We couldn’t have asked for a more exciting match to conclude our Liberty A-League season. Once again, we had photographer Rachel Bach on deck from hours before kick-off to take us through the big day from her unique vantage point.
Hours before kick-off, you could already sense how excited the fans were. Sydney were the first to arrive, and greeted their supporters as they entered the biggest stage of the season.
Once the players are inside, I head into the ground. Photographing a grand final is thrilling; but like anyone playing some sort of role on a Grand Final day nerves creep in for me, too. A walk around the pitch helps me relax. I wonder what’s in store for today.
As the stands start to fill up, the mood builds. Fans line the fences; they stand in their seats, cheering on the players during warm up. The excitement is palpable.
The trophy makes its first appearance, as former players Caitlin Friend and Teresa Polias place it between where the teams will walk out. The trophy has been updated to reflect the new era of the Liberty A-League.
When the players walk out, I can feel the adrenaline pumping as I fire off frames. Blue smoke fills the sky as rain starts to fall, making for an atmospheric entrance.
As the players line up in front of the main stand, it is so clear from my unique position – through the smoke – how focused they are on the task ahead.
I head back towards my seat on the sideline, ready for kick off. I’m expecting intensity from the start, and that’s what follows. Sydney immediately put Victory under immense pressure. They push forward, as Victory struggle to find their rhythm.
The home crowd advantage favours Sydney significantly and every time their team surges forward the noise intensifies. There are times where I can’t track a player with my camera because other players or officials are in the way. In these instances, the crowd’s reactions can help me fill in the blanks.
As the half progresses, Sydney comes close to scoring, but can’t get past Victory keeper Casey Dumont.
When Dumont sits down on the pitch with just over ten minutes to play in the opening half, there’s cause for concern. Play is paused (Kyra Cooney-Cross also receives medical attention down the opposite end), and I wonder whether this will quell Sydney’s momentum. They continue to push forward, but the half ends at 0-0.
The players re-emerge for the second half, and Jada Whyman and Princess Ibini share a laugh coming out of the tunnel. It’s nice to see the lighter moments within such a significant occasion.
I choose to stay in the same position for the second half, now the Victory attacking end. Minutes into the half I’m thankful for my decision, when Victory strike first. Players rush towards the scorer, Amy Jackson.
Closer to me, I notice Kyra Cooney-Cross is lying on the floor, sore from a challenge after assisting the goal. Her teammates notice this, and rush across the field where it’s ‘stacks on’. It reminds me of the team’s celebration after Kyra scored in last year’s grand final.
Fifteen minutes later, Victory double their lead. The initial celebration occurs in an almost identical spot to the previous goal. I hold down the shutter on my camera, hoping to capture the reactions. There’s one frame which stands out to me – the contrast of Victory’s elation with Sydney’s despair in the foreground. Whilst I’m often hoping for a clear frame, I think this one tells a good story.
Minutes later, Cortnee Vine scores down the other end – and once again the crowd lifts. Tensions are high, as Sydney throw everything at the match. Casey Dumont stands firm in Victory’s goal, keeping them in the game with some superb saves.
As the minutes wind down, I start to prepare for the post-match celebrations when there are breaks in play. Once the presentations are over, I’ll switch to a wider lens, as I try to capture reactions up close.
The final whistle blows, and the Victory players sprint towards each other, before collapsing on top of each other. This time, Cooney-Cross isn’t at the bottom of the pile. She looks up at injured captain Kayla Morrison, who rushes towards her.
The interactions between teammates continue across the field. I watch as Casey Dumont jumps into the arms of fellow goalkeeper Melissa Maizels. There’s no holding back with these celebrations – or emotions.
Eventually, the trophy presentation begins – and the rain starts to fall heavily. I ignore it as I watch Lia Privitelli call Kayla Morrison up to the stage. Morrison is in tears as Privitelli puts her medal around her teammate’s neck. It’s one of the most touching moments of the day.
Whilst the formalities are underway, I’m also thinking about the team photo with the trophy. I test the two cameras I’m using – one for a wider shot, and one for close ups. Once the trophy is lifted, I want to focus on capturing what’s in front of me.
Family, friends and fans wait by the fence, and the players move towards them after the trophy lift. These are the moments where you can see how much this means to those who support the players as well.
As I start to walk towards my bag to pack up, a few players call out to me. They tell me they have a special photo in mind. Before I know it, they’re sliding on the ground towards me. It’s the perfect frame to finish the day.
For a team that scraped into finals on goal difference, winning back to back championships is a remarkable achievement. Victory came from fourth to beat third, second and first in the finals series. Sydney gave it everything they had, but in the end it wasn’t to be. Victory put in a brave performance, and in the game that mattered most, it won them the title.
