Above: Kyah Simon celebrating with her team. Image: Central Coast Mariners.
Impetus’ Ryan Miller-Woods reports on Central Coast Mariners’ media conference ahead of their preliminary final clash against Melbourne Victory. Head coach Emily Husband and Matilda Kyah Simon share their thoughts (14/4/24).
Kyah Simon, while she didn’t feature until Round 14 due to setbacks in her ACL recovery, has made up for lost time. Her experience and presence on the pitch have without a doubt been a significant benefit for the team since returning and will play a very important role should she feature on Sunday.
When asked how proud she and the team are to have made the finals, Simon said, “I think when you would have looked at the start of the season, how we’d go this year, I don’t think really anyone expected us to be in the finals. So, really proud of the girls for how we’ve fought this season, how we’ve played (having) left everything out on the pitch, week in, week out and reaping the benefits by being in finals football.”
Sunday’s match won’t be the easiest, especially against Melbourne Victory who appear to be peaking at the right time going finals. In their previous two encounters this season, Central Coast have failed to emerge victorious, with a defeat and a draw respectively.
When asked how she sums up Melbourne Victory as an opponent, Simon said, “Victory are a great team on paper. They’ve obviously had some mixed results throughout this season but they’ve got quality in their team, they’ve got a lot of experience and they’re a well-balanced team all throughout. So, expecting a tough challenge against them like it has been the two times we’ve played each other, but at the same time not focusing too much on their strengths and their qualities but more so on how we can exploit their weaknesses.”
Someone who can be very pleased with how their first season as an A-League Women’s head coach has gone is Emily Husband, who has instilled a playing style that’s really brought out the best from the players, especially the likes of Ash Irwin, Jazmin Wardlow, Bianca Galic, Wurigumula, Rola Badawiya, Peta Trimis, and Isabel Gomez.
Furthermore, Husband has absolutely looked at home as the head coach for the Mariners and should she remain in the role for next season, the sky’s the limit for what the club can achieve in the league.
When asked what she expects from Melbourne Victory going into Sunday’s match, Husband said, “we’ve played them twice already this year. I thought they were both good games marginally decided by a couple of goals (and) a few moments. I know that we can go toe-to-toe with them, it’s just about who takes the moments on the day. They had a really good Round 22 against Sydney FC and showed the league what they’re truly capable of, but we’re not here to make up the numbers, we want to make sure we compete in this game and spoil the party.”
Ahead of their final in Melbourne, one thing in the Mariners’ favour is that they have the best away record in the league with seven wins and just four losses. When asked what it has been about the away games that have seen positive results for Central Coast, Husband said, “I think it’s just that camaraderie around the team, going into the game having spent that extra time together just bonds you a bit more on away trips and you go through periods of the day really similar, the girls prepare well and we’ve always changed the schedule according to what it is the groups needs. Playing away from home has suited us this season and we want to take advantage of that.”
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