The opportunities that it created to grow depth, you kinda mentioned there, but is it a, a campaign that you reference much from here on in? Do you actually talk about those lessons beyond just the pre-season?

Yeah, I think so.

I think we have a lot around what our strengths were, right? We owned both boxes, highest score and least conceded, but there was definitely some gaps and some areas we want to put attention on.

So in a learning sense, yes, but I also have to know that it's a new team, right? For some of those players, it doesn't mean anything to them.

Um, and we have to build something new, and we can't live off last year.

We've definitely got to improve and learn from last year, but I think very much it's a new team, new chapter, um, albeit, you know, probably 90% of them are, you know, crossing over from last year, which is a positive.

What's the crossover like between, uh, the two Phoenix sides? How much time do you get to either spend with each other, pick each other's brains, or, or grow that kind of club unity?

Yeah, me and Greeny have a great relationship.

But is it a, a campaign that you reference much from here on in? Do you actually talk about those lessons beyond just the pre-season?

Yeah, I think so.

I think we have a lot around what our strengths were, right? We owned both boxes, highest score and least conceded, but there was definitely some gaps and some areas we want to put attention on.

So in a learning sense, yes, but I also have to know that it's a new team, right? For some of those players, it doesn't mean anything to them.

Um, and we have to build something new and we can't live off last year.

We've definitely got to improve and learn from last year, but I think very much it's a new team, new chapter.

Um, albeit, you know, probably 90% of them are, you know, crossing over from last year, which is a positive.

What's the crossover like between, uh, the two Phoenix sides? How much time do you get to either spend with each other, pick each other's brains, or, or grow that kind of club unity?

How have you done it?

I think when you're successful, I think, you know, from afar, I think people have stayed in tune with us last year.

You also get on the phone and you get that connection and you sell a little bit of a vision.

And I think it's a World Cup year.

And, you know, you think about a Millie, did she play as much as she wanted to? No.

Indie Paige Riley, same.

She had an injury, but irrespective.

And

Give us your sale pitch to bring such an experience, pretty much the face of the A-League women's competition, to New Zealand, to Wellington.

Yeah, well, I think the facilities, obviously, you know, you guys would have seen them, but yeah, world-class facilities.

And I think for someone who wants to stay healthy and get on that plane to Brazil, I think that's a part of it.

I think she wants to win.

And so I think she's seen something in the team last year that, you know, told her that we're building something special and that, you know, this team hopefully can go on and win something.

And I just think, you know, she obviously married to Kirstie Allitt's football friend.

She's embraced the Kiwi culture.

That's got to be a special feeling for you as a coach too, Bev.

Give us your sale pitch to bring such an experience, pretty much the face of the A-League women's competition, to New Zealand, to Wellington.

Yeah, well, I think the facilities, obviously, you know, you guys would have seen them, but yeah, world-class facilities.

And I think for someone who wants to stay healthy and get on that plane to Brazil, I think that's a part of it.

I think she wants to win.

And so I think she's seen something in the team last year that, you know, told her that we're building something special and that, you know, this team hopefully can go on and win something.

And I just think, you know, she's obviously married to Kirstie Allitt's football firm.

She's embraced the Kiwi culture.

That's got to be a special feeling for you as a coach too, Bev.

How did you cope? Yeah.

Yeah, I think I didn't in reality, right? I can sit here and say, oh, yeah, you know, I'm built of this strong stuff.

But I think at the end of the day, my world very, very quickly turned upside down, right? You're prepared to try and go back to back gold.

And in a matter of probably 24 hours, things very quickly, you know, change.

And then you're on a plane back to a very hostile country at that time, as you can imagine, right? The team would cost £600.

Six points and, you know, I'm on the plane on the way home in transit with police officers.

I'm learning online that I'm banned and they dock six points.

You said it hit you hard, but as you're coming back up to hitting your stride again, I'm wondering if you've coached yourself, if there's mantras, phrases, things that you've said to yourself to get you back into it.

Mm.

And then I think the, just the, the overall consistency, we had blips along the way, but I think to, to score the most, concede the least, you know, coming from where this team has been, I think it was a real collective effort from the group of players to just buy into, like, being better and, and higher standards.

So I think, you know, my, my overall pride just comes from the impact that this group had on, on kids, right? Particularly, y- y- you walk around even after the final, and everyone's talking about it.

So I think that's, that's bigger than just the game of football.

Um, and I think now we wanna make sure that we back that up, right? That it wasn't just a one-season sort of one-off, that, that we become that serial team a bit like a Melbourne City, um, that, that is really well respected in the A-League.

Bev, what about, um, for the women in your charge? Uh, what was their initial reaction, and, and what have the conversations been like with some of your squads in the subsequent days?

Yeah, I think, you know, initially after the game, you, you're picking them up and talking how that game doesn't define your season, how we have to stick together.

You know, everybody goes into their own performance, and I know people were disappointed individually on that day.

Mm.

And then I think the, just the, the overall consistency, we had blips along the way, but I think to, to score the most, concede the least, you know, coming from where this team has been, I think it was a real collective effort from the group of players to just buy into, like, being better and, and higher standards.

So I think, you know, my, my overall pride just comes from the impact that this group had on, on kids, right? Particularly you, you walk around even after the final and everyone's talking about it.

So I think that's, that's bigger than just the game of football.

Um, and I think now we wanna make sure that we back that up, right? That it wasn't just a one-season sort of one-off, that, that we become that serial team a bit like a Melbourne City, um, that, that is really well respected in the A-League.

Uh, are you expecting a, a bit of, uh, you know, people coming in and, and wanting to be a part o- of the club and, and see what's it's like under, uh, players and coaches like yourself?

yourself?Yeah, I think so, and I think we've seen the shift already that you get Australian, Australian talent knocking on the door.

I think previously that would be a real stretch to try and get an Aussie to come to Wellington, maybe because of the weather.

What do you have to do this weekend to, to unlock the goal scoring?

I think we need to play our game.

I think we did a really good job early doors of getting after them, but then, you know, we needed their hands a little bit.

You know, they're a very direct team.

They live off second phase, and I think w- we tried to match that.

Um, the, the pitch wasn't great.

So I think Porirua Park will be great for us.

Mm

What do you have to do this weekend to, to unlock the goal scoring?

I think we need to play our game.

I think we did a really good job early doors of getting after them, but they, you know, we needed their hands a little bit.

You know, they're a very direct team, they live off second phase, and I think w- we tried to match that.

Um, the, the pitch wasn't great, so I think Porirua Park will be great for us.

I think we'll allow ourselves to play our game a little bit more.

And I think, you know, we have to also enjoy the occasion.

Mm

Mm.

And I think when the environment's right and the characters are right, and everyone knows that you're actually doing it out of care, um, I think you can have them honest conversations, and I think the players have had it themselves.

And really I think what we've seen is as we were getting close to being able to maybe finish top, the pressure comes and then people go off on their own.

You know, they're trying to do too much, not out of being bad characters, just out of caring too much.

And I think it, what for that last game just lighten that up a little bit and just brought it back to just go and enjoy yourselves, and I think we got to see that a little bit more in that last game.

Mm.

And with all the injuries, you know, thought, "Right, I'll give her the start," and she hasn't looked back since.

So I think there's always opportunity in the next player up.

Mm.

And I think when the environment's right and the characters are right and everyone knows that you're actually doing it out of care, um, I think you can have them honest conversations, and I think the players have had it themselves.

And really, I think what we've seen is, as we were getting close to being able to maybe finish top, the pressure comes, and then people go off on their own.

You know, they're trying to do too much, not out of being bad characters, just out of caring too much.

And I think what we did for that last game, just lighten that up a little bit and just brought it back to just go and enjoy yourselves, and I think we got to see that a little bit more in that last game.

Mm.

And with all the injuries, you know, thought, "Right, I'll give her the start," and she hasn't looked back since.

So I think there's always opportunity in the next player up.