The new campaign kicks-off on Sunday 3 March with the now traditional curtain-raiser to the six months of action that will follow, the Capital Football Charity Shield. For the fourth time the Women’s Charity Shield will precede the Men’s and will not feature Canberra Croatia for the first time as Canberra Olympic and Belconnen United make it an all-blue affair.
A brace of goals from Reilly Yuen gave the Blue Devils the inaugural Women’s Charity Shield back in 2021, a 3-1 defeat of Croatia at Deakin Stadium, but a lot has changed at McKellar Park since then, not least in the dugout where Scott Conlon continues to build a youthful and exuberant outfit.
“For us, the Charity Shield is a good opportunity to play a competitive match after so many months without competition in Canberra,” Conlon said of the clash with Olympic. “It’s a chance for new players to gain some momentum in a match situation with their new teammates.
“We will be trying a few things, trying to build some confidence amongst the squad especially the new players, and trying to get match minutes for as many different players as possible. The result is not so important in the context of the broader season, but when you’re playing one of your main competitors it’s nice to get one up on them if you can.”
Belconnen broke their silverware drought under Conlon last season, a dramatic last-minute winner from Talia Backhouse helping them to a memorable triumph over Gungahlin United, but they fell short of the Grand Final double, defeated by their Charity Shield opponents Olympic. That win though has raised the bar for the youngsters in light blue.
“The players want to win things, we have big ambitions,” Conlon admitted. “We know there will be other teams looking to do the same, and we look forward to the coming challenges. Up to now we’ve had a light start to the campaign, with a few sessions and some friendlies, and the aim is to ramp things up over the coming weeks to be ready for Round 1 in April.”
In the opposite dugout is a man who knows all about winning things, especially with Canberra Olympic, as Frank Cachia makes a return to the dugout in the colours of a club in which he reached unprecedented heights. This time though he swaps the Men’s game for the Women’s and is looking forward to the challenge of his first competitive match in charge.
“It’s always gratifying to play in these games because it reflects the success of the side in the previous season,” Cachia said. “Importantly, it’s one of the only times in a preseason that the team gets the opportunity to play for something meaningful in the build up to the season. As a coach it allows you to see how your preparation is progressing and offers you the chance to see how some of your emerging talents respond to a bigger stage.
“Winning the Charity Shield doesn’t guarantee a successful season, losing isn’t the end of the world either. It is one game in a very long season, one that can help build confidence and momentum but not one that will define the success of your season.
“Personally, I am looking forward to it. It’s the first time I’ll be leading this group into a competitive match. My approach won’t be any different from normal, except I don’t have the insights I normally do not having coached against or seen this opponent before. I’ll be aiming to get a better understanding of our side (and our opponents) progress and capability after 90 minutes.”
Having won the double in 2023, the league championship crown topped off with a Grand Final victory over Belconnen United, Cachia has been busy putting his mark on the team that he has inherited, bringing in some new faces to augment the already strong title-holders.
“Overall, I’m pleased with how the group has come together and starting to gel and buy into our playing style,” Cachia revealed. “We’ve added some very exciting young talent to compliment the core of last year’s team, but I’m sure the best of this side is still to come when entire squad is fit and available. I can’t have asked the group to be any more accommodating. They’ve made my first head coaching role in a women’s side a reasonably easy transition.”
WOMEN’S CHARITY SHIELD
Sunday 3 March 2024
Canberra Olympic v Belconnen United
(Deakin Stadium, 14:15)
LIVE on BarTV Sports
Admission by Gold Coin Donation
The Capital Football Charity Shield is supported by BarTV Sports, Deploy Footballs, Capital Trophies, and St. John Ambulance Australia with all money raised donated to Capital Football’s chosen Charity, Sock it to Sarcoma.
