Devonport will bring one of the most formidable records in Tasmanian football history into the Women’s Super League match of the round against South Hobart this weekend.
With 11 straight wins in the league and a cup defence already under their belt, Strikers are well on the way to repeating their double from last season and potentially recording a second-straight unbeaten campaign.
A 2-2 draw against Glenorchy more than a year ago was the last time the team failed to win and they have not suffered defeat since the Summer Cup clash with South Hobart at the start of last season.
“I think it’s 37 games we’re at now,” said proud Strikers coach Tom Ballantyne.
“It’s incredible and it’s a testament to the girls, they’re the ones doing the hard work. I just set out the plans. They are the ones that have to go out and execute it every week. And the levels they’re performing at are unbelievable at the moment.
“I just want to win everything, all the time - ask my two small children, they don’t win anything at home! It’s how it works in our family, it’s how it worked when I grew up. You have to earn wins.”
Second-placed South represent Devonport’s closest challengers but lost this season’s previous league meeting 2-1 followed by the statewide cup final 5-2 - the only blemishes to an otherwise perfect campaign for the Southern giants.
Ballantyne said he is eagerly waiting to see what his opposite number Ken Morton will come up with this weekend.
“We’ve played them three times if you include the Summer Cup and in those three games Ken’s done three different things. The last game playing Jaz (White) and Laura (Davis) in midfield worked in the first half but in the second the game became stretched and it became their Achilles Heel. In the Summer Cup they played a 4-2-4 which allowed us lots of space in midfield to exploit. The game where it was 2-1 they did something slightly different again when Lucy Roberts wasn’t available.
“So coming into this weekend who knows what Ken will bring. We might find Dani (Kannegiesser) playing up front again. I’m sure he’ll try something different because the emphasis is on them to win. If we win this, we go 12 points clear with our bye round the following week so I think it’s a really big game for us.
“They have to win which means there is more space for us to play in on the counter. It’s a game that very much plays into our favour.”
Kannegiesser knows the visitors will have the advantage at D’Arcy Street but is relishing the scenario.
“It’s probably a bigger game for us because we need a result to stay in contention,” she said.
“We go into every game wanting a result but this game is a big decider for us and probably for Devonport too.
“Personally, I love playing Devonport. They’ve got a great group and I love the challenge, that’s why you play football.
“They’ve been super fierce and have had such a strong start to the season. They bring such a wealth of experience being at the top for so long. They’ve got such a great core group who have been together for a while. They’re really explosive up front, super creative. They haven’t got one key player, they’ve got a great array of them in the team that you have to manage.
“If we do win we’re still relying on Devonport to drop some points so unfortunately it’s out of our hands now, but all we’re going to do is do the best we can for the rest of the season.”
White has 20 goals to her name this season but is yet to score against her former team while Japanese import Asuka Doi has netted in 13 of Strikers’ 15 games (22 in total), including both contests against South and was named player-of-the-match in the statewide cup final.
While the forwards inevitably grab the headlines, the league’s benchmark teams have conceded just 17 goals between them across 21 games and take pride in their defensive records.
“One of the players I’ve been most impressed with this season, young Holly Emmett, is a defender. She has been fantastic this season,” Ballantyne said.
“It’s a team effort to do what we do. You defend from the front and you start from the back, that’s how we look at it. However you look at it, they’re a team and it takes all of them - all 16 players, all 23 in the squad - to get us to where we are.
“Consistency has been key for us. We have our way of playing, the girls do it really well and they understand it having been playing like this for a year now. So we just stick with our plan and they know what their jobs are. It’s automatic for them now.”
Kannegiesser is adjusting to a new role in the backline having been a free-scoring attacker for most of her career.
“It’s definitely different. It’s something I’ve learned to love over time,” she said.
“It’s definitely out of my comfort zone but I’ll plan any position on the field and give it a 100 per cent effort … but I am missing scoring some goals!”
Bottom two Taroona and Riverside meet at Kelvedon Park having both come agonisingly close to adding to their points haul in recent weeks while fifth hosts third as Glenorchy welcome Launceston United to KGV.
The NPL Tasmania has a bye this weekend.
Women’s Super League Round 13 preview
(NPL Tasmania bye)
Saturday, July 5
2pm South Hobart v Devonport, D’Arcy Street
2pm Glenorchy v Launceston United, KGV
2.30pm Taroona v Riverside Olympic, Kelvedon Park
BYE: Kingborough