Opinion
It’s Season 10 for the Western Sydney Wanderers.
For the A-League Women team, it has been a case of so much talent but very little result.
The Wanderers’ women have only made finals once in their history. That was in 2019-20 when a 3-2 win in Perth in the final round secured a post-season berth, which ended in a 5-1 loss to Melbourne City.
When you look at the names that have worn the red and black, I can’t help but scratch my head at the lack of success.
Matildas greats like Heather Garriock, Sarah Walsh and Servet Uzunlar probably came during the twilight of their careers. But so many were there in their infancy or even the prime of their footballing journey.
Names like Ellie Carpenter, Rachel Lowe, Jada Whyman and Courtney Nevin all started their career in the red and black. Numerous others have come and gone through the doors at Wanderland, while still reaching their peak.
Alanna Kennedy (aged 19 when she played for the Wanderers), Remy Siemsen (19), Jenna Kingsley (20), Cortnee Vine (21), Kyah Simon (22), Teigan Allen (18 during her first stint) and Kyra Cooney-Cross (17) have all gone on to bigger and better things including W-League championships and Matildas caps.
Kyah Simon (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Throw in the Khamis sisters and Ella Mastrantonio, who have all played for Australia, and I wonder what could have or should have been.
There are so many others that have grown up in western Sydney but have slipped through the fingers and have gone on to have success elsewhere. Princess Ibini and Jessika Nash at Sydney FC are two examples as is Holly McNamara at Melbourne City.
While all of the players mentioned above haven’t played together at the same time, the Wanderers had them in their grasp at one time or another, but never quite took advantage.
There have been many reasons given over the years for the lack of finals and dearth of trophies. Lack of investment in the best players, unproven coaches, poor remuneration for the best coaches and lazy scouting.
The answer is probably a bit of all of the above and then some other things that are not clearly seen or at least not spoken about out loud.
When you don’t create a winning culture it doesn’t help. When you don’t create an environment where players will thrive and reach their goals, there is little incentive to go there. When it becomes jobs for mates, it kind of makes a mockery of elite football.
With the Wanderers, right now they should be the most appealing club to all players. They have the best facilities in the country, worth nearly $36.5 million when stage four is complete later this year.
The club can tap into the best NPLW competition in Australia. There are 21 teams across the two NPLW divisions in Sydney.
The Future Matildas program is run in their own backyard within the Blacktown Football Park precinct. The best talent in the country is literally on their doorstep.
The Wanderers’ rivals Sydney FC have had years and years of success, including three premiers plates and three W-League championships. The Sky Blues have never missed the finals since the W-League started in 2008-09.
(Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
None of this makes sense to Wanderers fans. The questions have been asked time and time again. The answers are not clear. The solution is never easy.
Currently in 2021-22, the club again looks like struggling to reach the top four. There is talent there. Bryleeh Henry is a star. Alexia Apostolakis is going to be one. Sheridan Gallagher as well.
But what becomes of them going forward? Will they want to stay? Is there a reason for them too?
Any good coach that has come across hasn’t stayed for the same reasons mentioned above. Why would a coach stay at a club who doesn’t resource him or her with the best?
Same goes for the fans. How many have been lost over the years due to poor results? Western Sydney is a huge market and is a hotbed for football in this country.
Something has to happen at Wanderland. Otherwise there will be more than a lost generation.
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