SOCCER
ALANA Murphy’s switch to Nottingham Forest and the start of the VPL1 season are under the spotlight this week.
Murphy, 20, is a Langwarrin prodigy who joined the English WSL2 side last week from SC Sand in Germany’s Bundesliga 2.
Forest wasted no time in cinching the deal.
“They reached out to my agent in search of a centre midfielder and when he sent through my profile they seemed to like what they saw and straight away they made an offer,” Murphy said.
Nottingham Forest head coach Carly Davies couldn’t hide her enthusiasm over Murphy’s capture.
“Alana is an incredible talent and we are over the moon to have her on board and part of this team,” Davies said.
“She adds a new dynamic to our midfield with her experience playing in Australia, Germany and on the international stage with the Matildas.
“She is a great character for this group and one we are sure will excite the Forest fans at the City Ground.”
Murphy played a full game on Sunday as midtable Forest lost 2-0 to league leader Charlton Athletic.
In Germany she had been playing as a defensive midfielder but looks likely to play a more forward role at Forest.
“I think I will be playing more of an 8 type of role, slightly higher up than my usual 6 position but I’m excited to use my creativity closer to goal,” she said.
Murphy’s transfer continues the upward trajectory of her career.
“I think being at Forest is going to provide a better platform for me to continue to build my game and hopefully reap the rewards of my hard work.
“SC Sand is a very community-based club and at this point in my career I was after a more professional environment built for athletes to thrive.
“Having said that I’m grateful for the learning experience and the connections I made (in Germany) and I wish them all the best for the future.”
While Murphy aims to make a positive impact at Forest the club that introduced her to the sport – Langwarrin – aims to get its VPL1 season off to a flyer on Saturday when it takes on North Sunshine Eagles at Lawton Park at 7pm.
The under-20 match kicks off at 2.15pm and the under-23s at 4.30pm.
Langy gaffer Jamie Skelly and assistant Adam Poole have been to a number of North Sunshine games during pre-season and for the past fortnight training has focussed on this round one clash.
“We’ve got a pretty good understanding of how they are going to play,” Skelly said.
“Hopefully we can put things in place that counter their strengths and be able to capitalise on our strengths.
“Things are so much easier if you get off to a good start as it breeds confidence within the group and within the club especially as we have the first three games at home then the next five away.”
Langwarrin’s off-season recruitment has focussed on attack and Skelly is pleased with the outcome.
“We’re as good as we ever have been across all three facets of the game,” he said.
“Defensively we’re strong, in midfield we’ve got some good strength and creativity and we’ve bolstered our attack by bringing in Alun Webb, Sayed Fatemi, Alex Kubenko and Zac Bates when he’s fit.
“We’ve brought in players who are proven goalscorers in that attacking third.”
Bates (fractured fibula and ankle), Luke Goulding (bone bruising in his knee) and Tom Youngs (suspended) are the only players expected to be unavailable for selection on Saturday.
“We’ve got goals within our group about where we see ourselves and obviously we want to finish as high up as possible.
“The ultimate aim is to be at that elite NPL level but it’s also important to continue to be a viable VPL1 club which puts us in a good position to attract players and to be able to keep our youngsters coming through and have opportunities in that senior environment.”
VPL1 clubs have until 5pm on Tuesday this week to finalise their squads but Langy wrapped up its transfer business on Sunday with news that it had reached a loan agreement with Oakleigh Cannons for midfielder Noah Holmes.
Here is the Langwarrin squad featuring seven new signings with their previous club in brackets:
GOALKEEPERS: James Burgess, Branten Kindler. DEFENDERS: Ben Mason (Dandenong City), Aryan Bhatia (South Melbourne), Dylan Street (promoted from 23s), Charlie Fry, Lucas Portelli, Luke Adams, Jeremy Min Fa, Luke Goulding. MIDFIELDERS: Lochy Scott (promoted from 23s), Rogan McGeorge, Ryo Takahashi, Kosta Apostolopoulos, Tosan Popo, Joe Tweats, Callum Goulding, Noah Holmes (Oakleigh). FORWARDS: Alun Webb (Northcote City), Zac Bates (Northcote City), Alex Kubenko (Nunawading City), Sayed Fatemi (Malvern City), Marco Papettas (promoted from 23s), Jed Hagenaars (promoted from 23s), Brad Blumenthal, Tom Youngs, Mark Deacon.
In State 5 news last weekend Seaford United won the Konqa Cup hosted by Pakenham United.
Seaford reached the final with a 1-0 win over Pakenham, a 1-0 loss to Sandown Lions and a 4-2 win over Chelsea (a lot of its senior players were at James Stinson’s wedding).
Seaford beat Sandown 3-0 in the final with goals from Zain Ahmad (2) and Mitchell Lander.
Ahmad was the tournament’s top scorer while Lander was named player of the tournament.
Meanwhile Football Victoria is deciding whether or not to implement a temporary dismissal (sin bin) rule.
Basically it involves a player being sin-binned for 10 minutes “in the event that a Match Official determines that a Player has used words or gestures that question or undermine a Match Official’s decision.”
This temporary dismissal will be considered a yellow card so two temporary dismissals result in a player being sent off.
Last week the federation floated the idea but don’t panic as FV assures us that clubs will be given notice should it be implemented.
Here are the results of some friendlies played last week and last weekend:
Chelsea 0 Noble Park Utd 4, Springvale White Eagles 0 Mornington 2 (Liam Grimshaw, Dimitri Rellos), Baxter 0 Skye Utd 3 (Varmah Mgoneh, Mitch Blake, Jaiden Madafferi), Rosebud 5 (Connor Wharton 2, Jakob Markulin, Ethan Hunt, Riley Gill) Mornington 1 (James Clennett), Eastern Lions 1 Langwarrin 2 (Joe Tweats, Callum Goulding), Sandringham 3 Mornington 2 (triallist, Max Civil), Doncaster Rovers 3 Skye Utd 4 (Marcus Spivey 2, Nasha Hussainy, triallist), Rosebud 1 (Elliott Craig) Fawkner 3, Baxter 2 (Austin Sporys, Jai Power) Rowville Eagles 2, Somerville Eagles 1 (Max Watson) King’s Domain 5, Frankston Pines 4 (Alec Keisoglu, Kane Ireson, Sam Allen, Nathan Yole) Rosebud 1 (Ethan Baker).
Here is an upcoming local friendly:
Saturday 14 February
Peninsula Strikers v Skye Utd, Centenary Park, 1pm & 3pm
Here is the first preliminary round of the Dockerty Cup (which doubles as the Australia Cup). Please note that Seaford’s away fixture has been revised and the local side will play at home:
AUSTRALIA CUP
Saturday 14 February
Frankston Pines v Old Trinity Grammarians, Monterey Reserve, 6pm
Chelsea v Monbulk Rangers, Edithvale Recreation Reserve, 3pm
Somerville Eagles v Wyndham, Westernport Secondary College, 3pm
Newport Storm v Rosebud, AW Bond Reserve, 12 noon
Croydon Ranges v Seaford Utd, North Seaford Reserve, 3pm
Baxter v Bacchus Marsh, Baxter Park, 3pm
Mount Martha v King’s Domain, Civic Reserve, 4pm
Sunday 15 February
Westside Strikers v Mount Eliza, Brookside Recreation Reserve, 3pm
