Going into season 2022 was always going to be tough for our FQPL Division 1 Women's Team. With some experienced players moving on we were going to be asking a lot from our U23s to step up into the Open Women's Competition. With the average age in the team just 19 years old we knew it was a young and less experienced team. Looking at the table it’s easy to be critical of a team with no wins and only two draws, but that does not tell the tale of this team.
Off to a nervous start, and somewhat intimidated by older and more experienced opposition, the girls had a difficult first few rounds. The last six weeks however has seen the girls find their feet and their quality is starting to really show through. A more confident and determined team is starting to take points from the middle ranked teams and push the top teams much further. Our first fixture against second-placed Mitchelton was a tough 7-1 loss, but just two months later and we pushed them all the way and it was a tight loss 2-0, a magnificent turnaround.
Team Manager Stelle Tallon and Coach Chris Saxill shared with us these thoughts: "Over the past two seasons there have been so many senior women leave and these young ones have decided to stay and try to build something, knowing that it will be a tough year in terms of results against other teams with much more experience. But they are sticking to the task and playing for each other and working hard. They are playing with the heart, teamwork and fight that they have always shown in recent years."
Well done girls. Win, lose or draw, we could not be more proud!