Katrina Gorry’s injury may have been a traumatic blow but the Brisbane Roar midfielder is choosing to keep her head high and it’s having a positive effect on the team according to goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.
Brisbane’s title hopes hit a speedbump last week when Gorry suffered a high ankle sprain, ruling her out of the remainder of their Westfield W-League campaign.
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But far from sulking in the corner, Gorry has maintained a presence at the training ground, something Arnold says is pushing the Roar onward.
“She’s been really good around the team, although it’s upsetting for her she could be a real negative on the team but she hasn’t been,” Arnold told w-league.com.au.
“She’s been coming to every training and getting around the girls and still has a smile on her face so it’s really nice for her to do that for us.”
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Although undeniably an ill-timed obstacle for the Sunshine State club, Arnold said it would open the door for one of their bright young stars to make an impact.
“It was a really big blow for us especially as she was just coming back from her suspension so we were all looking forward to it,” Arnold revealed.
“Even just watching the injury happen itself it came from nothing so to have that big of a blow for the team is really upsetting for us but I think it gives young Hollie Palmer a really good opportunity to come in.
“The game’s that she has started she’s done really well so we’re all really proud of her and getting around her so that’s exciting for her.”
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Arnold’s Roar take on defending Champions Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Friday night in a clash that could have massive ramifications in the Westfield W-League finals race.
Not only is this a re-match of last season’s tense semi-final, won by City, but it also pits the fourth-placed Roar up against fifth-placed City with four rounds of action remaining.
“It’s always nice to beat City, I think they are sort of the team to beat lately seeing all of the Premierships they’ve come up with so it will be an exciting game,” she said.
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“I think we have to focus on one, going forward, but then second, also on the transition getting back and defending properly, as we all know City are full of stars and they all have certain tactics that they bring to the game so it’s important that we focus on each and every player and just be aware of their strengths and also their weaknesses as well.
“I think we were second at the start of last round and now we’ve had a bye we’re down to fifth so although we do have a game in hand I think it’s very important to win this game just to get us back in the mix for the top four and keep progressing from there.”
