By Kieran Yap 29/8/24
Above: Markovski celebrates one of her 20 goals this season. Photo: Bulleen Lions instagram
Maja Markovski has been one of the most entertaining and reliable forwards in Victoria’s NPLW. The league’s leading scorer spoke to Impetus about her incredible season.
It was the Nike FC Cup final, an early penalty kick to Preston Lions FC had put Bulleen on the back foot and the league leaders looked for inspiration. Up stepped Maja Markovsi and as she had all season, delivered a moment of magic.
The Bulleen forward struck a thunderous free kick that bounced off the bar before the chance was finished off by Rosie Rodger with the keeper well beaten.
Bulleen would eventually win the game 3-2 with Markovski adding another assist, but it was that free kick that turned the tide. Markovski had once again produced a moment of magic when it mattered most.
It’s been a common occurrence in 2024. She ends the home and away season with 20 goals in 20 appearances. When Bulleen needed a win to claim top spot, she delivered a long range effort that was barely believable for anybody watching on.
Since joining Bulleen Lions, Markovski has collected highlights and trophies. The 2024 premiership is her third team accolade in two seasons, with a fourth in their immediate sights. In her first season under Caitlin Friend, she was an exciting and consistent addition to a star studded squad. This year, she has simply been dominant.
It has come off the back of hard work on and off the field.
“I think like the difference between last year and this year is just the fact that I’ve been able to get myself physically fit again,” she said to Impetus.
“And honestly, a massive thing about doing so well this year as well would be the level of confidence that Caity has instilled in me this year.
“It was difficult to come off an A-League season, where I was interrupted by injuries and things like that.
“ I think this year I kind of used it to rebuild and kind of rebrand myself.”
Markovski is the focal point of a very strong team. The experienced player in attack, both X- factor and dependable presence. It is a strange thing to say about a player long admired in Victorian football, but 2024 feels like a breakout season, for her and Bulleen.
“We started something really good in the preseason. I think we had a lot of new faces and things like that. So we built a really strong team culture.
“I think it’s really shown in the last couple of games where we’ve needed to show that we are a really good team together.”
Although Bulleen have been the league leaders for most of the season, it has not been one without challenges. There has been injuries to significant players, and while Markovski shared the attacking duties with the likes of Alana Jancevski and Beattie Goad in 2023, this season she has stepped up to become the senior figure.
At 22 years old, Markovski has had few chances to be the older player in the team, but flanked by 17 year old Alana Cortellino and 19 year old Rosie Rodger, she has enjoyed the responsibility and flourished as the experienced head in a young attack.
“I think I’ve had to probably step up a bit more this year because we don’t have like the likes of Beattie and Jancevski.
“We’ve had Alana, who’s super young 17. And then even on that left side, we’ve had a mix of players, but they’ve all been super young as well, so I’ve kind of had to lead the line from the front this year, and not kind of rely on other players.
“It’s been a good change.
“When players kind of look to me for some inspiration in the game, or to make something happen, and then it kind of gets them going as well, I’ve definitely enjoyed it.”
Markovski has been more than a human highlight reel in 2024. She drops deep to link play, holds the ball up with her back to goal and can be found dashing down either flank. It makes her a nightmare for defenders to track and in full flight, the tall striker is as quick as any winger.
She is a famous celebrator too. It is obvious that she loves a goal and wants to bring as many people into the jubilation as possible. After taking the lead in the Golden Boot race in round 22, she did not stop at her teammates. After breaking free of the mob of Bulleen players, she raced to the sideline to embrace a group of fans, and then the club’s coaching staff.
These moments, hide a humility too. She views goalscoring as her job and responsibility, would prefer to finish off a team move than score an banger and in both the Nike FC Cup final and after scoring the rocket against Alamein, her reaction was unusually muted.
“I think in the Cup game I don’t know, It was a bit anticlimactic when I saw it hit the crossbar, then bounce down and then we scored, I was like, ‘Okay, sweet.’
“It was kind of like more relief.
“It was the same type of vibe in the Alamein game. I think like I’d had a couple of shots that hit the crossbar, and things weren’t kind of going my way. When I got that in, it was just relief.”
In former Victory striker Caitlin Friend, Markovsi has found a mentor that trusts her in the big moments and seems to build game plans around putting her In those positions. Her form this season has been undeniable and exciting to watch, but Markovski says it is also a result of the culture around the team.
“I’m playing with a lot of confidence this year and and I guess in like big moments where there’s pressure, I kind of use that to fuel me.
“I want to be the game changer. You know, I want to win the game for the girls. So I think like that pressure and having that on my back like I’ve just really enjoyed it, and just try to thrive off it.”
There are chances for more of those moments in the coming weeks. Bulleen play in a semi-final against a resurgent Heidelberg this weekend as they hunt for a third trophy of 2024.
“I don’t think we have to change too much to be honest,” says Markovski of the upcoming match
“I think we’ve been really good this year and stepping up in big games.
“So I think if we just play our game and not focus too much on the opposition, and you know we put our best foot forward, I think we’ll do really well.”
It promises to be an exciting match, and with the Golden Boot winner leading the line, Bulleen are every chance to go through.
But no matter how this season ends it has been a sensational one for Maja Markovski. We are near the end of the season, but it still looks like this is only the beginning of a very promising career.
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