Boroondara Eagles’ utility extraordinaire Alex Gummer has been a vital component of Shaun Ontong’s team’s barnstorming run this season, excelling anywhere along the backline or in midfield when called upon. The W-League player had a chat with the Corner Flag about the club’s upcoming WPL Grand Final against South Melbourne, the atmosphere in the club’s change rooms, and her own thoughts about the 2015 season.
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What’s the mood like between the squad ahead of the WPL Grand Final? Excited, nervous?
The mood in the squad is both of excitement and nerves! We are all excited because we get the opportunity to play in the biggest match of the season – the Grand Final, and we are also really motivated and excited that we have the opportunity to win the treble!
As a squad we have been working really hard and have prepared well for this game, and we have had a wonderful season to date so we are really excited to finish off this season with a bang and hopefully lift the trophy at the end of the game.
That being said, it is also a Grand Final so it is inevitable that there will be nerves present, good nerves, but still nerves nonetheless! It’s a matter of channelling the nerves into determination and our footballing ability so that we can get a great start on the match and hopefully but them on the back foot early!
Give us your assessment of South Melbourne. You’ve had the wood on them this season but they have hit some late season form.
There is no doubt that South are a quality side all over the pitch. As you mentioned previously we have had two victories over them this season, but they have recruited really well mid-season with the likes of midfielder Jamie Pollock, who is the main engine room of their midfield, and others. These players have really picked up the quality of their game and consequently their great run of form towards the end of the season and throughout finals so far.
They have some real depth coming off the bench as well, so we know it’s going to be a tough battle over the 90 minutes. South Melbourne have quality right from their defence – Alex Cheal who is a real leader and solid in the backline – through their midfield – Pollock – and to their forward line – Tiff EIiadis and Brittany Dudley-Smith who are always a danger on the ball – so they are a strong line up and we are definitely not taking them lightly.
That being said, we also have quality all over the park, so it should be a great game especially with both teams extra motivated to win the final piece of silverware for this year and potentially the last for both clubs at the top level since we both were not offered WNPL licences for 2016.
Is there additional pressure to win the Grand Final considering the season the team’s had? You’ve swept all before you, claiming the Team App Cup and WPL premiership so far.
I guess you say there could be extra pressure knowing that I guess we are the favourites, winning the minor premiership and the Team App cup – but we are definitely not even thinking about it. We are completely focussed on the task at hand, we have had a wonderful season so far, but we are really putting the gas pedal down coming into finals and the Grand Final especially – we don’t want to ease off. We want to complete the final goal off our checklist and complete the treble. The intensity of training sessions has been great which really shows our desire to win this game.
How do you assess your own season? You’ve been utilised anywhere across the backline or midfield, are you happy to play where called upon or is there a personal preference?
Personally this season has been different for me, I feel like we have more depth in the squad this year so my role within the team has changed. But it is a great feeling to know the depth that we have, that each position is constantly up for auction – the highest bidder (best trainer) at training gets the role!
That, and there are so many quality players within the team to play, so this season has been really enjoyable in that respect. You’re not wrong that I have been used almost everywhere, I really don’t mind where I play, as I know that wherever Shaun [Ontong] puts me I have a specific role for the team that needs to be completed to the best of my ability. That being said, I have been used higher up the field in the past few weeks, and have really enjoyed the freedom that I have and have finally been scoring some goals which is a great feeling.
What’s it like playing under Shaun Ontong? Sometimes it’s difficult to adjust when a coaching change is made during the season, but the transition under Ontong seems to have been seamless.
It’s been fabulous, Shaun is a great coach! Obviously we had a change of coach 3 games into the season and we thank Fil [Simao] immensely for all his efforts over the past few years with recruiting some quality players and being a great person and coach for the team. But Shaun has really come into the role and changed the culture and the professionalism within the club immensely.
From video analysis of not only our own style of play and how we want to play, but also analysing the opposition in ways that we can tactically beat them is something most girls within the squad have never really experienced before at WPL level. Personally, that has been a real help for my own game as well, so I can see areas that I can improve as well as a player and as a leader within the team.
Shaun has brought some great ideas to our squad and his training sessions are always challenging and enjoyable, especially when I nutmeg him, so I cannot thank Shaun enough for all the work he has done this season and especially for this final game on the weekend, and I know he has a great coaching future ahead of him.