Canberra United captain Ellie Brush has led her team through a remarkable campaign which has left the Capital Club just one win away from an inaugural championship.
Canberra United captain Ellie Brush has led her team through a remarkable campaign which has left the Capital Club just one win away from an inaugural championship.
Three seasons ago Brisbane Roar inflicted a grand final defeat on Canberra United in the Westfield W-League-s maiden decider and Brush is intent on helping her hometown side reverse that result tomorrow on their home turf.
If they do so Canberra will not only be crowned national champions, but they will be the first side to go through the entre season undefeated.
With the sense of anticipation building in the nation-s capital the United skipper shares her thoughts a day out from the match.
Firstly, how has the mood in camp been this week?
It has been really good. It has been exciting with all the media coverage and talk of a big crowd. (Coach) Jitka (Klimkova) spoke to us at the start of the week saying to enjoy your football this week and enjoy each other-s company.
That is certainly the feeling in the camp, and we have been doing what we usually do and had fun as a group, and hopefully it will shown on the field tomorrow.
Has the Canberra crowd been a 12th man for the team?
It might be a cliché but it definitely has come to fruition this season. It is certainly true in our case and we are lucky to have such great home support.
So home ground provides a little bit of an advantage for you against Brisbane?
It is good that we haven-t had to travel. The last grand final at Ballymore with a big stadium… I think we were overawed by the situation. So it is nice that we are in our comfort zone here in Canberra playing in front of our family and friends.
Do you take anything from that match three year ago into tomorrow?
Not a lot. Mostly the knowledge of the agonising feeling that losing a grand final brings, so we will be trying to avoid that at all costs. This is our 12th game and we will be focusing on this being just another game for us so that is how we will be playing it.
Do you feel Brisbane have a bit more big game experience having played in all three previous Westfield W-League grand finals?
They may do, and they have shown in the past they have the players and experience to be able to turn it on when they need to. But we are aware of their dangerous players and have spoken about that.
In saying that Brisbane is the only team we haven-t beaten this year so that is another aim for us. We will be doing everything possible to win this one.
What has been the secret to the team-s success this year?
Over the past couple of seasons we have built a great base of players under Robbie Hooker and Ray Junna. It has been nice to have a fresh face this year with Jitka and she certainly has brought a little extra spark.
She has been able to get the potential out of each and every player as an individual and also bring everyone together to commit to being a champion team.
