It took a phone call from one Liberty A-League coach to another to get Tori Tumeth her start in professional football – now, in the blink of an eye, she is 90 minutes from the Grand Final.
In Melbourne City’s storied ranks, with the likes of Hannah Wilkinson, Holly McNamara and Rebekah Stott taking the spotlight, Tumeth gets rather less attention, despite her consistency. And that, say those who know her best, is exactly how she likes it.
Ever-present since the second game of this season, Tumeth has grown almost weekly, just as she did last year after signing for City. And yet, less than 18 months ago, the former captain of the Young Matildas was starting to question if she would ever get a contract in the then W-League. All she needed, it turned out, was an opportunity.
In the end it took a phone call from Alex Epakis, now head coach at Perth Glory, to City boss Rado Vidosic, to extol the virtues of a player who under him at Sydney University in NPL NSW had won the 2018, 2019 and 2020 Premierships, as well as the 2019 Championship.
“There was a period there where she wasn’t getting the opportunities she deserved and it seemed to dent her confidence a bit,” Epakis told KEEPUP.
“I was ringing a few of the W-League coaches to tell them about my players at Sydney Uni, and I told Rado I thought she’d really suit the City style. She got the opportunity at City, and hasn’t looked back.”
The irony is that a month after making that call, Epakis was appointed Glory head coach but by then Tumeth was quickly establishing herself at City. She played 11 of 12 games that year, in a difficult season for her new club, playing at centre back, left wingback and right wingback. By the end of it, Vidosic moved quickly to secure her for another two years.
The reward has been a campaign lifting City back towards the top, where they missed out on the Premiership only in the last round and now face rivals Melbourne Victory in Sunday’s Preliminary Final derby for the right to take on Sydney FC in the March 27 Grand Final.
“I don’t think I’ve come across many more competitive players,” says Epakis. “She has an absolutely steely mentality towards success, it oozes off her.
“As a centreback she’s the full package, good on the ball, quick and reliable in her defending. As a person she can be reserved, almost stand-offish, until you get to know her and the reserve comes down. But equally she’s super loyal.”
Tumeth has locked down a position at the heart of City’s defence this year, the second meanest in the competition, and Epakis believes she must be on the radar for international recognition.
“She gets things very quickly, she’s very streetwise,” he said. “It helps that she’s a smart person generally, and that she hasn’t put all her eggs in one basket. She knows she has other skills and opportunities, like studying teaching, and as long as I’ve known her she’s had another job.
“That all helps with her temperament. She’s not fazed by things, she won’t be fazed by an A-League Semi-Final. She’ll just want to win it.”
