by Alyce Collett (25/9/26)
Above: Avondale FC celebrate after winning the 2026 NPLW Victoria Grand Final. Photo: Alyce Collett for Impetus.
After Avondale FC’s dramatic come from behind win in the NPLW Victoria Grand Final last weekend, the excitement amongst the playing group was palpable for all to see.
Sloane Young – Avondale’s first goal scorer of the afternoon – summed it all up well.
“I feel on top of the world. I mean, coming to this season with such a great team and great coaching staff I didn’t know what to expect, but it surpassed everything for me” Young said.
“I’m just, I’m in awe, I’m in joy. I’m on top of the world.”
Defender Isabella Accardo had similar feelings, noting that she was “just really ecstatic that we were able to get the win in the end.”
“Obviously, first half win was a bit tough to be able to play out but came out second half and I thought we just dominated” Accardo said.
When asked about what was going through her head as she scored her goal, Young said that it was pretty simple.
“Oh my gosh. I think just being in the right position at the right time, KK found me a good pass through the line and took a touch on my left foot and just took it home” Young said.
Perhaps persuaded by the fact that the Grand Final was her final game before retirement, Avondale FC captain Gulcan Genitsaris was feeling a bit different about it all.
“We didn’t expect anything less from the start of the season, and with the group that we’ve got, yeah, amazing feeling and really good way to go out.”
Genitsaris’ thoughts echo a larger sense of confidence amongst the Avondale players, who despite being the underdogs as the newly promoted side in the competition this year never felt like the underdogs.
“I think coming into the start of the season, people saw the signings we made and every game, every team gave it their best” Accardo explained.
“So we were playing every team’s best team and it was just one of those where everyone wants to beat Avondale, so we really had to step up and I think we proved it on the park.”
Young came half way around the world – from Florida in the USA – to play for Avondale this season, and even she knew that the position Avondale ultimately found themselves in was within the realms of possibility.
“I mean, definitely. I think coming into this program, I knew that it was high level” Young explained.
“I knew the coaching staff, the players, everyone was super competitive and everyone wanted to win, and I knew that it was a squad that I wanted to be a part of.”
Even at half time of Sunday’s decider when Avondale was 1-0 down, its players still had plenty of hope they could turn things around in the second half.
“We never had a doubt” Genitsaris said.
“The goal was kind of something that happens that you can’t control from a corner. So we knew that we had the opportunity to come back second half, and we believed in ourselves, and we did it.”
“I don’t think we lost hope” Accardo also said, echoing her captain’s sentiments.
“I just thought we knew second half coming into it, we just had to be a bit better. We had to play around with the ball a bit more. But …. we proved it. We had more chances. I don’t think they had a chance the second half, so we’re really happy with the outcome.”
Genitsaris agreed that being captain certainly made the win extra special for her.
“For me, I’ve got two kids at home, and I feel like I’ve got kids in the changing room too” Genitsaris explained.
“I look after the team. “It’s a phenomenal feeling, and Avondale is such a great club, so amazing to be a part of this win.”
Young reflected on her decision to move to Australia and play in the NPLW Victoria, and the gravity of the decision.
“I mean, it was definitely a big jump for me” Young said.
“I really didn’t know what to expect coming across the world. I miss my family, but I know that they’re cheering me on and supporting me through this journey of mine, and I know they want the best.
“I’ve just been super grateful I’ve come here to Avondale, and they’ve been a family to me.”
Accardo also made a big move in the offseason, albeit a much smaller one distance wise only coming across from Bulleen, but she said that she was “just really proud of the girls” and what they achieved this season.
“We came in, no one knew each other. It was a whole new squad, learning each other’s positions and learning how each other play, getting that chemistry” Accardo said.
“[I’m] just really proud to see that we could output it on the pitch and throughout the season and grow with that.”
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