In this week’s ‘WA On Wednesday’ feature, Ben Gilby speaks to UWA-Nedlands’ Emily Dinsdale about her career which has seen her progress from the club’s amateur team to now playing a starring role for the NPLW WA’s newest side for the 2024 season (10/7/24).
Above: Emily Dinsdale (green shirt) in action for UWA-Nedlands. Photo supplied to Impetus by: UWA-Nedlands.
Emily Dinsdale is an example of what can happen when you keep plugging away and improving your game over a number of years. In six years at UWA-Nedlands, she has moved up through the levels and is now a hugely impressive performer as captain of the club in their first-ever NPLW season.
Looking back over her time at the club, Dinsdale said: “I have quietly progressed at UWA Nedlands from the Women’s Amateurs team, then to State League, and I was very excited to take on the new challenge as captain in our first NPLW team. I’ve played with some of the girls in this team for many years now, and love the team bond and culture we have this season.”
However, the player’s footballing story goes back a lot longer than her time at UWA-Nedlands, as she takes up the story. “I started playing football 20 years ago at Wembley Downs Soccer Club, as the only girl in a team of all boys.
“In the last 20 years, I haven’t gone a single year without playing soccer. I played at WDSC for 13 years, then for a year at Monash University in Melbourne, before coming to UWA-Nedlands. As a player I love to work with space down the wing, taking players on and setting up goals. I enjoy using quick footwork and speed to create scoring opportunities for the forward team. As a captain, I aim to lead by example by putting in consistent effort at training and giving 100% to every challenge in games.”
Those efforts and challenges have stepped up another notch this year as the club’s third-place finish in the 2023 State League Division One enabled them to be considered for the first-ever promotion spot into the NPLW WA. It was a place they were awarded to replace Curtin University, who finished bottom last season. Dinsdale reflected on last season which saw the club involved in a three-way battle with Hamersley United and Perth AFC for top spot.
“At the beginning of the year, we set the goals of winning the Night Series, and the State League title. To have won the Night Series after losing Grand Finals the two years prior was a huge highlight. Unfortunately with regards to the State League season, we didn’t finish up quite where we were hoping to.
“Hamersley United and Perth AFC always put up strong fights and it was great to have that challenge. We always knew coming into those games that we would be up against physically strong and experienced players. After coming up short in some of those key games last season, we’re determined to capitalise on our chances this season.
“Finding out about our promotion to the NPLW was hugely exciting, not just for our first team but also for the club as a whole. Multiple people in the club have put so much time and energy into getting us to this point, so we’re thrilled to be given this opportunity.
“It’s exciting to have a pathway for the young girls at the club to be able to strive towards a high level of performance.”
Emily Dinsdale on the impact that promotion to the NPLW WA can have on the whole club.
The higher levels of performance required meant that pre-season training and preparations were on a whole new level to what the players had previously experienced at the club. It was part of a whole culture of stepping up the challenge and expectations to give the team the best possible chance of a competitive NPL season.
“I think moving up into the NPL, and stepping in as captain this year, are definitely the biggest challenges I’ve faced as a footballer. Coming up against teams with lots of experience, as a team with only one player with NPL experience is a massive challenge.
“Pre-season training was definitely more intensive than in previous seasons. We completed trials in November, and have been training three to four days per week since then. It’s felt like a very long pre-season so there was lots of nervous energy and adrenaline coming into our first games. It was great to see so many of the same faces back from last season, and the pre-season preparation has allowed us to build some really strong relationships with our new recruits.
“I feel that the hard work we’ve done in pre-season, as well as finding our feet in Night Series, have given myself and the whole team some valuable confidence. I know we will continue to step up to the challenge this season and prove we belong in this league.”
The team have definitely stepped up to the challenge so far. They were place in a fiendishly tough NPLW Night Series group with Perth RedStar, Hyundai NTC, and Balcatta Etna to kick things off – and they held their heads high, and Dinsdale is extremely proud of her team’s pre-season run.
“We always knew our draw in the Night Series was a tough group. Our first two games against RedStar and Balcatta were a baptism of fire, however despite the losses we definitely didn’t come away from them feeling deflated. Scoring three unanswered goals in the first half of our game against NTC was a huge positive, and gave us some good confidence going forward. Obviously, it was disappointing to then come away with a draw, but I think overall we came away from the Night Series with optimism about the season ahead.”
Those three round-robin matches prepared the team for the opening rounds of the NPLW WA. The historic first game saw Hyundai NTC make the trip to the UWA Sports Park, and whilst the visitors had the lion’s share of possession and territory, Dinsdale’s side were well-organised, well disciplined, showing potential in attack and quality at the back in the shape of goalkeeper Morgan Springer.
UWA-Nedlands have continued to grow from then and have been competitive. Dinsdale and her team mates have able to pick up results against teams around them in the table to currently stand three points above bottom-side Murdoch University Melville, and have a game in hand on them.
“I feel individually, and as a team, we’re continuing to improve every week. The confidence in individuals and the link-ups between players are becoming stronger every training session and game. We’ve been gradually finding our rhythm and cohesion on the field. I think we have a good bit of momentum and confidence…and we’ll be a force not to be underestimated.
“As a team, we’re realistic about our goals, and what we want to achieve. Obviously, the main aim is to retain our spot in the NPLW, but we would ideally like to come out mid-table at the end of the season. We want to prove that although we might be coming in as under-dogs we’re not to be under-estimated, and we will put up a strong fight at this level.
“Personally, my aim is to work hard on and off the pitch, and put in 100% on game day to be a role model to the team, and young girls coming through the club. I want to build a great team and club culture that attracts and retains players.”
Dinsdale has certainly done that. A hugely consistent performer for her side leading by example, she made the shortlist for Impetus‘ NPLW WA Player of the Month awards for May. As well as being a key link-up player that drives her team forward, the UWA-Nedlands captain has been in among the goals and assists this season.
Emily Dinsdale and UWA-Nedlands have been an excellent addition to the NPLW WA this season – and they have the confidence and ability to produce the results to ensure their stay in the competition lasts beyond this year.
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