Must-win for Warriors

Double winners ready for new women’s mission

THE dawn of a new era in Football Gold Coast’s women’s competitions has done nothing to diminish Southport’s hunger for silverware as they prepare to put their 2017 crowns on the line.

With the Premier League and Premier League Reserves combined to form the new 11team Women’s League, premiership-championship double winners Southport are entering the unknown in this year’s campaign.

However, co-captain Eva Gasparovic said the changes had not altered the Warriors’ take-no-prisoners mentality.

“We’re just looking forward to the season, to defending the premiership,” Gasparovic, who will share the captaincy responsibilities with Lisa Gregson, said.

“Our pre-season has been going for a long time now, everyone is looking really strong and really fit. We’ve had about six pre-season games, including NPL teams Mudgeeraba and Moreton Bay and went pretty good against those two.

“Majority (of the squad) have kept together but we’ve had to bring in a few more players. There is a lot of depth in our team at the moment, it’s hard to pick (who will play) a lot of the time.

“We haven’t seen a few of the other teams play yet. We haven’t seen Broadbeach or Coomera but it’ll be like any other competition, whoever we get we get.

“We’re definitely looking forward to defending the premiership.”

Southport proved utterly dominant throughout the regular season in 2017, going undefeated to finish four points clear of Musgrave.

Gasparovic, a central defender, said their ability to outlast their rivals was central to the success.

“Definitely our fitness last year, it ruined a lot of teams towards the end of the season and that’s the plan again this year. Even if we can’t train, we are down at the gym together or doing fitness sessions together,” the 29-year-old said.

“(Last season) was a bit of a shock. Every season has its ups and downs and a lot of people wrote us off in the beginning because we couldn’t get a full team together, but we came together and did it.”

The Warriors, who have a bye in Round 1 before hosting Broadbeach 1 next Saturday, are one of two Southport teams in the Women’s League.

Gasparovic singled out midfielder Emily Benton and defender Hannah Brennan as players to watch this season.

Robina will also field two teams in the league.

The men’s Gold Coast Premier League continues today with games between Coomera and Murwillumbah, Nerang and Palm Beach, and Mudgeeraba and Broadbeach.