1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,787 Speaker 1: from Newstalks EDB. 3 00:00:12,627 --> 00:00:15,987 Speaker 2: The Wellington Phoenix Women in action tonight against Melbourne City 4 00:00:16,027 --> 00:00:19,987 Speaker 2: seven o'clock in Melbourne. It's at Casey Fields. They come 5 00:00:20,027 --> 00:00:23,467 Speaker 2: in in fine form, a club record four matches unbeaten 6 00:00:23,507 --> 00:00:26,707 Speaker 2: for the Phoenix Women, including a win over double defending 7 00:00:26,787 --> 00:00:28,987 Speaker 2: champion Sydney FC last weekend. 8 00:00:29,267 --> 00:00:35,627 Speaker 3: They continue to commit numbers forward Wellington and mcneakon doubles 9 00:00:35,627 --> 00:00:39,987 Speaker 3: the lead. It was a powerful heater it had been 10 00:00:40,027 --> 00:00:44,707 Speaker 3: coming through out the second half and the number two 11 00:00:44,867 --> 00:00:49,067 Speaker 3: rises and heads home past Franco and goal. Wellington take 12 00:00:49,107 --> 00:00:50,947 Speaker 3: a tuner lead over Sydney. 13 00:00:50,667 --> 00:00:53,307 Speaker 2: And one at two. Nila Potty to a park last weekend. 14 00:00:53,427 --> 00:00:55,427 Speaker 2: So off to Melbourn where they take on Melbourne City. 15 00:00:55,467 --> 00:00:55,707 Speaker 4: To night. 16 00:00:55,787 --> 00:00:58,667 Speaker 2: Captain Annalie Longo joined us. Thanks for having a chat 17 00:00:58,707 --> 00:01:01,907 Speaker 2: on match day, Annalie. Unbeaten in your last four now 18 00:01:02,147 --> 00:01:03,907 Speaker 2: up to fifth on the table. What have been the 19 00:01:03,987 --> 00:01:07,307 Speaker 2: main reasons for the team's really good form. 20 00:01:08,067 --> 00:01:11,387 Speaker 4: Yeah, they were really pleased. I think I think the 21 00:01:12,387 --> 00:01:15,267 Speaker 4: most pleasing thing for me is around being our defensive shape, 22 00:01:15,587 --> 00:01:17,867 Speaker 4: not considering cheap goals and you know, really working hard, 23 00:01:17,907 --> 00:01:20,667 Speaker 4: defensitively and being able to hang on to you know, 24 00:01:20,787 --> 00:01:23,707 Speaker 4: one or two goal leagues and you know, all that 25 00:01:23,827 --> 00:01:27,187 Speaker 4: results where last season we seemed to struggle. So yes, 26 00:01:27,227 --> 00:01:29,147 Speaker 4: been really pleasing to see. We've played some really good 27 00:01:29,187 --> 00:01:32,427 Speaker 4: teams in the last four weeks as well. So good son, and. 28 00:01:32,427 --> 00:01:35,947 Speaker 2: How much confidence have you taken from the unbeaten run 29 00:01:35,987 --> 00:01:40,147 Speaker 2: of four games, especially after three straight defeats to start 30 00:01:40,147 --> 00:01:40,587 Speaker 2: the season. 31 00:01:41,907 --> 00:01:45,627 Speaker 4: Definitely tall about building that momentum and how we want 32 00:01:45,667 --> 00:01:47,987 Speaker 4: to continue to do that. And I think although those 33 00:01:48,027 --> 00:01:50,227 Speaker 4: were two games, I thought you actually played some good 34 00:01:50,227 --> 00:01:52,547 Speaker 4: football and I think the performances were there were just 35 00:01:52,627 --> 00:01:54,947 Speaker 4: lacking in those you know file bit of quality moments. 36 00:01:54,947 --> 00:01:57,827 Speaker 4: So I think, you know, these classball game. It's definitely improved, 37 00:01:57,867 --> 00:01:59,907 Speaker 4: and the squad's growing and the debts growing in the 38 00:01:59,907 --> 00:02:02,947 Speaker 4: squad and yes, yeah, good good things are you know 39 00:02:03,147 --> 00:02:04,987 Speaker 4: kind of ruling and people are getting into form and 40 00:02:05,067 --> 00:02:08,187 Speaker 4: fitness and things that. So yeah, the team's jelling well 41 00:02:08,227 --> 00:02:11,067 Speaker 4: together and yeah, looking forward to two more thans coming ahead. 42 00:02:11,307 --> 00:02:14,427 Speaker 2: So last weekend to nil over Sydney FC, but the 43 00:02:14,427 --> 00:02:17,187 Speaker 2: game took a bit longer than usual with a break 44 00:02:17,707 --> 00:02:20,787 Speaker 2: for the threat of lightning, strikes. Have you ever had 45 00:02:21,067 --> 00:02:24,347 Speaker 2: a match interrupted by the threat of lightning before? 46 00:02:25,867 --> 00:02:30,467 Speaker 5: I have. Actually it was a World Cup match against 47 00:02:30,627 --> 00:02:34,347 Speaker 5: Canada in an opening group game against sell it Old 48 00:02:34,347 --> 00:02:38,547 Speaker 5: coach John Hoodman, and we actually battled the first ten. 49 00:02:38,387 --> 00:02:41,427 Speaker 4: Minutes of the game. We're struggling and down and we 50 00:02:41,467 --> 00:02:42,867 Speaker 4: went to the chest and it probably did us a 51 00:02:42,867 --> 00:02:44,547 Speaker 4: bit of a favor and we come back out and 52 00:02:44,547 --> 00:02:46,947 Speaker 4: we managed to scrap a draw out of that game. 53 00:02:47,067 --> 00:02:48,867 Speaker 4: So it was a similar feeling when we went into 54 00:02:48,867 --> 00:02:51,587 Speaker 4: the get. I think we were getting better than that 55 00:02:51,627 --> 00:02:54,547 Speaker 4: first staf against the FU were struggling to climbing the energy, 56 00:02:54,707 --> 00:02:57,147 Speaker 4: all kind of shrim passes and hang on with a 57 00:02:57,147 --> 00:03:01,467 Speaker 4: few scary moments, and yeah, I think that the weather 58 00:03:01,707 --> 00:03:02,907 Speaker 4: probably lessened. 59 00:03:02,507 --> 00:03:03,067 Speaker 3: To our favor. 60 00:03:03,107 --> 00:03:05,587 Speaker 4: Were able to reset and kind of refocus and come 61 00:03:05,627 --> 00:03:08,147 Speaker 4: out and I think that you can lockdown TUCT. 62 00:03:08,627 --> 00:03:11,547 Speaker 2: I heard your coach Paul Temple afterwards say that during 63 00:03:11,547 --> 00:03:13,707 Speaker 2: that break, which was about forty five minutes, you just 64 00:03:13,787 --> 00:03:17,187 Speaker 2: watched the first half back basically in order to work out, 65 00:03:17,227 --> 00:03:19,467 Speaker 2: you know, what had been not quite going as well 66 00:03:19,467 --> 00:03:21,267 Speaker 2: as you would have hoped, and to be able to 67 00:03:21,267 --> 00:03:23,387 Speaker 2: make some tweaks for the second half. Is that basically 68 00:03:23,467 --> 00:03:25,187 Speaker 2: what happened in the in the sheds at half time. 69 00:03:26,227 --> 00:03:28,587 Speaker 4: Yeah, we had a couple of laptop stuff and those 70 00:03:28,587 --> 00:03:32,307 Speaker 4: that wanted to watch some Fordage or stay clips specific 71 00:03:32,667 --> 00:03:34,387 Speaker 4: you know what could help us were sitting down and 72 00:03:34,427 --> 00:03:37,227 Speaker 4: looking at those. And yeah, there was a mixture of 73 00:03:37,227 --> 00:03:39,507 Speaker 4: things going on, but yeah, it was all about kind 74 00:03:39,507 --> 00:03:41,907 Speaker 4: of trying to reset the mind and make sure the 75 00:03:41,907 --> 00:03:44,387 Speaker 4: body was ready to go and refocus to step that 76 00:03:44,507 --> 00:03:46,667 Speaker 4: out and put in a much improved performance in that 77 00:03:46,707 --> 00:03:47,267 Speaker 4: second half. 78 00:03:47,507 --> 00:03:50,467 Speaker 2: All right, So Melbourne City up next tonight, top of 79 00:03:50,507 --> 00:03:54,307 Speaker 2: the league, unbeaten at home for them, they've scored twenty 80 00:03:54,387 --> 00:03:57,787 Speaker 2: goals in their seven games, so given all of that 81 00:03:58,347 --> 00:04:02,187 Speaker 2: has been defensively sound been a big focus ahead of 82 00:04:02,227 --> 00:04:02,787 Speaker 2: this one. 83 00:04:03,827 --> 00:04:07,387 Speaker 4: Yeah, and we have we we only considered you know 84 00:04:07,747 --> 00:04:11,387 Speaker 4: fully goals or goals that you know are easy for 85 00:04:11,587 --> 00:04:16,227 Speaker 4: teams before. So yeah, compacts and defensively strong is always 86 00:04:16,267 --> 00:04:19,147 Speaker 4: you know, we always the clanging one game, So we 87 00:04:19,267 --> 00:04:21,387 Speaker 4: want to go out and defense would be strong. 88 00:04:21,507 --> 00:04:25,627 Speaker 5: But in saying that, we know the targets then so yeah. 89 00:04:25,467 --> 00:04:28,107 Speaker 4: We're going to try and go out them and all 90 00:04:28,147 --> 00:04:31,307 Speaker 4: to play for I think is obviously against the quality 91 00:04:31,307 --> 00:04:33,267 Speaker 4: side in the last four days. We want to continue 92 00:04:33,267 --> 00:04:35,827 Speaker 4: that and you know when we take it to a 93 00:04:35,907 --> 00:04:37,387 Speaker 4: very good city size. 94 00:04:37,027 --> 00:04:39,307 Speaker 2: And leading the line from Melbourne City is one of 95 00:04:39,307 --> 00:04:41,787 Speaker 2: your former teammates made on a spectma now wearing the 96 00:04:42,067 --> 00:04:45,387 Speaker 2: sky blue of Melbourne City. But you know a bit 97 00:04:45,427 --> 00:04:47,947 Speaker 2: about it having been a teammate last year. Just having 98 00:04:48,307 --> 00:04:52,027 Speaker 2: some inside information on her help you to nullify the 99 00:04:52,067 --> 00:04:53,627 Speaker 2: specific threat that she'll bring tonight. 100 00:04:54,827 --> 00:04:57,507 Speaker 4: Yes she's a quality player, but yeah, definitely we know 101 00:04:57,547 --> 00:05:00,587 Speaker 4: a lot about her and a lot about the City side. 102 00:05:00,587 --> 00:05:02,627 Speaker 5: You know, they play style of football that they don't 103 00:05:02,707 --> 00:05:03,027 Speaker 5: kind of. 104 00:05:02,987 --> 00:05:05,627 Speaker 4: Shy away from, and they sit to it even when 105 00:05:06,347 --> 00:05:11,747 Speaker 4: potentially they're sitting press store, you know, in tough parts 106 00:05:11,747 --> 00:05:14,667 Speaker 4: of the game. So I think, I think we can 107 00:05:14,667 --> 00:05:16,947 Speaker 4: stand up and be strong and go at them. Then 108 00:05:16,987 --> 00:05:20,067 Speaker 4: I can differently cause them. So hearing a lot about 109 00:05:20,627 --> 00:05:22,707 Speaker 4: City and the way they like to play, and I 110 00:05:22,707 --> 00:05:26,067 Speaker 4: think sometimes you can go out and cause a bit 111 00:05:26,107 --> 00:05:27,027 Speaker 4: of an outset m I thing. 112 00:05:27,507 --> 00:05:29,267 Speaker 2: So you seem that things sort of out at the 113 00:05:29,267 --> 00:05:32,787 Speaker 2: defensive end, Annale, with just the four goals conceded in 114 00:05:32,827 --> 00:05:35,107 Speaker 2: the last six games. At the other end, though you've 115 00:05:35,107 --> 00:05:38,667 Speaker 2: scored just eight in eight games this season, is having 116 00:05:39,427 --> 00:05:41,667 Speaker 2: a better cutting edge scoring more goals? Is that a 117 00:05:41,667 --> 00:05:42,347 Speaker 2: bit of a work. 118 00:05:42,227 --> 00:05:42,627 Speaker 1: On for you? 119 00:05:44,307 --> 00:05:47,147 Speaker 4: Absolutely, I think, of course we'd like to win games 120 00:05:47,187 --> 00:05:50,387 Speaker 4: by more and make them more comfortable. But I think 121 00:05:50,427 --> 00:05:51,947 Speaker 4: what I have liked is you've seen a range of 122 00:05:52,027 --> 00:05:54,587 Speaker 4: scorers around the squad. I think probably eight goals in 123 00:05:54,627 --> 00:05:57,507 Speaker 4: almost seven or eight different scorers as well, and that 124 00:05:57,867 --> 00:05:59,627 Speaker 4: is a good sign that a lot of people are 125 00:05:59,627 --> 00:06:02,667 Speaker 4: scoring and you're not relying on that one person. But yeah, 126 00:06:02,707 --> 00:06:04,507 Speaker 4: of course would like to score more goals and create 127 00:06:04,547 --> 00:06:07,907 Speaker 4: more I think I f games just there, create a 128 00:06:07,947 --> 00:06:10,107 Speaker 4: lot more chances and get into their box a lot more. 129 00:06:10,587 --> 00:06:12,387 Speaker 4: We just want to continue to do that. And obviously 130 00:06:13,507 --> 00:06:16,907 Speaker 4: more shots on target this key. And as we've seen 131 00:06:16,907 --> 00:06:18,987 Speaker 4: in the last two weeks, if you don't shoot, you 132 00:06:19,027 --> 00:06:20,947 Speaker 4: don't score. And I think we've probably been a little 133 00:06:20,987 --> 00:06:23,707 Speaker 4: bit luckier. I've picked up a couple that save. You're 134 00:06:23,707 --> 00:06:26,027 Speaker 4: a little bit lucky, But that's cy. If you don't shoot, 135 00:06:26,027 --> 00:06:27,387 Speaker 4: you don't score, And so I'm going to take that 136 00:06:27,507 --> 00:06:28,307 Speaker 4: mooste into the game. 137 00:06:28,907 --> 00:06:30,787 Speaker 2: And the nature of the A League, both the men's 138 00:06:30,787 --> 00:06:33,387 Speaker 2: and the women's competition, is that squads tend to turn 139 00:06:33,467 --> 00:06:37,907 Speaker 2: over season after season. Your you know, lose players, you 140 00:06:37,987 --> 00:06:41,507 Speaker 2: gain players. But you've got five new imports at Wellington 141 00:06:41,547 --> 00:06:47,627 Speaker 2: Phoenix this season Carolinavillau, Maya McCutcheon, Olivia Ferguson, Olivia Kelly 142 00:06:47,667 --> 00:06:51,507 Speaker 2: and mayber Tanaka. How have you gone about assimilating them 143 00:06:51,507 --> 00:06:53,387 Speaker 2: into your team and how have they filled in? 144 00:06:54,307 --> 00:06:56,907 Speaker 4: Yeah, they'd been excellent so far. They've come in and 145 00:06:57,347 --> 00:06:59,787 Speaker 4: I think they're really enjoying their time here in New Zealand. 146 00:07:00,787 --> 00:07:02,987 Speaker 4: And yeah, it's all about dating those connections. I think 147 00:07:02,987 --> 00:07:05,227 Speaker 4: you've obviously seen the quality that they bring out on 148 00:07:05,267 --> 00:07:07,867 Speaker 4: the field and just make in the field welcoming at 149 00:07:07,907 --> 00:07:10,067 Speaker 4: home and comfortable. And I think when people feel like 150 00:07:10,067 --> 00:07:12,947 Speaker 4: they're field values that they before their best. So yeah, 151 00:07:12,947 --> 00:07:15,867 Speaker 4: I think they've all been the outstanding so far. And yeah, 152 00:07:15,947 --> 00:07:18,027 Speaker 4: this was important to seeing them grow throughout the season 153 00:07:18,107 --> 00:07:20,467 Speaker 4: and in fact that can bring it all left. 154 00:07:20,747 --> 00:07:22,987 Speaker 2: And can I ask you about a young Kiwi player 155 00:07:23,027 --> 00:07:25,347 Speaker 2: who plays in a similar position to you in midfield, 156 00:07:25,387 --> 00:07:28,347 Speaker 2: and that's Daisy brazen Dale. She's featured on every game 157 00:07:28,387 --> 00:07:30,787 Speaker 2: this season, some from the start, some off the bench. 158 00:07:31,107 --> 00:07:33,307 Speaker 2: How do you assess her development as one of the 159 00:07:33,307 --> 00:07:36,387 Speaker 2: younger players and what her possible ceiling might be. 160 00:07:37,747 --> 00:07:40,947 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think David's really grind. She's really impressed me. 161 00:07:41,547 --> 00:07:44,187 Speaker 4: Her growth from last season to this season has been amens, 162 00:07:44,627 --> 00:07:47,347 Speaker 4: both on the field and mentally off the field. So yes, 163 00:07:47,387 --> 00:07:50,507 Speaker 4: he's exciting. And I think she plays the out and 164 00:07:50,547 --> 00:07:54,027 Speaker 4: out sixth role. She's defensively within the right positions and 165 00:07:54,067 --> 00:07:55,427 Speaker 4: she gets you know, she does a lot of work 166 00:07:55,467 --> 00:07:57,427 Speaker 4: and gets around there the pitch. But when she's on 167 00:07:57,427 --> 00:07:59,907 Speaker 4: the ball, I think he's come and she's clean with 168 00:07:59,987 --> 00:08:03,147 Speaker 4: her passes, and yeah, I think just the growth from 169 00:08:03,227 --> 00:08:05,627 Speaker 4: last season to the season has been amens. Yeah, we 170 00:08:05,627 --> 00:08:08,827 Speaker 4: can continue in her development. I'm sure you'll see more 171 00:08:08,827 --> 00:08:09,507 Speaker 4: and more. 172 00:08:09,907 --> 00:08:12,747 Speaker 5: Game times for her and really kind of cementing. 173 00:08:12,307 --> 00:08:13,187 Speaker 4: The spots of course. 174 00:08:13,467 --> 00:08:15,187 Speaker 2: And I know you're only focusing on the A League 175 00:08:15,187 --> 00:08:17,547 Speaker 2: at the moment, but we saw you in the football 176 00:08:17,587 --> 00:08:20,627 Speaker 2: fern shirt at the Olympics earlier this year. One hundred 177 00:08:21,027 --> 00:08:24,467 Speaker 2: and thirty six caps for you now, Annalie, is there 178 00:08:24,547 --> 00:08:27,307 Speaker 2: more to come from you at international level? 179 00:08:28,707 --> 00:08:31,387 Speaker 4: Yeah, and I'm sure at the moment where obviously I'm 180 00:08:31,427 --> 00:08:35,107 Speaker 4: sure what's got interim coach with Michael Mayne, and yeah, 181 00:08:35,147 --> 00:08:38,347 Speaker 4: not to be sure that the next steps. So yeah, 182 00:08:38,507 --> 00:08:41,147 Speaker 4: taking kind of one day to time and then yeah, 183 00:08:41,187 --> 00:08:43,907 Speaker 4: hopefully it's continuing to put performance into for the Phoenix 184 00:08:43,987 --> 00:08:45,507 Speaker 4: and see what happens in February. 185 00:08:45,627 --> 00:08:48,747 Speaker 2: All right, well we'll wait and see on that. In 186 00:08:48,747 --> 00:08:51,107 Speaker 2: the meantime, all the best tonight against Melbourne City. Annally 187 00:08:51,347 --> 00:08:52,947 Speaker 2: to you on the team, thanks for joining us. That's 188 00:08:53,107 --> 00:08:56,067 Speaker 2: Annalie longer captain of the Wellington Phoenix woman's side. She's 189 00:08:56,107 --> 00:08:59,147 Speaker 2: been terrific, a big part of why they've been so 190 00:08:59,307 --> 00:09:02,467 Speaker 2: good in recent times. So tonight Melbourne City seven o'clock. 191 00:09:02,787 --> 00:09:06,587 Speaker 2: That's New Zealand time. They play over in Melbourne at 192 00:09:06,707 --> 00:09:09,867 Speaker 2: Casey Fields. Already a couple of games in this round 193 00:09:09,907 --> 00:09:12,227 Speaker 2: of the A League women's competition. Last night Adelaide one 194 00:09:12,307 --> 00:09:15,107 Speaker 2: nil winners over the Western Sydney Wanderers. Central Coast Marion 195 00:09:15,187 --> 00:09:17,627 Speaker 2: is one nil winners over Perth Glory. Melbourne said they 196 00:09:17,627 --> 00:09:20,507 Speaker 2: are a good side five wins and two draws from 197 00:09:20,547 --> 00:09:23,507 Speaker 2: their seven games. As I mentioned to Annally during that chat, 198 00:09:23,827 --> 00:09:26,467 Speaker 2: twenty goals they've scored so far, so it'll take a 199 00:09:26,467 --> 00:09:29,707 Speaker 2: good defensive effort from the Phoenix women. Although they've shown 200 00:09:29,707 --> 00:09:32,067 Speaker 2: in the last four games that they're well and truly 201 00:09:32,147 --> 00:09:34,867 Speaker 2: up to that, just four goals conceded in six games, 202 00:09:34,867 --> 00:09:38,467 Speaker 2: which is I'm sure very pleasing to coach Paul Temple. 203 00:09:39,107 --> 00:09:42,307 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 204 00:09:42,387 --> 00:09:45,707 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow 205 00:09:45,707 --> 00:09:47,347 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio