If this was an election campaign, it would be shaping up as Keilor Park by a landslide.
The Parkers are in prime position to take out the Football Federation Victoria women’s state league 2 north-west title – they have a 10-point lead more than halfway through the season.
Parkers coach Nigel Peterson says his side’s efforts so far have been very impressive.
“I think there was a fair bit of disappointment after being relegated from state one last season,” he said. “To go to round 11 undefeated is a credit to the girls that did decide to stick with Keilor Park this year.”
He said they were driven to get back into the state one competition in 2017.
While the gulf between Keilor Park and second is rather large, it has not been a season without its challenges – yet the Parkers have been good at repelling any threats.
“Being on top, everyone is out to get you,” Peterson said. “You can’t underestimate any opposition … if you go into a game unprepared and just think things are going to happen, that’s when the opposition can really pounce.
“The team is certainly not taking anything for granted.”
A clear strength of Keilor Park is its ability to find the back of the net. The 39 goals scored by the Parkers is easily the most of any side in the competition.
Bianca Ortika has been lethal, scoring 10 goals to sit second in the league’s golden boot reckoning behind Yarraville’s Sarah Lovett (12). Ortika is by no means a lone hand with four other Keilor Park players having scored five goals or more – Aleksandra Sinclair (7), Emily Ottelli (6), Emily Stipic (6) and Jacinta Da Cruz (5).
“If you’re relying on one person too much to score your goals, you can get yourself into a bit of trouble, particularly if there’s an injury to that person,” Peterson said. “Having multiple goalscorers and being able to shift players around into different positions – it certainly gives the team a greater flexibility.”
If there is a weakness for Keilor Park, it is in defence. The effectiveness of the Parkers’ strike force has papered over defensive cracks – they have conceded 17 times in nine games.
“Defensively we’ve conceded some easy and soft goals through lapses of concentration,” Peterson said. “But the back four hasn’t been as settled as the midfield and the front three.”
One player holding the Keilor Park defence together admirably is Rachael Claughton.
Claughton has been a thorn in the side of opposition strikers, while also providing a springboard for her own side out of the last line.
“Very solid, very reliable, composed on the ball and able to distribute and help build up from the back,” Peterson said.
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