Tara Murray
Calder United won’t be purely judged on results this season in the National Premier League Women’s season.
One of the top sides in the competition in recent seasons, Calder has built a really strong reputation.
Having looked to promote a number of their junior players into the squad, coach Mark Torcaso said they were excited by what they could achieve.
“Normally we would look to recruit the best young talent to come across,” he said.
“This season we decided not to go out and recruit, but give some young girls in our system an opportunity when the right timing presents.
“With the squad size having been increased to 23, we have seven or eight really good under-19 players in the squad.”
Torcaso said some of the younger players had really adapted to the higher level, while others were taking more time.
The players will still play in the under-19s, combining playing and training in the two sides.
Torcaso said the different make up of the squad had presented a different pre-season than in the past.
“It’s been a tough pre-season, but a really good one with the younger and senior players training together.”
With a number of the senior squad part of the Western United’s academy squad in the lead up to having a first women’s A-League side later this year, the benefits were also showing at Calder.
Torcaso said the players were learning a lot and training more regularly and bringing things back to Calder. Torcaso said 80 per cent of the A-League academy were from Calder.
Calder had their first proper hit out on the weekend, facing Melbourne Knights in the knockout Nike. F.C Cup.
Calder has won that competition the last four seasons.
Torcaso said they treated the match against the Knights like their opening match of the season.
Calder won the game 11-0. Adriana Taranto and Ava Groba scored three goals each in the win.
“It was quite a tough game,” he said. “We eventually overtook them.”
Calder are set to start their NPLW season on Friday night against Box Hill.
Torcaso said they were looking forward to the season. He said how the side developed this season would be how they were judged.
“We’ve been a club which has been results focus,” he said.
“Will we still be up there with the top teams? Yes, that’s still the intention. But this season is more about development than results.
“It’s not necessarily about the ladder position and making finals. It will be based around how they are preparing from the youngest player to the oldest and potentially preparing for an A-League season.”
