Morison keen to shine in home territory
FOOTBALL
EMILY Morison has become familiar with the trip home by now.
Today, though, she may finally do it with more blue in her than yellow.
The 21yearold striker has begun her fourth season in Southern United colours — one more than she played for Capital.
But that does not diminish the extra edge she feels going back to her home town of Wellington.
‘‘I love it. I get to see my family and my friends,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s the one I want to play the best in for sure, because I want to show them.’’
She certainly did in last year’s trip to the capital, scoring in the second minute in the final game of the season, which Southern won 21.
It was her seventh goal in Southern colours.
Only Renee Bacon (15) and Shontelle Smith (10) have scored more since the team became part of Southern
United in 2016.
Amy Hislop and Ruby Anderson have both scored seven and, alongside Bacon, are also in today’s team.
It makes for plenty of goalscoring options, and Morison herself felt the depth of talent was noteworthy in this team.
Her first season in Dunedin had marked the turning point for Southern — it finished third in the competition after four years without a win.
It has remained competitive since then, and the easybeat tag has well and truly been shed.
But it was at the lower end of the squad, more so than the top, that Morison really felt it had made progress.
‘‘I have noticed, and a lot of the girls have been saying, when we did start getting good it was mainly a starting XI and a few extra players.
‘‘But if you look at our squad now, our players on the bench are equally as strong as the players starting.
‘‘You never know who’s going to be starting, or who’s going to travel.
‘‘There’s so much more depth in our team compared to other years.’’
It was a team Morison had confidence in.
While it had lost 41 to Canterbury United in last weekend’s season opener, she felt it had matched the defending champions well.
Capital would pose a strong challenge as well, having come off a 11 draw against a quality Northern Lights team.
If it does not go to plan, she will likely get one more chance to return home.
Morison began postgraduate study this year in sports development and management.
That means she has one year left, after which she would either go home or head overseas, depending on the Covid19 situation.
Experienced trio Kelsey Kennard, Chelsea Whittaker and Kate Guildford return for Southern this week, while Ruby Anderson, Georgia Kennedy and Amelie East Giles drop out of the squad.
Kickoff is at 1pm and the match will be streamed live.