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Challenges a ‘beautiful thing’ for Breakers

business’’ dealing with unfavourable situations. In this case a side strain that’s removed skipper Tom Abercrombie, and a dose of Covid that struck just as the preseason was gaining momentum, has left the Breakers very much embracing a ‘‘next-man-up’’ mentality.

‘‘Guys go down and other guys’ numbers are called and that’s where things start for a lot of players,’’ says Delany. ‘‘Guys just have to be ready for that and step up.’’

The Breakers had just tucked away back-to-back pre-season victories (the second on a Delany double-clutch buzzer-beater) when Covid struck, took out a head coach and another couple of starters, and thrust the team into isolation.

‘‘We had a twoweek stretch where we’d made really good strides . . . in the course of a season things go up and down, there are ebbs and flows, and you have to stay on an even keel.’’

Eventually the Breakers will get bodies back, and Delany likes the group that coach Dan Shamir, expected to return to work on Monday, has put together.

He loves the ‘‘bucketloads of talent’’ that young Frenchmen Hugo Besson and Ousmane Dieng bring, understands how valuable the experience of well-travelled Americans Peyton Siva and Jeremiah Martin will be, and likes the group of Aussies and Kiwis who will fill in the roles around them. He also has a different feeling about this campaign.

‘‘It’s both very similar and very different,’’ he says of comparisons to the ill-fated 2020-21 campaign.

‘‘We’re at the same apartment building, same training facility, but it does feel a lot more . . . positive is the word. It’s a great group, we have more family members here, and there’s more familiarity with things.

‘‘Last year we were dodging the virus and running around like nomads; this year we’ve settled in and are kinda living with Covid now, and it just feels more settled.’’

Delany last year felt effort intersected with opportunity and he was able to take a big stride forward. Now he wants more growth, and more wins as a reward for it.

Eleven women will take the field in the Wellington Phoenix’s black-andyellow strip for the first time today to play a match a decade in the making.

The first mention of a Phoenix women’s team in the Stuff archive was in June 2011, when the prospect was raised as part of a report into how to get Wellington teams winning.

Later that year, when the Welnix consortium, led by current chairman Rob Morrison, bought the club off original owner Terry Serepisos, it became a realistic ambition.

But while Morrison and general manager David Dome have long been keen to add a women’s team, it was only last year that any serious momentum started to gather.

That was largely down to the fact that expansion of A-league Women (then known as the W-league) had not been on the table since 2012 and the fact that a Wellington entry presented considerable challenges with regard to travel and costs for what was (and is) still a growing league.

The successful joint bid from New Zealand and Australia to host the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup last June provided a catalyst to get things moving. The Phoenix came close to fielding a women’s team last season, with NZ Football coming on board to provide significant financial backing and most of the team’s staff.

Standing in their way was Football Australia, which said it wouldn’t change its player eligibility rules at short notice, a decision that would have limited the Phoenix to just a handful of Kiwi players, making entering a team a pointless exercise.

Even with the leagues now run independently, Football Australia still retains control over regulations, which meant a compromise had to be reached.

The Phoenix were initially only allowed to sign 11 Kiwis – but were later able to add another two – and had to sign at least seven Australians. If they wanted to sign visa players, those from further abroad, it had to be at the expense of Kiwis.

Ultimately, a heavilyrestricted Phoenix women’s team was better than no Phoenix women’s team, especially with the 2023 World Cup fast approaching. Since their entry was confirmed in early September, there has been plenty of celebrating – and plenty of anticipation.

Their match against Western

Sydney Wanderers tonight will be a historic occasion.

It’s a moment to savour for the 193 Football Ferns and those who survive them, from inaugural captain Barbara Cox and her team-mates in 1975 through to Ashleigh Ward, who made her debut this week.

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2021-12-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-12-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281681143160033

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