An illness-stricken Natalie Tobin watched as her Sydney FC teammates lifted the Westfield W-League Championship last year and missing the party has made her all the more determined to make the big dance in 2020.
Tobin was suffering with glandular fever while the Sky Blues were being crowned Champions for the third time as Ante Juric’s side beat Perth Glory, 4-2, in the Grand Final after they upset Brisbane Roar, 2-1, on the road in the Semi Finals.
After finishing the campaign as third seeds again this season, the Harbour City club will need to produce another stunning away performance to stay in the hunt to retain their title – this time at Melbourne Victory – and this time Tobin will be kitted up and ready to play.
The 23-year-old has featured in 11 matches in 2019/20, after playing eight times last season, and she believes her side has the talent to repeat the achievement that she cruelly missed out on.
“Making a Grand Final is the best feeling, let alone winning one,” Tobin said.
“Last year I missed out with glandular fever, so being on the sidelines was pretty tough.”
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“To be able to participate and be in a Grand Final this year would be an amazing feeling and we really do have the team to go back to back,” she added.
“We’ll be doing everything we can to make it.”
The two sides that collected Westfield W-League silverware last season go head-to-head when Sydney travel to face 2018/19 Premiers, Victory, in Saturday’s Semi-Final.
A Big Blue away day is no unfamiliar journey for the defending Champions, who retrace their footsteps from the closing round of the regular season.
A 3-1 defeat in Round 14 made Sydney lose their home-field advantage for the crunch, winner-takes-all clash but Tobin insists the Sky Blues will stand up and be counted when they run out under the bright lights of finals football.
“We know we can beat them, we just have to be on our game,” Tobin added.
“Knowing we beat them in Round 1 (3-0), we can definitely do it again.
“Sydney FC has always been a team that’s performed when we’ve reached the Finals.
“The last couple of weeks at training have been very good, we just need to be switched on and I think everything is very promising.”
ROAD TO THE WESTFIELD W-LEAGUE FINALS SERIES: Sydney FC
ROAD TO THE WESTFIELD W-LEAGUE FINALS SERIES: Melbourne Victory
Westfield W-League Semi Final
Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC
Saturday, 14 March 2020
Kick off: 2.00pm AEDT
Venue: Epping Stadium
