For Shaun Ontong, Sunday afternoon’s Team App Cup triumph – a 5-3 win over FC Bulleen Lions – was the pinnacle of a young coaching career, but a product of the collective efforts of the entire Boroondara Eagles staff.
The coach – who is yet to lose a game at the Eagles’ helm – detailed the goals that were outlined for him before taking on the role mid-season, and where this Cup triumph sat amongst them.
“To be honest, we set out the goal between the president, technical director and myself to reach the finals for the WPL season, that was one of our objectives,” Ontong said in the aftermath of their Cup triumph.
“It was a bit of an unknown territory to be honest, being the first time I’ve been involved in women’s football as well as being back in Melbourne, but as the season’s gone on, we’ve had to re-assess our goals, and this was definitely one of them. It’s fantastic to have ticked that off today.”
The success in which the Eagles’ have maintained throughout the last few months has been a derivative of the “good character” within the squad, which Ontong believes is a key factor.
“The girls don’t surprise me, they’re a very good bunch of girls,” he said.
“Firstly, we’ve got some fantastic characters and it makes it very easy for the coach when you’ve got quality characters to work with who can process information and really implement the things that you want to do.
“From that level and perspective, no it’s not surprising. We have gone on a really good run and I’m proud as a coach and as a group about the run of form we’ve gone on.
“But I think it’s a product of the environment [at Boroondara]. I’ve got some quality people around me, some really good help and I think the success that we’re having at the moment is all down to those sort of people that have contributed from the outside.”
On the game itself Ontong stressed the importance of the game-breaking early goal to midfielder Amy Jackson, which helped open the contest up early.
“It really was [important to score early],” he said.
“That was one of our goals and targets as a group coming into the game. Looking at how we analysed and prepared for the match, it was very important for us to get that goal early.
“Credit to the girls, as they did that, and it makes it very difficult for Bulleen Lions.”
While the goal-fest may have been an exciting encounter for the neutrals, the Ontong wasn’t entirely pleased with the fashion in which they shipped three goals – the most in a game under his regime.
“Defensively, we did some things today that we haven’t done all season,” he said.
“It could be one of two things, either playing in a final with a little bit of nerves and some of the structure goes out the window. [Then there’s also] the conditions, the wind made it very hard today, but I was definitely off my seat on a number of occasions.
“ I’m disappointed that we let them back into the game, but we showed fantastic character and for me as a coach, it’s pleasing to know going into another final series that we’ve got the characters to deal with when teams come back at us, or even go in front.”
Photo: Graeme Furlong (full gallery available here)