Sydney FC fullback Ally Green says an A-League Women’s double is the club’s sole ambition as they aim to bounce back from last year’s grand-final heartache.
The Sky Blues, who kick off their campaign on Saturday against the Newcastle Jets, conceded a goal in the last minute of extra-time that saw Melbourne Victory claim the championship last year.
But Green told AAP Ante Juric’s side would settle for nothing less than a clean sweep this time out.
“We fell just short with the championship but we’re hoping to redeem ourselves this year,” she said.
“The goal is hopefully to claim the double – the premiership and championship – and continue our consistency as a team and get to the grand final again.
“We’ve always aimed high and we know we’ve got the talent to provide those results.
“You’re not going to undershoot with your aims, we want to win and it’s a competitive league and we’ll have to be at our best.
“Naturally because we’ve been so successful, teams always put on their best performance against us.
“We can’t go into any game with our confidence too high because people want to bash us down all the time.”
Saturday’s fixture forms part of a double header with the A-League Men’s side at Kogarah Oval, but for Green the next two years are significant for taking the women’s game to the next level.
A World Cup on home soil in 2023 represents a dangling carrot for all the women competing in the competition formerly known as the W-League.
And the 23-year-old, who has won youth caps and been part of recent Matildas talent ID camps, hopes she will be able to force her way into Tony Gustavsson’s thinking.
“2023 is going to be here in a click. Personally it’s a goal of mine and if I can play consistently enough I’d love to be able to get a spot in that squad,” she said.
“It’s been difficult to speak to him (Gustavsson) because he’s only recently been able to get into Australia.
“I’ve spoken to a couple of his assistants and the strength and conditioning staff.
“So we’ll see what happens but it’s a goal of mine and if I play my best I can hopefully get in there.”