Murphy Warns Against Complacency Ahead of Jets Clash
Image courtesy of Alan Minifie
Capalaba FC Women’s captain, Billie Murphy, says her side is eager to hit the ground running when they resume their National Premier Leagues Women’s season on Sunday afternoon.
The Bulldogs recommence their COVID-disrupted third campaign in Queensland’s top tier women’s competition when they host Moreton Bay United at John Fredericks Park.
The match ends a four month wait between league fixtures for Skie Hanifin’s charges, after they posted two wins from their opening four outings prior to the COVID shutdown.
And England-born Murphy concedes the long wait has her chomping at the bit to again lead her teammates onto the park in front of the Bulldogs faithful.
“It’s been a long time since that last game and I am super excited to be back with the team and playing,” the holding midfielder explained.
“We are all super-excited and I don’t think anyone will ever take football for granted again given the last few months.”
With promising returns in recent friendlies, and boosted by the addition of W-League experienced trio Natalie Tathem, Whitney Knight and Kaitlyn Torpey to the squad during the break, the Bulldogs are aiming for a top two finish in 2020.
That level of fearless ambition stands in stark contrast to this weekend’s opposition – who have leaked 49 goals in five winless outings so far this season to sit bottom of the league table.
However, drawing on her experience as an English youth international and FA Women’s Super League player, Murphy is adamant there will be no complacency from her side despite going into the match as strong favourites.
“We have to go out there expecting it to be a tough game. We cannot take anything for granted,” she explained.
“There is a chance when you play a weaker team that you don’t come out of the blocks, so we want to start strong, get forward and play some really nice attacking football.
“It is really important in the first game back that we have a really good mentality and don’t think we are going to walk over them.”
To that end, Murphy will look to a raft of experienced teammates – including former Matildas representative Amy Chapman – to maintain the standards for the full ninety minutes.
“I am the captain but there are five or six very experienced players in the team that are leaders in their own right, that have W-League experience, and that helps with leading the younger girls.
“We are all constantly demanding more from each other and every player helps to create that atmosphere.”
A win for the Bulldogs will set an early mark in their 2020 campaign after not defeating the Jets in four previous meetings in the NPLW dating back to 2018.