By Kieran Yap 20/3/25
Above: Sienna Saveska (left) after completing a hatrick. Photo: Western Sydney Wanderers
There are few players that can hit a ball like Sienna Saveska. The Western Sydney Wanderers and Young Matildas forward has spent this season assembling an impressive highlight reel and is regularly impacting games for club and country.
2024/25 has been Saveska’s breakout season as a professional. The talent has always been known to those who have seen her in the NPLW, but she has replicated those eye cetching efforts as a regular starter in Australia’s top tier.
The 18 year old has scored seven times so far this season, including a first half hatrick against Western United and two Olimpicos. In between starring for The Wanderers, she also spearheaded an Australian U20 attack and scored six goals on their way to lifting the Four Nations Tournament trophy.
She can play on either wing or as a 10 behind traditional stiker, and has a deft touch that can cushion a dropping ball just as effectively as she can launch a net bursting strike. Her highlights reel makes a mockery of any XG metrics. Anywhere within 30 yards of goal should have defenders worried.
“I think my form and consistency this season has been put down to the belief I have from my coaching staff and teammates,” Saveska said to Impetus.
“They trust me out there on the field every week to do my job and with being given the game time I have this season I have proven that I can step up in this league and strive to deliver to the best of my ability each week with all the hard work I have put in to be in this position.”
Saveska’s deadly left foot can trouble goalkeepers from almost any range or angle. Her consistency for The Wanderers is impressive, but her ability to score from free kicks or directly from corners has put her in contention for goal of the season on more than one occasion.
“I don’t think there is really a secret to scoring an Olimpico,” she says of what has become one of her trademarks.
“It kind of just depends on the circumstances of the game, where the goal keeper is positioned and where the opposing players are also set up and if you feel confident enough to try to take the chance of having a direct shot.
“I have always enjoyed taking set pieces.
“Being a left footed player many of my previous coaches have designated me as the team’s set piece taker, but from a very young age I would always practice these sorts of things.
“I enjoy having the responsibility of having to deliver for my team when given these types of opportunities close to goal.
“I believe being able to hit a dead ball when the opposition in set up and being able to manipulate the ball to go exactly where you want it to go is an amazing skill and form of art, so to me I think it’s a great challenge to continue to learn different ways of taking set pieces and try to master the best technique I can.”
Saveska has been on the national team radar for some time, and although she is still 18, is one of the senior players in the current Young Matildas setup. This current Asian and World Cup cycle is her second in the Under-20 age group, and her experience in the green and gold shone through against Vanuatu, The Solomon Islands and Thailand. She was clinical infront of goal in the deciding fixture and crucial to Australia lifting that trophy.
“I don’t really have a favourite goal that I had scored in the tournament but I think the first and last goal I had scored in the final of the tournament were pretty cool.
The first one coming from an amazing ball over the top from one of my teammates with a first time finish was nice.
“The last goal I had scored was a great goal from range but I think what had made these goals special to me was the circumstances of the game.
“The first one I had scored had put us infront in the final and the last one I had scored completed my hat trick and had us in a comfortable lead before the conclusion of the match.”
Winning the Four Nations Tournament was the perfect start for this generation of Young Matildas, and if Saveska’s rapid rise continues, the striking stocks for the senior team could suddenly look even stronger. The win, the goals and The Golden Boot are all things to be proud of, but Saveska simply cherishes the opportunity to represent Australia in an international match.
“Some of my personal highlights from the young Matildas camp would be firstly meeting a new bunch of amazing girls and footballers to work with, but also just being out there on the field playing for my national team was amazing. The girls and myself had an awesome couple of weeks together on and off the field and I think winning the tournament put the icing on the cake.
“I think the biggest difference between A-League Women and international football for most players is just playing for your country.
“Any game I play in whether it be ALW or international football I want to always go out there and give it my best and perform, however international football is special as you are representing your country and it’s something that most players dream of.”
With thanks to Kick Talent Managment for their assistance in producing this interview.
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