Short-term pain, long-term gain: that’s the message from A-Leagues legend Teresa Polias in response to Sydney FC head coach Ante Juric’s controversial decision to substitute goalkeeper Tahlia Franco at half-time of a 1-1 draw with Perth Glory on Friday night.
Franco was withdrawn from the Ninja A-League contest at the Sam Kerr Football Centre after making a costly error which led to Perth striker Caitlin Doeglas scoring the opening goal of a Round 11 contest which ended all square at 1-1.
The 19-year-old goalkeeper’s failure to gather possession from Miku Sunaga’s cross off the right wing led to Gabby Hollar collecting the ball in the box and teeing up Doeglas to score the first goal of the match; at half-time, Juric called Brianna Edwards off his bench to replace Franco – a decision described by Network 10 commentator Taryn Heddo as “a fascinating move from Ante Juric.”
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“You don’t see that very often,” Heddo continued. “A half-time keeper substitution. Of course, Bri Edwards started the season in goals before Tahlia Franco took her place four games into the season. This is a big responsibility on 21-year-old Edwards.”
On this week’s episode of Dub Zone, Polias – a former Sydney FC captain – was joined by A-Leagues commentator Teo Pellizzeri to discuss Juric’s half-time keeper swap.
“Sydney have two good young goalkeepers, and when you’re a young goalkeeper you’re going to make mistakes,” Polias said.
“Unfortunately, Tahlia made a mistake in this match and it was a catastrophic mistake in terms of Perth scoring. And you know what? Bri Edwards, it’s your turn to try and fight and make that spot yours.”
Pellizzeri, meanwhile, questioned whether Juric had got his timing right with the substitution.
“Is doing it at half-time, especially with a 19-year-old goalkeeper, someone you’ve backed to come in and start, the right time to do it?” He asked. “Or should this change, if it is going to be Edwards now going forward, should this have been something done in between two games?”
“It’s always going to be a difficult time for a keeper that’s been playing to get dropped,” Polias replied.
“Ante, he’s ruthless when he needs to be and he needs points. He needs people that can go out there and get the job done.
Pellizzeri added: “You can be ruthless when you’re going for the title though, and your standards are: we need to go and win every game to finish top, we need to win finals games, otherwise we’re eliminated. Is it a bit different to be ruthless when you’re sitting last on the table at kick-off, and a draw gets you into second-last?”
“This is pressure talking right now but things need to happen when you’re team is not performing,” Polias responded.
“It’s hard for these youngsters but in the long run they’re all the better for it.”
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Adelaide’s ‘Achilles heel’ identified: ‘It’s poor marking’
Adelaide United are flying up the Ninja A-League table – but will their ‘Achilles heel’ impact their title chances by the end of the season?
The Reds had a mixed bag of results in the second week of January, drawing 3-3 with Newcastle Jets on Wednesday afternoon before notching a 2-1 win over Adelaide United four days later.
In Wednesday’s 3-3 draw with the Jets, Adelaide led 3-1 late in the game but conceded two headed goals in a late collapse. On Sunday they led by two goals once again and a Lucia Leon own goal from a Wellington cross led to that deficit being halved – but the Reds managed to stave off a Pheonix fightback to win 2-1.
Adrian Stenta’s side are fourth with 19 points after 11 games. Last season, the Reds finished bottom of the table with just 15 points from 22 league games; the turnaround has been staggering – but Dub Zone panellists Pellizzeri and Polias pondered whether Adelaide’s recent woes when defending aerial balls and crosses could lead to more points dropped as we head into the second half of the 2024-25 season.
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“After they blew a two-goal lead against Newcastle, a game they should have drawn, they were home and safe in that game,” Pellizzeri said. “At least when they had a two-goal lead here, Wellington got a goal back and there was no shakiness.”
“No there wasn’t” Polias replied, “and it was a really good performance all over the pitch. The numbers going forward are great, the chemistry between Dawber and Worts and Leon is looking so dangerous at the moment.”
Pellizzeri added: “The only concern I have for Adelaide, this is how they conceded an own goal from Lucia Leon – they keep conceding aerial goals.
“This team with (Ella) Tonkin and (Matildas) McNamara as the centre-backs, they should not be conceding as many goals from crosses – like the Claire Adams equaliser for Newcastle as well, and other games earlier in the season.
“This is their Achilles heel, and I do wonder if Adrian Stenta, as much as the team is flying and vibes are good, he might still need to take the defence aside and say this is not really acceptable to be conceding as many goals as we are from crosses and headers.”
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Glory signing’s inspirational comeback story: ‘These are the players this league is built on’
For every story of a young Australian player who makes their debut in the Ninja A-League and grows up to become a CommBank Matildas star, there’s an equally impressive and motivational story like the one that led Caitlin Doeglas back to Perth Glory.
The 28-year-old played 49 games for Glory between 2015 and 2021 but has been out of the Ninja A-League for the best part of four years – until now.
Doeglas left the club in 2021 after suffering the second anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury of her career – having become a star in the NPL WA with Perth RedStar, Doeglas has remained on Glory’s radar and, on Friday morning, returned to the club on an injury replacement contract.
By the end of the night, Doeglas had made her return to the pitch in Glory colours, and was back on a Ninja A-League scoresheet, having scored Perth’s only goal in a 1-1 draw with Sydney FC.
“These are the players that this league, particularly in the one-team towns, are built on,” Pellizzeri said.
“Caitlin Doeglas, the instant rapport to have with her new teammates that she wouldn’t have played with in the past, just goes to show what sort of person she is.
“She’s overcome two ACLs, she’s tried her luck in Victoria, tried her luck in New South Wales, and just couldn’t stop scoring in NPL WA, played in the All Stars game in pre-season against Perth Glory, for the All Stars, was always just there and never gave up on the dream.
“Of course it should mean the world to her. I think for the fans and for teammates, players like this mean the world to this football competition. Yes, it (the league) makes Matildas, but you can’t make Matildas if you can’t sharpen iron against iron, against players like that who will do anything and everything to live the dream.”
“It was a smart signing from (Glory coach) Stephen Peters,” Polias added.
“She was the top scorer in the WA NPL and she’s hit the ground running for Perth Glory.”
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