On this week’s episode of the Official Liberty A-League Podcast, former striker Rhali Dobson helped preview Sunday’s Liberty A-League Grand Final between Sydney FC and Western United as Sky Blues star Madison Haley lauded one of her teammates. Listen now!
Sydney FC boast star attackers Cortnee Vine, Princess Ibini and Madison Haley. However, there is one player looming as the key to success in Sunday’s Liberty A-League Grand Final.
Rachel Lowe.
The 22-year-old star has had to stay patient this season but she capitalised on injuries and international call-ups to force her way into the starting XI, and she has stayed there in the Finals Series.
Ultimate Liberty A-League Grand Final Guide: Everything you need to know
She showcased her versatility en route to the Grand Final against Western United at CommBank Stadium in Sydney. Lowe operated up front as a no.9 in the Semi Final loss to Western, while she dropped down into midfield for the Preliminary Final against Melbourne Victory as American important Haley returned to the forward line alongside Vine and Ibini.
Lowe has spent the past three seasons with the Sky Blues, winning three consecutive Liberty A-League Premierships and as Sydney gear up for a record sixth straight Grand Final, she shapes up as the point of difference.
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KEEPUP’s Campbell Johnson was joined by Rhali Dobson, Sydney FC’s Madison Haley and Danielle Steer of Western United on this week’s edition of the Official Liberty A-League Podcast. Catch the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.
“I think she is one of the greatest players,” Haley said of Lowe – who was capped by the Matildas aged just 17 – on the podcast.
“I keep trying her to convince her to go back to play collegiate soccer, because I say she is made for UCLA. But she’s not going back.
“She is an exceptional player. We’ve been talking all season that we wanted to play together because I wear no.9 and she wears eight. We sit next to each other in the locker room and we’d always be like, ‘oh when is it going to be our chance to play together?’. Now it’s happening in finals.
“It’s amazing. We all know the qualities of Cortnee (Vine), Prini (Princess Ibini) and Rachel. But Rachel brings something different to our midfield.
“It’s hard to get the ball off her. She really helps us control the tempo. She is very smart and helps us link the play. She gives us stability. She gives us a different look, which is good that we’re showing something a bit different.
“Everything is easier when you have outlets like Cortnee and Prini. I think all three of us, in terms of the forward line, bring something very different but we’re all very complementary, including Rachel.”
The big question around Western
It has been a fairytale season for Western United, who are gearing up for a Grand Final in their inaugural campaign.
Mark Torcaso’s side have defied the odds to make it to the big dance, having upstaged reigning premier’s Sydney FC in the Semi Final to earn the week off and a ticket to CommBank Stadium.
READ: Western’s Cinderella story continues into a decider that not even their head coach saw coming
“They have been together for so long and proving the NPL is an important piece in the Liberty A-League going forward,” former Melbourne City and Newcastle Jets striker Rhali Dobson said.
“It’s phenomenal. No one can go they haven’t broken records this season.
“You look at Hannah Keane up front taking the Golden Boot. You look at their first season and what they have achieved.
“They should be proud of themselves of what they have achieved in season one. It goes okay, what are we going to see in the next couple of seasons if this is what they can do in their first go?”
But Western will go head-to-head without a key part piece of their defence.
A Championship winner with Melbourne Victory previously and a three-time Matilda, Angie Beard has been ruled out of the decider due to an ankle injury sustained in the Semi Final.
“That leaves a massive hole in defence and from a leadership perspective too. That’s my biggest question mark,” Dobson said.
“Who is going to fill that void and how much is it going to impact Western United?”
It’s a dynasty but pressure mounting in another Grand Final
Sydney, under the leadership of Ante Juric, have made history.
They secured a third consecutive Premiership – something that has never been done before in the Liberty A-League. A sixth successive Grand Final appearance also awaits.
“It’s 100% an Ante dynasty,” Dobson insisted, “What he has achieved with a team consistently, it shows that one, the players trust and respect him and he values the players he has.
“The fact he can keep such a consistent base for such a long time. That showed with a sixth Grand Final. They’re going for the double this season… what they’re about to achieve going into that Grand Final is phenomenal for the Liberty A-League in itself.”
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However, for all of their dominance, the Sky Blues have lost three Grand Finals on the bounce.
After going down to Melbourne City in the 2020 decider, Sydney suffered back-to-back defeats to Melbourne Victory.
“As they say, things happen in threes,” Dobson added. “They may have done their three now and fourth time is a charm.
“The pressure is on them 100%. Target on their back. They’re going for the double. It’s how they handle the pressure. This has been a big talking point about Sydney FC even in the lead up to the season, can they handle the pressure when crunch time comes?
“You look at the Semi Final when they faced Western United, they cracked. So, the question is, have they learnt from that? Are those players, the forward line, are they going to stand up and prove their worth in the Grand Final?”
Dobson, who insisted Sydney must improve up front in terms of being clinical, continued by saying: “Do I have reservations about Sydney FC winning the Grand Final? I do.
“But I feel they have the experience level to capitalise on Western United.”
