Tara Murray
Calder United stars Melissa and Adriana Taranto were among those celebrating the official announcement that Western United would have an A-League side next season.
Having previously been at Melbourne Victory, the two along with others are hopeful of getting a spot in the inaugural Western United squad.
“It’s an amazing opportunity,” Adriana said. “We’ve been hearing about it for the past year and half.
“Now the time has come after a long time for us. Through COVID, we thought is it really going to happen?”
“After the official announcement, it was a pinch me moment.”
Melissa added that they had been regularly speaking with the team at Western United about when it was all going to happen.
The two are already part of the Western United family, as part of the development team that was set up in preparation for the A-League team.
Both girls said the development squad had been massive in helping them take their game to the next level.
“They started a partnership with Calder,” Melissa said. “The development girls are from all over the NPL and have come together in a more professional environment.
“You get to feel what it’s like to be part of an A-League club. We have some really good coaches and they fit us out in uniforms as well.”
Adriana added, ”at every training session we have to work hard,” she said.
“It’s a bit of an advantage that we know Mark [Torcaso, Calder coach and the development coach] and he gets to see us three to four times a week.
“We get to train all year round in preparation. We’re working really hard.”
Both girls said they and women’s soccer in general had really developed in the time since they have been with Melbourne Victory.
They said they had always been hopeful of getting a second chance at the highest level in the country.
Team selection and announcement for the Western United squad is still to come, with the Taranto’s saying its now a waiting game to find out whether they will be part of the squad.
Between now and then, the two girls are planning to continue to work hard on their games with Calder United.
Calder currently sits second after nine rounds.
“We’ll focus on what we can do,” they said
“Our main goal is Calder and we want to help the club win championships and the league.
“That’s our main focus and then we’ll push for A-League. We need to be in strong form for Calder first.”
