Consistency Key to Bulldogs NPLW Ambitions
Capalaba FC Women’s head coach Skie Hanifin won’t let the interruptions of COVID hamper his ambition as his side prepares to restart their National Premier Leagues Women’s campaign this weekend.
The Bulldogs return to action against Moreton Bay United on Sunday at John Fredericks Park– their first competitive match since the season shutdown in March.
With two wins from their opening four fixtures and just four points off the league-leaders, the sixth-placed Bulldogs are well poised to make an impact when the campaign resumes.
However, with only limited preparation due to COVID restrictions in recent months, Hanifin concedes there will be plenty of challenges his side must overcome if they are to claw their way up the standings in coming weeks.
“We gave all the girls gym and running programs during COVID so they could keep up while we weren’t able to train,” Hanifin explained.
“But it is very hard to get consistency when you aren’t playing games. Training is one thing but games are where we learn and try to progress forward.”
To that end, a trio of friendlies against fellow NPLW sides Logan Lightning, Lions FC and QAS have played a role in preparing the squad for the compacted match schedule that awaits them once the season restarts.
“We’ve had limited time between being allowed to play contact football and then the start of the season. It’s only been about a month and we’ve tried to cram as many games as we could in that space.
“But it is also important not to overload the players. We have a few injuries, which haven’t come at a good time, but I am looking forward to getting a full strength team on the park in the coming weeks.”
With a squad boasting Westfield W-League experience in ex-Matilda Amy Chapman, Natalie Tathem, Kaitlyn Torpey, Whitney Knight and Stephanie Latham, as well as former English youth representative Billie Murphy as captain, there is plenty to suggest the Bulldogs will be in the mix come season’s end.
And despite the unexpected challenges this season, Hanifin, who coached the Jets to last year’s NPLW Queensland Grand Final, is setting his sights high as he looks to bring similar success to the Bulldogs in 2020.
“I think there will be some mixed results to start with but we just need to be consistent.
“We weren’t consistent going into COVID and now we need to really find that consistency if we want to finish in the top two because that’s where we want to be,” he concluded.