Remy Siemsen says she’s determined to keep her rich vein of goal-scoring form flowing as she pursues a maiden Westfield W-League Golden boot.
It’s quickly becoming a homecoming campaign to remember for the 20-year-old striker, who returned to the Sky Blues for the 2019/20 season after a frustrating spell at Western Sydney Wanderers where she failed to register a goal in 11 appearances for the club.
But two braces in the opening three games of the season has Siemsen back in sparkling form, equal top of the scoring charts and primed to attack the rest of the Westfield W-League campaign head on.
“I think any striker in the league would be aiming for Golden Boot and getting the most amount of goals,” Siemsen told w-league.com.au
“I’m really hungry to get goals and to help my team win games.
“I feel like this season I’ve really been mature enough to take chances when I get them and to have a crack if I see an opportunity, whereas before I wanted to play it more safe, and not lose the ball.
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“But this season I feel like I want to try and get goals, that’s my job as a striker.
“I want to be scoring more often than not, but even if it’s me assisting and helping the team in any way I can that’s all that matters.
“As long as our team is doing well and we’re getting results that’s the most important thing for me, but as an individual yes of course getting the Golden Boot would be amazing.”
Siemsen is currently equal with the Wanderers’ Kristen Hamilton on four goals on top of the Westfield W-League scoring charts.
It may come as a shock to some considering her form with the Wanderers last season but for Siemsen her early prowess in front of goal has come as no surprise, as she cashes in on the vital life experience and physical progression she gained through a trying 12 month spell.
“It was a hard decision (joining the Wanderers) to make at the time because I’m very much a massive fan of Sydney FC and I’ve always been a Sydney FC girl,” Siemsen said.
“But at the time I was almost looking for more minutes.
“I was getting advice from a lot of people saying that might be a better option for me, because in my second season at Sydney FC I was more of a bench player.
“Although it was a really difficult season because it didn’t go my way – and that wasn’t something I anticipated for that season – I learned so much and grew so much as a person mentally from that.
“I think it’s never going to be easy and I’m glad that thankfully I had that experience and had that setback because it definitely made me more motivated and hungrier for this season at Sydney FC.
“I just want to prove my worth and I think that’s what I’m trying to do each week.
“I definitely have that new-found motivation to get minutes, to go for it, take my shots when I can, help the team in every way that I can.”
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After departing the Sky Blues in search of more game time last season Siemsen made the bold decision to return to the Champions’ squad, which was already rich with attacking talent for the 2019/20 campaign
Former Adelaide United striker Veronica Latsko – who finished third in the 2018/19 Westfield W-League Golden Boot race on nine goals – also arrived at Sydney FC in the off-season to link up with Westfield Matildas star striker Caitlin Foord, who scored 10 goals in the last campaign.
The fearsome duo have yet to link up as Latsko returns from an extended injury layoff but Siemsen has already shown she’s more than up to matching the high standards of her attacking counterparts, and is relishing the challenge of doing so.
+3.1 – @SydneyFC's Remy Siemsen has outperformed her Expected Goals value by 3.1 goals this @WLeague campaign, the most of any player in the competition (4 goals, 0.9 xG). Profound. pic.twitter.com/I629SmkCjt
— OptaJason (@OptaJason) December 3, 2019
“I knew that being back at the Champions it’s always going to be competitive for sports, so I really made sure in pre-season I was putting my best foot forward,” Siemsen said.
“I knew we were going to have a star-studded frontline; we’re going to have Veronica returning in a few weeks, and I can’t wait to work with her up top.
“I know she can play anywhere across the front 3, I think it only helps me as a player to be learning off players of that calibre as well, they work extremely hard.
“Veronica is one of the most humble and nicest people; she’s one of the first to congratulate me as soon as I score a goal.
“The likes of Caitlin, I’ve looked up to her forever so to work with her is super surreal, but she’s making the best service for me to finish those goals.
“It’s an amazing thing, I looked up to her for a very long time and now we’re teammates.
“I think we really understand one another and how we play, there’s a huge respect between the both of us, she’s always tried to help me be a better player and I respect her so much that I love playing with her.
“I also like the fact that Ante (Juric) believes in me, he’s reassured me he knows I can get the job done and he wants me there.
“It was really nice to hear that and I think that made me a bit more convinced that I can do the job for him.
“I’ve been really enjoying it and I honestly think with self-belief and with the belief of your teammates and your coach you can do anything, anything it possible.”
Itching to keep her early season form flowing, Siemsen now faces the special proposition of returning to the home of her childhood club Manly United FC when Sydney FC host Melbourne City at Cromer Park this weekend.
The occasion provides Siemsen a rare opportunity to reflect on blossoming career, as she heads back to where it all began.
“I’ve grown up playing on that field,” Siemsen said.
“A lot of memorable moments were made on that pitch.
“I think it’s going to be a really nice feeling and a great atmosphere to play in front of my family and friends at the field I grew up playing on trying to be where I am today.
“I think the main thing for me is giving back to the club that gave me so much which was Manly United, and getting to play on that field is just an honour for me.
“I know when I’ve played there I’ve gotten a lot of hat-tricks so hopefully that gives me some motivation to maybe get a hat-trick this weekend, but I’m not going to put any pressure on it.
“It will be a tough game, City are quality all over the pitch but so are we, so I know it’s going to be a battle to the very end.
“Every team is going to want to beat us, we’re top of the ladder at the moment and we want to continue that form.
“We know what we need to do, it’s all going to come down to the day who wants it more and I have the confidence that my team will do that.”
Sydney FC host Melbourne City at Cromer Park on Sunday, December 8 (4:00PM AEDT).
