After falling to Melbourne City in last year’s Westfield W-League semi-final, Brisbane Roar skipper Clare Polkinghorne is determined to go one better in 2018/19.
Despite taking out the Premiership, Brisbane went out to fourth placed City via a 2-0 loss and were forced to watch on as Melbourne triumphed in the Grand Final a week later.
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Polkinghorne said the playing group was ready and raring to have another shot at winning Brisbane’s first Championship since season 2010-11.
“You play the game to win Championships and we fell one short last year and I know all the players we have are always striving to be better,” Polkinghorne said.
“This year we want to go one step further and I think Mel’s [coach] done a great job of getting the group re-focused.
“The internationals gave come in and started training with us really well and I’m looking forward to starting that process again.”
Coach Mel Andreatta echoed her captain’s sentiments, citing the club’s constant need to improve as a key theme throughout pre-season.
“Being successful has always been a driving force for us,” Andreatta said.
“We’ve been planning to improve further and that takes time and a lot of planning.
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“Based on our pre-season already we feel confident that we can continue to achieve as a team and as individuals as well.
“I think that’s how you stay ahead, that you’re open to learning and reviewing honestly and then you put that into action.”
The Roar host Perth Glory at Suncorp Stadium at 2:30 pm (AEDT) on Sunday afternoon in Round 1 of the Westfield W-League.
They will face a Sam Kerr-less Glory with the Westfield Matildas star suspended for the opening weekend.
The match won’t be bereft of star power however with Brisbane picking up a number of handy recruits themselves.
International forwards Chioma Ubogagu and Yuki Nagasato have arrived in Brisbane joining locals Katrina Gorry and Hayley Raso.
Welcome to Brisbane, @Yuki_Ogimi!
ブリスベン・ユキへようこそ!
We've signed a @JFA World Cup Winner: https://t.co/Z3aIXmiUGi pic.twitter.com/oFzw8Cx0EV
— Brisbane Roar (@brisbaneroar) October 7, 2018
Raso and Nagasato won’t play in Round 1 but Andreatta said having a good mix of players in pre-season had the squad in a good place.
“Our stocks are good,” she said.
“We’ve got a good balance of local players, young players and internationals.
“Being labelled a development coach I wear that badge proudly because I want to develop and support all our players, whether they’re young, local, more experienced and develop our team because we have the depth to do that and to continue achieving as we did last season.”
