Ahead of Brisbane Roar’s Round 12 clash with Adelaide United, aleagues.com.au caught up with playmaker Laini Freier to discuss her stunning start to life in the Ninja A-League, while playing alongside her twin sister Sharn.
Very few players can say they’ve made history in their debut season in top-flight football, but that’s exactly what Brisbane Roar’s Laini Freier has achieved.
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“I’m as shocked as everyone, I suppose!” laughed Freier as she cooled down in the shade having just finished an early morning training session in the Queensland heat.
“Coming into a league that I’ve never played in before, obviously it’s something I’ve always wanted to do having played in the NPL in Queensland for years.
“I’ve just waited, I guess, for my opportunity.”
Since making her league debut in the clash with Wellington Phoenix on December 8, Freier has taken the league by storm.
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Scoring a hat-trick on her first Brisbane Roar start against Newcastle Jets in Round 7, the Roar attacker then secured another match ball after hitting a second hat-trick in as many games, this time against Western United in Round 8.
That remarkable feat made her the first player in Ninja A-League history to score consecutive hat-tricks.
“I’ve never scored a hat trick before, ever, like even in the NPL, I don’t think I’ve ever scored one,” said the in-form creator when reflecting on her recent goal-scoring triumphs.
“When I scored in Newcastle I was like ‘oh well, okay’ and then Sharn, before the game, was like ‘I think you’re gonna score another hat-trick at Western United…
“I was like ‘sorry, no way!’ – I’ve got no idea (how it’s happening) but I think I’m just focusing on what’s in front of me and not worrying about too much in the future, or anything outside of the club.”
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Another goal would then follow in Brisbane’s 2-1 loss to Canberra United meaning Freier heads into Sunday’s Round 12 home clash against Adelaide United level with Melbourne Victory’s Emily Gielnik and Adelaide striker Fiona Worts atop the Golden Boot standings with seven goals.
So with that in mind, it’s safe to say Freier has grabbed her opportunity with both hands when it comes to being given a chance by Brisbane.
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However the 23-year-old’s blistering start to life in the Ninja A-League wasn’t as straight forward as she’s made it look, with a nasty ankle injury hampering her early progress.
“I was pretty devastated when I got injured, knowing that I had to wait for a bit, but I was doing everything I was told, trying to get back as soon as I could.
“I’d signed the contract with Roar and then in the Queensland NPL our team made the Grand Final. It was in the 90th minute or something and I rolled my ankle and then I felt it pop, and then I was like ‘it’s going to be alright.’
“But I got my scans done and I ruptured two of my ligaments, so I was out for three months.
She continued: “I was like, ‘Oh well, this isn’t great’ coming into my first pre-season, not knowing what to expect, not knowing where I stand in the team. I had no idea who was here, but I just really focused on getting better, doing everything the medical staff said to do, and the support here is great.
“So I think I really just focused on that, and then just did whatever I could to get back into the team.”
Despite her twin sister Sharn already starring in the Ninja A-League, Laini’s opportunity had yet to present itself.
Well known to those operating within the football circles in Queensland due to her attacking output, Freier has had to wait until this season before she was given a chance at playing at the elite level of women’s domestic football in Australia.
In football terms, some might describe her as a late bloomer, however Freier herself believes the fact she’s only now being given a shot in the Ninja A-League means she’s even hungrier to make sure she stays there.
“I think it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. I’m not one of the young girls either. I’m not 17, 18 – I’m 23 now. In my head I was like, if I don’t put my best foot forward, is this it?
“Like pretty much, is this the only chance I’m going to get? So I’ve always got that in the back of my mind and I know I’m not going to let it slip and (I’ll) just do whatever I can.”
While she may only be in her rookie season with the Roar, Freier’s form has been undeniable, so has she contemplated the thought of a second Freier representing the CommBank Matildas?
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“Obviously it’s a dream” said Freier. “That’s something that I want to do. But I think for now, I’ve just really got to focus on playing here at Roar and performing every game and (doing) what I can do for this team. Then, hopefully down the track, other opportunities come like that.”
Asked specifically if she thinks a national team call-up is a possibility this season, the 23-year-old responded in typically modest fashion.
“I don’t think so. But I think I’ve just got to keep focusing, doing me and putting my best foot forward for the girls and see where I end up.
“Obviously it’s something I want to do and if I got the call up I’d be over the moon. But I’ve got no idea! I don’t really have much experience either, so I’m not sure what they take into consideration when they’re selecting their players but obviously if I got the call-up I’d be shocked.”
No doubt a key factor in Freier’s outstanding early season form has been the fact she’s playing with the person she knows best; her twin sister Sharn.
Growing up in Redcliffe, the two were inseparable and were the sister double-act who took everything in their stride when it came to sport.
“I think we were maybe five or however old you are when you start joining sport, I think it was Netball that we started with – we played about one game!
“Then I think it was at school, we were playing soccer on the field with the boys and we came back to Mum like, ‘No, we don’t want to play Netball’, and it was both of us.
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“Because at school we had each other, you know, best friends. At school, we were doing everything together on the field, on the oval, playing together. I think it started from there playing soccer on the field at a young age and then we went home and Mum was like ‘if that’s what you want to do’ and then we joined up from there.
“I know when you would go on a field being girls playing against boys they’d all think you were crap but when you go out there and smash them, then they’d be quiet!
“I just think it was pretty fun having boys just look at you as a girl and thinking you can’t really play as good as them, and we would win. So, yeah, that was fun.”
Having someone else in the family to look up to and subsequently follow in the footsteps of has been a constant source of pride for Freier.
Following a break-out season in 2023-24 with Brisbane Roar, Sharn was duly selected for CommBank Matildas duty and made her debut against Mexico, played out in front of a packed crowd in San Antonio, Texas.
“We were all so proud. Watching her make her debut, was just probably one of the best moments of her career, and also for me to watch.
“I have no words to express how proud I am of her. I’ve always been her number one supporter, so every time she steps on that field for the Matildas, yeah, I don’t know. I can’t express how proud I am of her.
“I think I cried the first time she played. Me and Mum were crying because we just knew that she could do it, and she belongs there. So yeah, we were just so proud of her.
“I think with her first couple of seasons at Roar she was in her head a bit, worried about how she would play or if she’s going to start and what not. I feel like once she was starting more regularly, I think she was just focusing on what she could do and being out there.
“Once that kicked in, then she just absolutely killed it.”
Nine months on from Sharn’s debut for the national team and there are now two Freiers ‘killing it’ when it comes to the Ninja A-League and their form is at the heart of what looks to be a Brisbane Roar title challenge.
“I think ever since we were younger, playing in the NPL all these years together and I think the positions we play as well, being able to connect up front, creating opportunities, I think that’s both of our strongest attributes towards the team.
“So I think when we’ve got each other out there, we can really bounce off each other. And I don’t even know how to explain it – we just know.
“There’s sometimes in the game, like, on the weekend, where we’re so wrong! There’s so many times we were wrong, but we’re extremely tight. We do everything together.
She added: “Fashion wise we have completely different fashion! But music, everything like that, is pretty much the same. We talk to each other every day, obviously at training, but when I wasn’t here, I would still speak to her every day. So yeah, we are extremely close, extremely tight.”
Roar head coach Alex Smith will be hoping Freier will be firing again when his side welcome Adelaide to Perry Park on Sunday.
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