Having won both the Gold Medal and Golden Boot in consecutive seasons, it’s hard to believe that someone that has achieved so much in the Women’s Premier League is still able to raise the bar. But that’s exactly what South Melbourne forward Tiffany Eliadis has set out for herself, and who’s to say she can’t?
Her coach Socrates Nicolaidis – a strong advocate of pushing players to achieve their very best – elevated the talented player into a leadership position, and so far, the added responsibility has paid dividends.
“She’s taken a leadership role along with Alex [Cheal] and she really understands our formation,” Nicolaidis said.
“She’s a true captain, she understands the game and takes it into her own hands.
“She deserves [the honours].”
If she continues to display the form she’s shown so far, it’s not hard to believe she can’t take her game to yet another level, as Eliadis finds herself the joint recipient of the Player of the Month award for the 2015 WPL season with four goals from three games and two player of the match awards.
The Corner Flag had a chat with the Melbourne Victory W-League representative about how she feels her season has progressed, and what the rest of the season has in store for her.
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Q. Congratulations on winning the WPL Player of the Month award for Rounds 1-3, albeit tied with two others. How have you felt you’ve gone so far this season?
A. Coming into the season, I did feel like I was a bit unready. It’s always that first game that just hits you and you feel like you have to step up. Having the quality of players around me, I just felt comfortable and I felt really confident. Normally the nerves take over but having the girls around me, especially that experience in midfield, the confidence has been scoring.
Q. It must be pleasing for you to have scored in three consecutive games now. Do you have a favourite out of the lot, perhaps your free-kick in Round 1 versus the Senior NTC?
A. Maybe! I’ve got goals this year, and I’ve set myself the target of getting at least one or two goals [per match]. I’ve set the bar high this year, because I’m looking to go three in a row this year [in the Golden Boot and Gold Medal].
Q. How are you enjoying your time under new coach Socrates Nicolaidis? He’s come in and changed the formation a bit, how have you revelled in the new role as a deeper 10?
A. It is different, but I guess that’s what you need. You need a change from that kick and run football, especially with the talent we have coming up at the club. With Socs, he’s really trying to develop how the girls play, the movement off the ball and it’s working well.
Q. With your coach having said after the Casey Comets game – which ended 7-1 – that the performance was one of the best he’s ever coached, how did that make you feel knowing the standard of football you and the girls brought to the table?
A. It felt amazing, after the game felt so good. I was proud of the girls, the team, the club. Especially for me – I’ve been at the club for four or five years now – having seen the club develop into what we are now, I couldn’t be happier. Sometimes I come off the field thinking that I haven’t done enough, some of the girls have said that. We come off the pitch feeling like we haven’t run a lot, but we haven’t needed too because our movement and our ball play has been great?
Q. What’s the benchmark for you this year?
A. The benchmark… I haven’t really thought about that. I guess the benchmark is to be consistent to be honest. I used to be very inconsistent, and now it’s just all about consistency. We’re keeping statistics now, how many balls keep possession, how many don’t. So the benchmark is pretty high.
Q. You touched on the passing there, is that something you’d like to develop? We saw you get three assists last week, is that something you’d like to bring more into your play?
A. I don’t really think too much about the goals. I think more about the assists and the runs, and then the goals will come. It’s more about that kind of stuff.