From a team perspective, Bundoora United sit on top of the WPL ladder, still undefeated. From an individual perspective, she’s scored five goals in six games.
It’s a welcome purple patch for Louisa Bisby in the twilight of her career.
But it’s no less than the veteran of the women’s game deserves, with her contribution on the pitch as a footballer matched by her dedication off the pitch to help people of all genders and abilities at a grassroots level.
The midfielder attributes her recent form – and Bundoora’s blistering start to the season – to the close bond and understanding she has with her teammates at Hillsview Recreation Reserve.
“[It’s down to] hard work and experience, but it’s also playing with a group of girls that keep maturing,” Bisby said.
“They’re young girls but they keep maturing and are outspoken and always communicating and problem-solving amongst themselves, so I put it down to that because it’s not an individual effort, it’s a team effort, so we’re working well together and have got many goal scorers.
“Even though I have scored a goal in each game so far in the last four games, we’ve got a number of girls that can score goals so that’s the most important thing.”
The former Melbourne Victory W-League player and one-time Matilda has been around the game long enough to know the formula required to be a champion side, and believes the current Bundoora crop is as good as any team she’s been part of throughout her career, as much for its harmony and togetherness in the dressing room as its ability on the pitch.
“This team’s definitely a team that in the future that a lot of teams are going to struggle to beat, because they’re young and they’ve got many years ahead of them,” she said.
“The maturity is only going to grow, and so will that experience that they have within themselves and the trust that they have amongst each other, it will definitely be a strong team in the future.
“But I enjoy playing with them now as well. That’s the most important thing, we’re having lots of fun this season.
“If you’re having fun, you’re going to play well and you’re going to win games.”
It’s a rare occurrence for somebody to be able to turn their footballing hobbies and passions into a career beyond playing, but Bisby is doing just that, giving back to the sport as a Game Development Coordinator at Melbourne City FC, where she is now enjoying her fifth year in the role visiting grassroots schools and clubs.
Thank you @BundooraUnited for allowing @MelbourneCity to visit your club. Great teaching U12 girls some new skills ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/FcqN9CgvJI
— Louisa Bisby (@LBisbyMCFC_GDO) April 28, 2015
“It’s an enjoyable role, we get out to schools, clubs, community groups and no matter if you’re young and old or able bodied or disabled, we’re out there giving as much as we can to promote not just the brand of Melbourne City, but to also help with the sport of football,” she said.
“It’s just allowing kids to have confidence playing in a safe environment.
“My job is mostly within schools and we do club visits as well, we’ve been taking sessions with girls’ teams, having club visits, where first team and youth team players will get out to clubs as well.
“You also work on match day, which can be very busy.”
Bisby remains coy on the topic of the possibility of a second Melbourne W-League team in the future, admitting she’s awaiting the day with bated breath, but doesn’t yet know when that will be.
“One day in the future [there will be a City W-League team], but when that happens, we don’t know.”