Head coach Dean Heffernan has warned the Wanderers’ Westfield W-League rivals that there are “massive improvements” to come from his side as they look to build on their winning start to the season.
Head coach Dean Heffernan has warned the Wanderers’ Westfield W-League rivals that there are “massive improvements” to come from his side as they look to build on their winning start to the season.
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The Red & Black opened their season with a come-from-behind 2-1 win against Adelaide United last Thursday and now have their sights set on a second straight win against the Newcastle Jets this Friday when they play in a double header with the Hyundai A-League team at Bankwest Stadium.
With recently arrived international signings Lynn Williams (USA) and Denise O’Sullivan (Republic of Ireland) watching on, the Wanderers produced a quality effort to beat the South Australians.
But, the team will only get better according to Heffernan.
“There’s massive improvements to come from last week. We had a good chat and watched a lot of videos (of the game),” said Heffernan.
“The good thing from last week is that they did all that was asked of them, tactically and in terms of output physically. They gave everything.
“This week we have spoken a lot about continuing from that in terms of mentality, effort, and togetherness.”
Heffernan indicated that Williams and O’Sullivan will both come into the starting line-up, leaving him with a bit of a headache as to who to leave out of the XI.
Williams and O’Sullivan have both bought into the culture and the togetherness of the squad very quickly.
“The togetherness of this group is amazing … the way they back each other up on and off the pitch,” said Heffernan.
“The first session for Lynn and Denise we told them to go cool down while the rest of the squad did some top up in fitness and sprint work but they still got alongside them, cheered them on, supported them and you don’t see that too often.
“It is amazing to have girls of that calibre here, but we are more impressed with the way they are as people first and seeing that at training on Monday and how they hung around was brilliant.”
The Wanderers will meet a Jets side coming off a solid 1-1 draw with Melbourne City last week.
“It was a great effort for them, they are a hard working side,” Heffernan added.
“They are very structured and disciplined and what you would expect from a Craig Deans coached side.
“They have some very good players who can cause us problems but the focus will be on ourselves to exploit a couple of areas.”
