1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from News Talks EDB. 3 00:00:12,667 --> 00:00:16,307 Speaker 2: The Wellington Phoenix women have kick started their Ninja A 4 00:00:16,427 --> 00:00:19,267 Speaker 2: League season in record breaking style. 5 00:00:19,947 --> 00:00:26,147 Speaker 3: What about that? What about that performance from Wellington Phoenix. 6 00:00:26,227 --> 00:00:30,347 Speaker 3: The final whistle has gone. The funds are absolutely loving it. 7 00:00:30,587 --> 00:00:34,907 Speaker 3: Quite rightly too, because this is a win for the 8 00:00:34,947 --> 00:00:38,787 Speaker 3: ages for the Phoenix. They've come away here with a 9 00:00:39,467 --> 00:00:41,987 Speaker 3: seven nail win over. 10 00:00:41,867 --> 00:00:46,267 Speaker 2: Sydney after scoring just three goals and they're opening five 11 00:00:46,387 --> 00:00:49,467 Speaker 2: matches of the season and none in the last two games. 12 00:00:49,507 --> 00:00:53,467 Speaker 2: The Phoenix have recorded the biggest win in the team's history, 13 00:00:53,587 --> 00:00:58,427 Speaker 2: beating SYDNEYFC seven nil at Potidawa Park yesterday, the biggest 14 00:00:58,427 --> 00:01:02,787 Speaker 2: winning margin in Phoenix club history men or women, and 15 00:01:02,827 --> 00:01:06,307 Speaker 2: the heaviest defeat the five time champion SYDNEYFC women's side 16 00:01:06,347 --> 00:01:11,227 Speaker 2: I have ever suffered. Nepolie strikers Abetra Bandari or Samba 17 00:01:11,267 --> 00:01:14,147 Speaker 2: as she is widely known, and football firm Grace Jarlay 18 00:01:14,227 --> 00:01:17,027 Speaker 2: both scored twice. Manaia Elliott was also on the score 19 00:01:17,027 --> 00:01:20,787 Speaker 2: sheet along with two late own goals. Phoenix head coach 20 00:01:20,867 --> 00:01:25,507 Speaker 2: Bev Priestman as well as Bev congratulations on an outstanding result. 21 00:01:25,587 --> 00:01:28,707 Speaker 2: You see during the week that you thought someone at 22 00:01:28,747 --> 00:01:31,227 Speaker 2: some stage was going to be on the end of 23 00:01:31,227 --> 00:01:33,827 Speaker 2: a good hiding from your side, But could you have 24 00:01:33,987 --> 00:01:38,147 Speaker 2: possibly imagined that it would be as emphatic as that. 25 00:01:38,907 --> 00:01:41,547 Speaker 4: No, I mean, in reality, I think to score seven 26 00:01:41,587 --> 00:01:45,467 Speaker 4: goals off the back of you know, we're arguably the 27 00:01:45,467 --> 00:01:47,987 Speaker 4: team's confidence just in terms of goal scorer could have 28 00:01:48,027 --> 00:01:50,747 Speaker 4: been law I think, yeah, all threadits to the players 29 00:01:51,227 --> 00:01:54,267 Speaker 4: all week. You can imagine we've worked on putting the 30 00:01:54,267 --> 00:01:56,387 Speaker 4: ball in the back of the net and yeah, I mean, 31 00:01:56,427 --> 00:01:59,347 Speaker 4: what are way to send people off for their Christmas break? 32 00:01:59,747 --> 00:02:02,547 Speaker 2: Man? Elliott opened the scoring after just three minutes. How 33 00:02:02,627 --> 00:02:05,187 Speaker 2: important do you think that early goal was, as you say, 34 00:02:05,227 --> 00:02:07,187 Speaker 2: having worked on that during the week and not being 35 00:02:07,227 --> 00:02:10,307 Speaker 2: able to find the net in the last two games, Yeah. 36 00:02:10,187 --> 00:02:12,467 Speaker 4: I think it set us on our way, right. I think, 37 00:02:12,827 --> 00:02:14,947 Speaker 4: to be honest, in the last two games that we've 38 00:02:14,947 --> 00:02:17,627 Speaker 4: played away, if we'd got the early goal, I'm sure 39 00:02:17,627 --> 00:02:20,227 Speaker 4: those results would have been different based on, you know, 40 00:02:20,267 --> 00:02:23,307 Speaker 4: the dominating performances. But I think, yeah, you're spot on there. 41 00:02:23,307 --> 00:02:25,867 Speaker 4: I think the early goal got us underway, and then 42 00:02:25,907 --> 00:02:29,147 Speaker 4: I think people just you know, got into the rhythm 43 00:02:29,187 --> 00:02:31,787 Speaker 4: and a floor that you know, allowed us to go 44 00:02:31,827 --> 00:02:32,547 Speaker 4: and do what we did. 45 00:02:33,227 --> 00:02:36,227 Speaker 2: There seemed to be a real intent and energy right 46 00:02:36,267 --> 00:02:38,107 Speaker 2: from the start. Look, I know no team goes out 47 00:02:38,147 --> 00:02:41,187 Speaker 2: there to start you know and laid back fashion. But 48 00:02:41,387 --> 00:02:44,387 Speaker 2: was there a particular focus? Yes, did I to start 49 00:02:44,787 --> 00:02:47,827 Speaker 2: fast with big energy, And. 50 00:02:48,027 --> 00:02:50,427 Speaker 4: You know, I would say that even the last time 51 00:02:50,467 --> 00:02:52,467 Speaker 4: we were at Paru Park. I didn't talk about that. 52 00:02:52,587 --> 00:02:54,947 Speaker 4: Right the last time we were here. Give we didn't 53 00:02:54,947 --> 00:02:56,787 Speaker 4: just give the fans a game, We gave them a moment. 54 00:02:56,907 --> 00:02:59,827 Speaker 4: And I think a real intent of you know, the 55 00:02:59,867 --> 00:03:03,587 Speaker 4: fans come every week yellow fever ments and so I 56 00:03:03,667 --> 00:03:05,747 Speaker 4: talked about that a little bit in the you know, 57 00:03:05,787 --> 00:03:09,227 Speaker 4: in the premium. But I also think generally across the 58 00:03:09,267 --> 00:03:12,027 Speaker 4: season we've we've started well. It's actually been the last 59 00:03:12,067 --> 00:03:15,467 Speaker 4: parts of games where maybe we've had lighter bench in things. 60 00:03:15,467 --> 00:03:18,067 Speaker 4: That's probably you know, teams have worked their way into 61 00:03:18,067 --> 00:03:19,667 Speaker 4: the game. But I think what I was most pleased 62 00:03:19,707 --> 00:03:22,467 Speaker 4: with we just kept going right and we didn't think 63 00:03:22,507 --> 00:03:25,867 Speaker 4: illut off the gas. We defended well and yeah, just 64 00:03:26,227 --> 00:03:26,867 Speaker 4: they're put in. 65 00:03:26,747 --> 00:03:29,227 Speaker 2: A big shift to be fair, so yeah, well halftime 66 00:03:29,227 --> 00:03:31,787 Speaker 2: you're throwing the lap so look, things are going really 67 00:03:31,827 --> 00:03:35,347 Speaker 2: well at halftime. How did you ensure your players didn't 68 00:03:35,427 --> 00:03:37,387 Speaker 2: let up when they went out after halftime? 69 00:03:38,307 --> 00:03:40,147 Speaker 4: To be honest, I got after them a little bit 70 00:03:40,187 --> 00:03:42,467 Speaker 4: because I felt in the first half I were defending 71 00:03:42,707 --> 00:03:44,907 Speaker 4: habits weren't as strong as they needed to be. And 72 00:03:44,947 --> 00:03:48,947 Speaker 4: what I do know about people and humans, and you know, 73 00:03:49,187 --> 00:03:51,307 Speaker 4: when you arefering, Neil, it's very easy to take your 74 00:03:51,307 --> 00:03:54,467 Speaker 4: foot off the gas. And so I made sure that, 75 00:03:54,667 --> 00:03:57,067 Speaker 4: you know, I demanded the same standards they're demand every 76 00:03:57,067 --> 00:03:59,547 Speaker 4: week from them, and I knew more goals would come. 77 00:03:59,587 --> 00:04:01,747 Speaker 4: I had a feeling, but I want to make sure 78 00:04:01,787 --> 00:04:03,627 Speaker 4: we kept the clean sheet and we kept all the 79 00:04:03,667 --> 00:04:06,987 Speaker 4: great work that they have done and you know, kept going. 80 00:04:07,067 --> 00:04:08,867 Speaker 4: And so I think we've just got to set real 81 00:04:08,947 --> 00:04:11,787 Speaker 4: high standards for this group. And they they rose to 82 00:04:11,827 --> 00:04:13,027 Speaker 4: the occasion, which is great. 83 00:04:13,147 --> 00:04:14,387 Speaker 2: And even at the end of the game, BA have 84 00:04:14,427 --> 00:04:17,547 Speaker 2: ten minutes to go, it's five nil, the points are safe. 85 00:04:17,987 --> 00:04:21,187 Speaker 2: How pleasing was it to watch your side continue to 86 00:04:21,267 --> 00:04:23,387 Speaker 2: push forward even at five nil ahead. 87 00:04:24,387 --> 00:04:26,907 Speaker 4: Yeah? Absolutely, I think clean sheet? Right, So I think 88 00:04:26,947 --> 00:04:30,027 Speaker 4: that you might heard you from the sidelines like demanding 89 00:04:30,027 --> 00:04:33,067 Speaker 4: the clean sheets. I think, yeah, But I've seen these 90 00:04:33,107 --> 00:04:35,307 Speaker 4: games where maybe you conceived one or two at the 91 00:04:35,427 --> 00:04:38,867 Speaker 4: end and it's so frustrating. But yeah, I think it 92 00:04:38,987 --> 00:04:41,347 Speaker 4: was just a real intent. I think we wanted to 93 00:04:41,387 --> 00:04:43,067 Speaker 4: send a message. You know, there's a lot of talk 94 00:04:43,107 --> 00:04:45,667 Speaker 4: about this team, you know, can't score and all the 95 00:04:45,707 --> 00:04:47,827 Speaker 4: rest of it. I knew it was coming in terms of, 96 00:04:48,267 --> 00:04:51,187 Speaker 4: you know, the performances and data doesn't lie, but also 97 00:04:51,307 --> 00:04:53,507 Speaker 4: the data in the box doesn't lie, and so we 98 00:04:53,547 --> 00:04:55,947 Speaker 4: had to put some more attention on that. And yeah, 99 00:04:56,027 --> 00:04:56,547 Speaker 4: they did it. 100 00:04:57,027 --> 00:05:01,467 Speaker 2: So Samber so a bit for Ben Doura or Nipol's imports. 101 00:05:01,507 --> 00:05:05,787 Speaker 2: She came with a big reputation, She's been hugely supported everywhere. 102 00:05:05,787 --> 00:05:08,827 Speaker 2: She's gone no goals in her first three appearances. How 103 00:05:08,867 --> 00:05:10,227 Speaker 2: much of a weight do you think that'll be off 104 00:05:10,227 --> 00:05:12,427 Speaker 2: her shoulders that she is now off the mark and 105 00:05:12,507 --> 00:05:13,907 Speaker 2: with two yesterday. 106 00:05:14,467 --> 00:05:16,747 Speaker 4: Yeah, and I think probably more than she's on race. 107 00:05:16,787 --> 00:05:19,027 Speaker 4: But I think every straight the wants to score, the 108 00:05:19,027 --> 00:05:21,307 Speaker 4: one being known for goal scoring. But I think the 109 00:05:21,347 --> 00:05:23,427 Speaker 4: pleasant thing is with somebody you see what else she 110 00:05:23,507 --> 00:05:25,707 Speaker 4: brings to the team. She's not just a goal scorer. 111 00:05:25,787 --> 00:05:28,067 Speaker 4: She is a bit of a handful rate. And then 112 00:05:28,147 --> 00:05:30,427 Speaker 4: in many ways, if people are occupied with her as 113 00:05:30,467 --> 00:05:33,147 Speaker 4: freeze others up to. But yeah, I've got no doubt 114 00:05:33,187 --> 00:05:36,587 Speaker 4: about her. Right every straight the ontes to score goals, 115 00:05:36,627 --> 00:05:38,947 Speaker 4: and a new one she got one. She'll be underwear 116 00:05:38,987 --> 00:05:39,587 Speaker 4: now that's her. 117 00:05:40,427 --> 00:05:42,867 Speaker 2: You mentioned it a little bit before, but I just 118 00:05:42,867 --> 00:05:45,707 Speaker 2: want to get a bit more insight into it. The 119 00:05:45,827 --> 00:05:48,707 Speaker 2: nil is as impressive probably as the seven. You know, 120 00:05:48,747 --> 00:05:51,267 Speaker 2: the clean sheet and defense has been a hallmark of 121 00:05:51,307 --> 00:05:53,707 Speaker 2: this side. Just the four goals considered in your first 122 00:05:54,067 --> 00:05:56,747 Speaker 2: six games, and really other teams have had very few 123 00:05:56,787 --> 00:06:00,347 Speaker 2: scoring opportunities. How much do you pride yourself on that base, 124 00:06:00,427 --> 00:06:03,787 Speaker 2: that defensive base, which yesterday was the springboard for you know, 125 00:06:03,827 --> 00:06:04,907 Speaker 2: a lot of goals at the other end. 126 00:06:05,987 --> 00:06:08,187 Speaker 4: Yeah, And I think when I took over with the team, 127 00:06:08,427 --> 00:06:10,947 Speaker 4: I talked about anybody that wants to beat this team 128 00:06:11,067 --> 00:06:13,787 Speaker 4: has to have a really really good game and performance 129 00:06:13,827 --> 00:06:16,227 Speaker 4: to do that. Now, you'd argue maybe and that last 130 00:06:16,267 --> 00:06:19,827 Speaker 4: two games necessarily it hasn't been that for the opposition, 131 00:06:19,907 --> 00:06:21,627 Speaker 4: but they have scored and the potball in the back 132 00:06:21,667 --> 00:06:24,467 Speaker 4: of the neck. But I do think, like anybody that 133 00:06:24,547 --> 00:06:27,587 Speaker 4: puts on a Phoenix shirt and I'm going to demand 134 00:06:27,587 --> 00:06:30,227 Speaker 4: that they work hard, right, that's that's the bare minimum. 135 00:06:30,267 --> 00:06:32,307 Speaker 4: And I think what you're seeing is a collective effort 136 00:06:32,587 --> 00:06:34,707 Speaker 4: from a group of players who want to work hard. 137 00:06:34,747 --> 00:06:36,987 Speaker 4: They believe in the way that we're setting up, and 138 00:06:37,027 --> 00:06:39,387 Speaker 4: they're all sticking to it and facing in the right direction. 139 00:06:39,547 --> 00:06:43,427 Speaker 4: So I think it's the collective effort and just demanding, 140 00:06:43,507 --> 00:06:46,587 Speaker 4: you know, like every recovery runs a sprint and yeah, 141 00:06:46,627 --> 00:06:48,827 Speaker 4: I mean you look at the captain right CG boss. 142 00:06:48,867 --> 00:06:50,867 Speaker 4: I mean, that's that's where it starts. And I think 143 00:06:51,187 --> 00:06:52,787 Speaker 4: the team really prided themselves on that. 144 00:06:53,147 --> 00:06:55,187 Speaker 2: I'd imagine that I was on a team that won 145 00:06:55,267 --> 00:06:57,267 Speaker 2: seven nil, I'd be up this morning, I'd beginning my 146 00:06:57,307 --> 00:07:01,027 Speaker 2: team gear on. I'd be I'd be swaggering around and rightly, so, 147 00:07:01,187 --> 00:07:03,187 Speaker 2: you have to enjoy these moments. But how do you 148 00:07:03,307 --> 00:07:06,707 Speaker 2: keep your side grounded after such a mess of won? 149 00:07:07,867 --> 00:07:09,587 Speaker 4: Yeah, and I think that's it, right. I think what 150 00:07:09,627 --> 00:07:12,067 Speaker 4: I've learned in this game, never too high, never too low. 151 00:07:12,427 --> 00:07:14,187 Speaker 4: But at the same time, what I've also learned is 152 00:07:14,227 --> 00:07:17,547 Speaker 4: you've got to enjoy enjoy these moments because often they 153 00:07:17,587 --> 00:07:19,827 Speaker 4: can be few and far between as well. So I 154 00:07:19,827 --> 00:07:22,187 Speaker 4: think for us, you know, in the review tomorrow, I'll 155 00:07:22,187 --> 00:07:24,027 Speaker 4: do exactly the same as I do every week, and 156 00:07:24,147 --> 00:07:26,907 Speaker 4: not get too carried away, but do let them, you know, 157 00:07:27,067 --> 00:07:29,667 Speaker 4: enjoy Christmas because I do think it's been a They've 158 00:07:29,667 --> 00:07:31,867 Speaker 4: put a real shift in. We've had some stepbacks along 159 00:07:31,907 --> 00:07:33,907 Speaker 4: the way and then be fresh and ready to go. 160 00:07:33,947 --> 00:07:35,787 Speaker 4: And I think for us now we have to go 161 00:07:35,827 --> 00:07:37,707 Speaker 4: and back this up right. It can't be a one 162 00:07:37,747 --> 00:07:42,267 Speaker 4: off performance, not necessarily performance, but results. And now we've 163 00:07:42,267 --> 00:07:44,707 Speaker 4: got to go away and we've got to get rewarded 164 00:07:44,707 --> 00:07:46,467 Speaker 4: for the hard work put in when we were lost 165 00:07:46,467 --> 00:07:49,507 Speaker 4: away and hopefully you know, and I've seen some of 166 00:07:49,547 --> 00:07:51,987 Speaker 4: the stats on the away record, but I think I 167 00:07:52,067 --> 00:07:54,907 Speaker 4: do have faith that the performances when we're away were 168 00:07:54,907 --> 00:07:57,267 Speaker 4: good enough to go and win. And so yeah, it's 169 00:07:57,307 --> 00:07:58,267 Speaker 4: onto the next one now. 170 00:07:58,347 --> 00:08:00,347 Speaker 2: Yeah, I was going to ask you about the the 171 00:08:00,427 --> 00:08:02,947 Speaker 2: away games coming up. You're a white Western Sydney and 172 00:08:02,987 --> 00:08:06,307 Speaker 2: then Brisbane just after New Year. As you say, why 173 00:08:06,507 --> 00:08:08,467 Speaker 2: points litt alone wins have been hard to come by. 174 00:08:08,667 --> 00:08:10,427 Speaker 2: Are you any closer to cracking this or do you 175 00:08:10,467 --> 00:08:13,347 Speaker 2: think it has just that you will eventually be rewarded 176 00:08:13,387 --> 00:08:14,867 Speaker 2: for your performances on the road. 177 00:08:15,907 --> 00:08:18,627 Speaker 4: Yeah, listen, I'd be concerned. Piney if you know, I 178 00:08:18,627 --> 00:08:20,747 Speaker 4: didn't think we started slow. You know, I think in 179 00:08:20,787 --> 00:08:24,027 Speaker 4: the Melbourne City game we were on top output, you know, 180 00:08:24,027 --> 00:08:26,187 Speaker 4: a number of shots and number of touches in the 181 00:08:26,227 --> 00:08:29,387 Speaker 4: box to their one shot. I think the away performances 182 00:08:29,427 --> 00:08:32,547 Speaker 4: have been winning performances are just for some reason hasn't 183 00:08:32,827 --> 00:08:34,787 Speaker 4: fallen with us. And to be honest, we've switched off 184 00:08:34,787 --> 00:08:37,507 Speaker 4: in a critical moment, particularly in that City game. So 185 00:08:38,107 --> 00:08:39,867 Speaker 4: for me, I think we've done a lot of little 186 00:08:39,907 --> 00:08:41,947 Speaker 4: things that I think can go a long way on 187 00:08:41,987 --> 00:08:44,707 Speaker 4: away trips and all the little details that matter, and 188 00:08:45,187 --> 00:08:47,707 Speaker 4: there was nothing in them away trips to me that felt, 189 00:08:48,147 --> 00:08:50,827 Speaker 4: you know what, we started sluggish, and you know, we 190 00:08:51,387 --> 00:08:53,667 Speaker 4: felt overly like it was too much of our own 191 00:08:53,667 --> 00:08:55,747 Speaker 4: away performance. And so that gives me a lot of 192 00:08:56,227 --> 00:08:59,107 Speaker 4: I guess positives moving forward and especially building off the 193 00:08:59,147 --> 00:09:00,267 Speaker 4: back of this big win. 194 00:09:00,507 --> 00:09:02,467 Speaker 2: All right, So at ten dive break now before Western 195 00:09:02,507 --> 00:09:05,507 Speaker 2: Sydney on the thirtieth, So what does Christmas look like 196 00:09:05,547 --> 00:09:06,867 Speaker 2: for you? Can we Christmas for you? 197 00:09:07,787 --> 00:09:10,747 Speaker 4: Yes, KUEI Christmas down in christ Church with the players 198 00:09:10,747 --> 00:09:13,187 Speaker 4: and the staff, have got a three deer break and 199 00:09:13,387 --> 00:09:17,027 Speaker 4: we've got some Christmas Christmas thinging tomorrow with the groups 200 00:09:17,027 --> 00:09:21,347 Speaker 4: and we'll see how see other different groups perform. Yeah, 201 00:09:21,387 --> 00:09:23,907 Speaker 4: there's a few players I can see they really looking 202 00:09:23,947 --> 00:09:24,427 Speaker 4: forward to that. 203 00:09:25,307 --> 00:09:29,707 Speaker 2: Well, a wonderful one yesterday. Just it felt like a 204 00:09:29,707 --> 00:09:32,627 Speaker 2: real watershed moment for this team. BF, congratulations and overseeing 205 00:09:32,947 --> 00:09:35,227 Speaker 2: a record winning the club's history. May there be many 206 00:09:35,227 --> 00:09:37,027 Speaker 2: more goals and many more ones like that. Thanks for 207 00:09:37,067 --> 00:09:40,387 Speaker 2: taking the time for a chat. No, thank you, BF. 208 00:09:40,387 --> 00:09:43,827 Speaker 2: BEF priestsman there, coach of the Wellington Phoenix women who 209 00:09:44,347 --> 00:09:47,667 Speaker 2: put seven past Sydney FC yesterday. It was quite incredible 210 00:09:47,707 --> 00:09:51,147 Speaker 2: and just the most impressive part, as I said to BEV, 211 00:09:51,227 --> 00:09:53,627 Speaker 2: was that when the points were safe at four nil, 212 00:09:53,747 --> 00:09:56,347 Speaker 2: at five nil, they kept going we want more, we 213 00:09:56,387 --> 00:09:59,507 Speaker 2: want more, and they protected their own end as well, 214 00:09:59,547 --> 00:10:01,587 Speaker 2: because you know, as we have said it, you know 215 00:10:01,747 --> 00:10:04,147 Speaker 2: if you win seven nil or seven one, seven two, 216 00:10:04,187 --> 00:10:07,107 Speaker 2: the points are still yours, but there's just that nagging, 217 00:10:07,627 --> 00:10:10,467 Speaker 2: you know, frustration that you haven't been able to keep 218 00:10:10,507 --> 00:10:13,627 Speaker 2: a clean shit at the other end. Seven nil utterly comprehensive. 219 00:10:13,947 --> 00:10:17,267 Speaker 2: So the men can they emulate that? I mean, they'll 220 00:10:17,267 --> 00:10:20,147 Speaker 2: be happy with a win. I would say just two 221 00:10:20,747 --> 00:10:23,787 Speaker 2: in their first eight games of the season and around 222 00:10:24,267 --> 00:10:26,907 Speaker 2: thirty five minutes from now, they'll take on the Central 223 00:10:26,947 --> 00:10:29,667 Speaker 2: Coast Marins at Sky Stadium. How are they feeling? I 224 00:10:29,707 --> 00:10:32,147 Speaker 2: spoke with their captain Alex Ruffer earlier this week. We'll 225 00:10:32,187 --> 00:10:33,547 Speaker 2: hear from him when we come back. 226 00:10:34,307 --> 00:10:37,467 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live 227 00:10:37,587 --> 00:10:40,867 Speaker 1: to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow 228 00:10:40,907 --> 00:10:42,467 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.