It’s been a massive few months for Melbourne Victory W-League defender Emma Checker, making the big move over from Adelaide to join an ambitious Victory side desperate to avenge their Grand Final defeat to Sydney in 2013.
Her talents were evident to many observers over the last couple of seasons. She stood out in an Adelaide United side that were far from world beaters, and her talents were so impressive that then Australian coach Tom Sermanni felt comfortable enough handing her an international debut at the tender age of 16.
The physically strong defender has settled nicely into life at her new club, fast becoming one of the first names on the team sheet this season when fit, and will no doubt be in the starting line-up come Sunday. It will be her first outing in a W-League Grand Final, and Checker says that it’s yet to really sink in.
“I don’t think it’s even hit me fully yet because obviously we’ve had a pretty successful year but to make the Grand Final is something pretty unreal and I think the build up in training this week is when it starts to really hit,” Checker said.
A place in the Grand Final looked a far cry back in Round 1, as Sydney FC trounced Victory 5-1 at Lakeside Stadium, with many questioning at the time if the squad had what it took to win the crown. A long unbeaten run followed and the team quickly gelled together, eventually exacting revenge on Sydney last weekend, beating them to advance to the league’s showpiece event.
For Checker, she was one of the many reasons Victory were able to go unbeaten, and she was rewarded with a call-up to join the Matildas in late November. She was delighted to get the recognition for her efforts, but acknowledged the whole team’s efforts in ensuring they made it to another Grand Final.
“It’s definitely been a big season and it was exciting getting the call-up and it was probably the biggest shock,” she said.
“The success of the team is great, we’ve got a good team, a good bunch of girls and we know how to work together as a team and that’s why I think we’ve been so successful.”
As a product of Adelaide United, she has also kept a keen eye on the progress of her former club. The Lady Reds have shown remarkable progress under the guidance of Ross Aloisi, and were at one stage pushing for a finals place. Unfortunately, their propensity for letting in late goals cost them valuable points, but Checker was still happy to see her former club reach new heights.
“It’s been great for them to lift up where they’ve been for the last couple of years and I’ve been following them with interest all through the season so I’m really happy that they’ve come that far,” she said.
Checker and Victory have overcome many hurdles themselves this season, and the side have incredibly beaten every single opposition they’ve faced, with one exception. Brisbane Roar are the only team never to have lost to Melbourne in the history of the competition, but Checker believes there are no favourites heading into the clash this weekend.
“To be honest I don’t really know [who the favourites are]. I think a grand final is one of those games where it’s really hard to pick a favourite because really anything can happen and in the end it’s the team that rocks up mentally ready to play [that comes out on top],” she said.
As a defender, Checker will have to contend with the likes of Tameka Butt, Hayley Raso and Emily Gielnik, and she is relishing the challenge of facing them again, having been on the losing side when the two sides met just two weeks ago.
“I’ve played against them for a couple of years now and I’ve picked up on a few things of how they play so hopefully it can be a good battle,” she said.
“Even though we lost to Brisbane a couple of weeks ago there’s definitely some positives that we can take from it and a grand final can be anyone’s game and anything happens in finals.
“I think if we rock up ready to play and work as a team like we did in the semi there’s no reason why we can’t knock them off.”
Checker is just one of many young members in this year’s squad, and the experience in the form of Jess Fishlock, Lisa De Vanna and Lauren Barnes are key to ensuring feet remain planted on the ground. With a number of members from last year’s losing Grand Final side still around, Checker believes the experience the side gained from last season’s defeat will stand them in good stead.
“Having girls like that in the squad adds to it and lifts it up and also helps calm some of the nerves having their experience on the field so I’m sure with them out there it will be a very good game,” she said.
Another key figure she looks up to is head coach Dave Edmondson, who also worked with Checker at Adelaide United last season. The defender was quick to praise her mentor, believing his understanding of the game has been a huge part of not only her decision to join the Victory, but also in making them get this far.
“I think it’s been really good having Dave this season and his knowledge of the game is really good and that was part of the reason I was looking at coming over here,” she said.
‘Obviously having him over the past two years at Adelaide, I’ve really seen how effective his knowledge is on the game so I think it’s been really positive for the girls and everyone’s enjoyed having him around.”
With Edmondson due to depart for England after the Grand Final to take the reigns at Bristol Academy, and with several teammates already with big moves abroad lined up, Checker is just taking things slowly, and hasn’t decided on what her next move is after the Grand Final.
“I think right now I’m going to take it step by step, I’m not 100% what I’m seeing at the moment but my plans are hopefully to get back into the Matildas squad and work my way into being more regular with that and just continuing to get good game time in the W-League,” she said.
She does have a short term goal, which involves lifting the trophy on Sunday. Having scored the club’s opening goal of the season in that disaster against Sydney FC, she wouldn’t blink twice if the opportunity arises to score again, but is determined to ensure she puts in a good performance at the other end.
“I don’t know! I guess anyone’s a chance to score and and if the time is right then hopefully I can take it, but I think as long as I have a good performance then I’ll be happy,” she said.
“I’ve been reasonably happy with how I’ve played [this season].
“I’m hoping to get more consistent as the weeks go on and I think it’s coming so hopefully I can perform on the weekend.”