SIMMONDS IN ‘AWE’ OF HER YOUNG CREW

EACH time she pulls on the Brothers colours, Zali Simmonds is in awe. Surrounded by young talent she describes as fearless and courageous, she believes those emerging stars are their secret weapon in today’s Crad Evans Shield.

The Brothers defender has established herself as a leader within the blue and white ranks, helping guide the likes of Elise Papageorge, Charley Ruskin and Barbara Sulicich to a North Queensland premiership.

But Simmonds said such has been their rapid improvement throughout 2021, it would be them who would determine how much of a threat they posed to Edge Hill United.

“I love it, especially being able to not only help the younger girls and their potential, but just to see them grow is great – as people, as individuals and players,” Simmonds said.

“They’ve been a huge asset, almost our secret weapons in a way. It’s just their fearlessness, their courage to go into tackles, and just to really pace up to the ball and go in for any challenges without that fear is amazing to watch.

“They outdo me for sure, but it’s something to be in awe of rather than in fear of. Just seeing women like these young girls we have get stronger and more confident is why I’m in a team like this.”

Memories of last year’s defeat to their forthcoming rivals in the same fixture remain for Simmonds.

Heading into the contest with a sprained ankle, she would then go on to break her arm as Brothers suffered a heartbreaking 5-4 defeat to Edge Hill.

In order to overturn their fortunes, Simmonds and her fellow defensive unit will need to withstand the most lethal attacking force in the Far North Queensland competition.

Tigers trio Olivia Gables, Siobhan Macken and Shelley Macaulay finished as their region’s leading goal scorers, with 72 between them.

Simmonds said she was somewhat “apprehensive” about the task of shutting them down, however she refused to shy away from the challenge.

“I was just more disappointed than anything because I had to go off the previous game a week before when I sprained the ankle. Not going for the team when they needed me was more disappointing,” she said.

“I was overcompensating on a slide tackle I would normally confidently do with the foot, but I used my arm to land a bit more comfortably and I heard a snap.

“I’m only a little bit (thinking about it), I think the excitement and love and passion for it takes over.”