that day in 2016, City’s Tyla-Jay Vlajnic was part of the winning side in the senior women’s grand final.
Five years later, here they were – playing against each other on the eve of the A-League Women’s competition.
There are many more stories like this, and I’m reminded of them each time I shoot. City’s Hannah Wilkinson takes me back to the first international match I ever photographed.
I haven’t shot a single frame of her since that day in 2016, when she lined up for New Zealand. I’m excited to have the chance to tell her story, many years later.
For me, photography is about so much more than what happened on the field. It’s an opportunity to showcase the players as people, not just as athletes.
Whether it’s debuts, goals, elation or even devastation – I think it’s important to capture it all. For me, emotion is everything in storytelling.
Throughout 2021, I’ve worked closely with Rebekah Stott as she battled – and beat – cancer. When she takes the pitch on Friday night in Canberra, it will be about far more than football.
In that moment, I’m sure everyone will feel that. I think part of that comes down to how open Stotty’s been about her experience. She wanted to tell her story – in her own way.
I’ve spent the last week with the Matildas in NSW, and it’s been the perfect reminder of how much I love football. It’s exhilarating watching players like Kyra Cooney-Cross and Jessika Nash line up in the green and gold, knowing that we’ll be watching them all summer on home soil.
In the early stages of the match in Newcastle, the crowd gasped as Kyra collected a rebound off a corner and took aim.
Her dipping volley bounced off the post. It showed the extraordinary technique she possesses. It’s hard to believe she’s still only 19.
With the new A-League Women season comes a plethora of opportunities. Where some of the household names have departed in recent seasons, there’s a new generation coming through.
It’s exciting to watch, and it’s happening right in front of us. Now is the time to discover and tell their stories.
