Melbourne City fullback, Julia Grosso, has reflected on winning her first piece of silverware as her focus shifts to claiming the Premiership-Championship double.
City were crowned A-League Women’s Premiers on the final day of the regular season, as a dramatic last day saw Sydney FC lose, opening the door for City to beat Perth Glory and win their third Premiers Plate.
Head Coach, Dario Vidosic, and his side defeated the Glory 2-1 in Western Australia, in a day which was filled with many emotions.
“We did know the result heading into the game, but we weren’t sitting on our phones [in the change room] or anything, we were focused,” Grosso said.
“We said we go into the game, either way, playing the best football that we can but I guess naturally knowing that it was for a premiership, put that extra fire in us.”
Focused on the double
As City lift the Premiers Plate this Sunday, it will be Grosso’s first.
“It’s my second year in professional football, so to win a premiership is crazy,” she reflected.
“I know a lot of people go through their whole careers without winning anything so it feels really special, I’m very honoured.”
Despite the jubilation that comes with winning the premiership, Grosso was quick to highlight her team’s focus on finals football.
“This week we’re focused, winning the premiership was amazing, but we have our eyes on the double now,” she said.
Responding to adversity
It hasn’t been the easiest of seasons for Grosso, the reigning Player of the Year suffering a soft tissue issue who kept her out for an extended period.
“It’s never nice getting injured, it wasn’t the easiest of times for me, obviously being across the world as well away from my family and friends,” Grosso said. “But I got through it, and knowing that I can come back before finals was obviously great to know and made me see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Grosso’s injury coupled with Kaitlyn Torpey and Lysianne Proulx’s departures, and various international windows during the season, saw City thrown a number of challenges on their way to securing a memorable Premiers Plate.
“I think the most special thing about our team this year is our response to adversity, I feel like we’ve done it pretty flawlessly,” she added.
“Obviously losing [Kaitlyn] Torpey is massive, she’s an amazing player, but like I said I think that we have so much depth in this team that we all just came into our roles and continued on with that hunger and that fight.”
City now awaits their Semi Final opponents, with this weekend’s Elimination Finals set to determine who we face next.
Fixture details for City’s second Semi Final leg have been confirmed. All City A-League Women’s and Men’s members will gain free access by swiping their memberships.
