New culture manifests itself in tight-knit Phoenix dressing room At a glance
David Williams wasn’t there to experience the lows of last season. But he’s heard the horror stories from the Wellington Phoenix team-mates who were.
‘‘A lot of cliques, a lot of people doing their own things. You know, quiet. People not really enjoying each other’s company. Players not really going for lunch or coffees together,’’ said Williams, who revealed an unhappy culture manifested as the Phoenix only narrowly avoided the wooden spoon.
It’s a different situation now under Mark Rudan though, to the point where the 30-year-old, who has returned to the A-League following two seasons with Hungarian club Haladas, believes the tight-knit bond formed by the playing group during the pre-season will set the Phoenix apart from the rest in 2018-19.
‘‘In between trainings, in between meetings and what not, we’re a friendly bunch of guys. We fight on the pitch and leave it there. When we come off we can sit down with each other and have a laugh. The buzz in the changing room in the morning, even around the fine system, we have some funny things that keep us on our toes.
‘‘Apparently this is one of the better dressing rooms that has been around for the last couple of years and I’m honoured dried up, not getting on court in the final three tests.
6/10 Flashes of brilliance from the former skipper, but guilty of drifting in and out of matches on defence. When she’s What: A-League round one
Where and when: Westpac Stadium, Wellington, tomorrow 5pm
Phoenix: Filip Kurto (gk), Mandi, Ryan Lowry, Dylan Fox, Mitch Nichols, Nathan Burns, David Williams, Liberato Cacace, Alex Rufer, Michal Kopczynski, Louis Fenton, Sarpreet Singh, Tom Doyle, Oliver Sail, Roy Krishna, Andrew Durante (c), Max Burgess, Steven Taylor
Jets: Glen Moss, Jason Hoffman, Nigel Boogaard (c), Ben Kantarovski, Steven Ugarkovic, Dimi Petratos, Jair, Ronald Vargas, Mitch Austin, Ivan Vujica, Kaine Sheppard, Nick Cowburn, Daniel Georgievski, Lewis Italiano, Lachlan Jackson, Matthew Ridenton, Patrick Langlois, Nikolai Topor-Stanley
to be a part of that and hopefully my influence is rubbing off on some of the younger players and even some of the current players who have been here for the last couple of years.’’
In order to help galvanise the team, Rudan called in the army and put the players through a series of tests over 24-hour period without food or sleep last week. dialled in, she can win valuable turnover ball, but Australian goal attack Gretel Tippett caused her problems in the Constellation Cup and had her number. The return from injury of Casey Kopua next year could put her starting spot in jeopardy.
8/10 The Silver Ferns’ best player since Taurua became coach. Had her quietest game to finish the international season in Wellington, but aside from that was superb over the Quad Series and Constellation Cup. Did an excellent job at goal keep in place of Fakahokotau, who would have been the starter if not for her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) setback. Was outstanding in Townsville and Hamilton. Will be desperate to back this form up in 2019.
4/10 Sent a few Australians tumbling in Wellington with her physical defence, but lacks the quickness and height to be an imposing threat against the quality Australian attackers. Her recall to the Ferns after seven years in the netball wilderness was a touching story, but a fit-again Kelly Jury offers greater upside at goal keep.
Jane Watson: Sulu Fitzpatrick:
The Phoenix launch their new campaign tomorrow against the Newcastle Jets, who reached last season’s final.
‘‘We don’t want to say all these things and get everyone hyped up and then get so high that it’s a quick fall,’’ Williams said. ‘‘Even if we do lose games, but I don’t want to speak negatively about that, it’s going to be exciting games because we’re still going to throw everything at them.
‘‘We’re going to be playing attacking football and with the quality that we have, we’re going to see goals so I don’t think there’s going to be droughts at all. Who the goals are going to come from, there’s a range of players who can definitely do that.’’