Tara Murray
Western United is better prepared for the A-League Women’s finals this time round according to goalkeeper Alyssa Dall’Oste.
United stunned the competition 12 months ago when it made the grand final in its first season, falling short against Sydney FC in the decider.
Now through to its second final series after finishing third, United is keen to go a step better.
“Last season we didn’t know what we were getting into,” Dall’Oste said in the lead up to finals.
“A lot of us were new in the A-League. We didn’t know what to expect. We’re better prepared to hopefully go one better this year.
“Second place is a little bittersweet. We’ve made it that far, but you didn’t get what you really wanted. You don’t want to feel like that again.”
Dall’Oste said they’d been putting a lot of hard work in behind the scenes to get themselves ready.
She said having moved into their new home in Tarneit was also proving a major advantage in preparing for the finals.
“It’s nice to be preparing in the new facility,” she said.
“Everything is for us. We’re not having to move stuff all the time. Last year to this year, we had a place but not a home.
“It has everything we need to like ice baths.”
Personally, this season has been different for Dall’Oste than last season.
Last season, she came on in one game to make her A-League Women’s debut.
This season she has stepped up since the departure of Hillary Beall, having started seven games.
She’s kept the starting goalkeeper role despite United bringing in Danish goalkeeper Kathrine Larsen.
Dall’Oste said this season had been really good personally.
“It’s been a long time coming and I’ve been preparing myself,” she said.
“I’ve been given this opportunity and I’ve stepped up and done my job.”
Dall’Oste said she had learnt a lot from Beall in her time at the club, with the pair really pushing each other.
United had the weekend off with a week off before finals started. United host the Newcastle Jets on April 13 at 6.30pm.
Dall’Oste said they still feel like they are the underdogs entering the finals.
“This is our second consecutive finals series, we can’t we seen as the underdog forever,” she said.
“We are still new kicks on the block and we’re still enjoying being underdogs. We’re better prepared than last year.
“We have a few extra games in the final series too so it will be about game management and we can’t take any team lightly.
“We face Newcastle who we haven’t been able to clinch a win against them. We have something to prove.”
