Who are, who are, who are we? We are the girls from Sale FC, echoed across Sale United’s soccer grounds following the Swanettes’ 6-0 win over East Gippsland United Football Club in the Browne-Huzier Cup Grand Final on Sunday, September 11.
Sale United’s senior women’s team has come a long way since 2016; why 2016, you ask?
After years of being unable to pull together a women’s side, in 2016, SUFC’s mother hen, Laurel Irvine, worked her magic and convinced a group of soccer mums to join the team so that the ten young girls who wanted to play were able to create a legitimate side.
Six years would pass, and pulling together a team would be a distant memory; come 2022, Sale United had surplus in registrations for their women’s team.
After a disappointing start to the season with several teams withdrawing from the Latrobe Valley Soccer League and consecutive forfeits in the opening weeks, when the Swanettes’ season began, they showcased their capability and established their dominance of the league under coach Madelaine Breakspear and assistant coach Romi Bitar.
Sale United finished equal second with Fortuna ’60 on the Latrobe Valley Soccer League ladder behind 2022 premiers Falcons 2000.
Fast forward to the Browne-Huzier Cup Grand Final.
For those not among the soccer innards of the local soccer world, this year, the LVSL decided that the annual elimination cup tournament, which is usually played on a weeknight throughout the season, would replace the league finals.
After defeating Fortuna 5-1 in Round 1 of the Browne-Huzier Cup and Falcons, 4 -3 in the Semi-Finals, Sale United secured their place in the Browne-Huzier Cup.
SUFC had quite the turnout for a region that predominantly favours Australian Rules Football and netball.
Green hair spray glistened in the sun, and ribbons flew wildly as they caught in the sporadic wind.
There were also plenty of East Gippsland supporters donning navy blue and gold cheering their women’s team on as they took the field.
The clock struck 11, and the referee blew their whistle—time to take the field.
It was a momentous occasion for Sale United as the women’s team stepped onto the field, marking the beginning of the Swanettes’ first Grand Final game in more than 10 years.
The last time Sale United’s senior women’s team played a Grand Final was in 2010 under coach Ross McWhirter and assistant coach Kristan Phillips; they lost 3-0 to Tyers Lightning Soccer Club.
Let the game begin.
Sale established their dominance from the first whistle blow, boasting a forward line with wingers Jade DuVe, Hollie Ryan and Anouk Meereboer supported fantastically by midfielders Courtney Quadrell and Camille Japhary.
Meereboer showed off her incredible footwork, spinning around the ball effortlessly, provoking one to think how on earth the Dutch-born soccer player did not get dizzy from such movements.
Ryan has certainly established a name for herself in the LVSL as a relentless goal kicker, so it was no surprise that an EGUFC defence player was stuck to Sale’s number nine at all times.
DuVe – let’s talk about DuVe for a second.
This little pocket rocket, seriously so fast, who has an uncompromising tenacity, has continually improved every single game this season and has proved herself as one of the Swanettes’ fundamental players.
Expect big things from DuVe next season.
Quadrell and Japhary in mid-field are consistent workhorses, and the Grand Final was no exception.
The pair’s fantastic collaboration drove the ball forward to Meereboer, sending play wide to Sale’s road-runner wingers Ryan and DuVe.
Sale’s attack was relentless, with Quadrell, Meereboer, Ryan, DuVe and Japhary taking shot after shot, but it remained a scoreless game in the early doors.
The Swanettes turned their attacking half into a pressure cooker, but EGUFC’s defence wasn’t giving up, and their back line worked hard to contain Sale’s advances.
A pass from Sale centre defensive midfielder, playing coach Madeliane Breakspear to Japhary in the midfield. A one-two between Japhary and Quadrell.
To Meereboer.
Meereboer sends it wide to DuVe on the right wing. It’s a race to the ball, and EGUFC’s defence is not beating DuVe.
DuVe cuts in – she takes her shot. Goal.
Cheers thunder across the park as Sale United supporters roar in celebration.
1-0.
EGUFC kept their heads high, and their defence held strong as Sale continued to press.
Hats off to East Gippsland’s goalkeeper Brianna East, who made a considerable contribution to her team in producing some class-act saves in both halves of the game.
If East had not put forward the performance she did, the score could have easily racked up to double digits.
Breakspear to Meereboer, Meereboer to Ryan, Ryan back to Meereboer.
Ryan takes off down the wing, Meereboer plays the ball to Ryan. Ryan cuts in, stepping around East Gippsland’s defence and takes a crack.
Cheers thunder across the park once again as Ryan sends the ball into the back of the net.
2-0.
EGUFC was fast fatigued, imaginably counting down the seconds to the half-time break, but Sale wasn’t finished yet.
Before the half would end, Breakspear would find the ball, hoofing it from 35 yards, scoring an absolute screamer, sending Sale to a 3-0 lead.
The Swanettes’ dominance continued in the second half, and Breakspear flaunted her stunning abilities and wealth of knowledge, single-handedly controlling the game from the midfield.
Every move from Breakspear was well thought out, which Sale profited from every time.
Ryan was first to score after teams returned to the field, adding a second goal to her Grand Final count.
Sale’s iron defence turns over the ball, sending the play through the midfield and back into the Swanettes’ attacking half.
DuVe makes a run down the wing and crosses the ball to Dani Wilson at the top edge of the box.
Wilson takes a hit, the EGFC keeper dives; the ball bounces over.
Legs were kicking everywhere. Sprinting in from the wing, Ryan gets a touch on the ball, sending it over the goal line and in, her third goal of the game.
Seriously, Ryan may as well change her name to Hollie-hattrick-Ryan.
5-0.
A final goal from DuVe to establish Sale United’s 6-0 lead over East Gippsland United, cementing the game’s final score.
The final whistle sounded, the grand final was done, and a victorious United took home the 2022 Browne-Huzier Cup.
An elated coach in Madelaine Breakspear had nothing but praise for her girls following the game.
“The girls did really well from the start, we controlled the game and every girl put in, every girl had a great game,” Breakspear said.
“Credit to the Bairnsdale girls, they didn’t stop fighting the entire game, so it really pushed us to keep on going even though the scoreline was as large as it was.
“I am really proud of the girls,” she said.
Heading into the game, assistant coach Romi Bitar said the girls were prepared for a fight.
“Thankfully, the game went to script,” Bitar said.
“We were expecting a very tough game today; we know the Bairnsdale girls have got a couple of good players that they look for, Sally [Hoffman] and Holly [Batchelor], but I thought our girls did really well, held the structure, dominated, put the goals in the back of the net and got the result.”
Madelaine Breakspear won best on field.
Jade DuVe, Hollie Ryan, Courtney Quadrell and Camille Japhary also had outstanding games.
Holly Batchelor was the best for EGUFC.
