It’s been all too short, but in the few weeks Jessica Fishlock has been running out for Melbourne Victory in the Westfield W-League she’s made quite an impression.
It’s been all too short, but in the few weeks Jessica Fishlock has been running out for Melbourne Victory in the Westfield W-League she’s made quite an impression.
And in her second-last appearance for 2012/13, the Welsh international made sure she’ll leave on top with a player of the match performance against Canberra United.
Fishlock’s 94th-minute header snatched the three points in an agonising finish for Canberra, which saw Melbourne leapfrog the reigning champions on the ladder to sit in third place with only three rounds of the regular season to go.
It was Fishlock’s second goal in only five appearances for the Melbourne Victory. The star midfielder arrived in Australia in November after receiving a sudden phone call from coach Mike Mulvey about a guest stint down under. Just 36 hours later, she was pulling on the blue and white jersey.
“Absolutely I didn’t expect a phone call from Oz,” she said. “But it was off-season, so I thought, ‘why not?'”
Fishlock came to the Westfield W-League with an impressive pedigree. At just 25 years old, the Welsh captain boasts 59 international caps and is the reigning FA WSL player of the year. She’s also the first Welsh player to play professionally overseas, appearing in the English and Dutch competitions.
But she’s hesitant to compare the Westfield W-League to other domestic tournaments, venturing only that, “Australia has its own identity and the way [football] is played. But the best thing is the league is competitive and there’s a lot of good players. There’s healthy derbies and healthy rivalries and the supporters are really good.”
It was a warm welcome to Australian football for Fishlock, coming on in the 46th minute in Melbourne’s first-ever win over rivals Sydney FC. But what was she hoping to get from her W-League stint?
“A new experience, a new challenge,” she said after the game. “Wherever you play, it’s always different. There’s always a different culture.”
As for what she was looking for off the field?
“I’m going to be very clichéd and say surfing… apart from that I just want to enjoy it.”
Sadly it looks like Jessica Fishlock will be finishing up with the Westfield W-League in round 10, and will have to rely on updates from current housemate Rebeka Stott after that. But she firmly believes this team could go all the way.
“I’m gutted [about missing the end of the season]. I’m really disappointed. Everything moved so fast [when signing with Melbourne], I didn’t really get all the ins and outs.
“But I’m sure the girls can go all the way. I’m just gutted I won’t be there for it.”
Melbourne Victory takes on Western Sydney Wanderers FC at Wembley Park on Saturday December 22.
