Wellington Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman wants her side to be more “calm in the chaos” in their second match of the Ninja A-League season.
The Phoenix play host to Newcastle Jets at Porirua Park on Sunday afternoon, eight days on from their season opening draw with Canberra United at Sky Stadium.
Frustrating is how Priestman summed up the first up performance and she’s looking for a better showing in Porirua.
“We’d like to play a little bit more of how we’d like to play; a little bit more flowing attack and keep the ball better,” she told media after training on Friday.
“I felt it was too transitional a game and we probably played into that a bit.
“I do think there are some learnings with dealing with an occasion and a moment that this group is still clearly dealing with, but for us now this week has had a good feeling about it.
“I don’t think the players overly dramatized what last week was. We’ve seen it for what it was and now I just want the team to put their best foot forward and show a little bit more about what we’re about.
“No matter how talented or how much talk there’s about the team we just want to get on with it and hopefully bring a little bit of our identity with the ball than what you would have seen at Sky Stadium.”
The season opener was another example for Priestman of the transitional nature of the A-League.
“I think you have to be able to thrive in chaos in some ways and we didn’t really thrive that much in chaos.
“We have to be able to live with that. Sometimes you can have all of the tactics in the world but the mentality of a group can get you through a game.
“What I was most pleased with was the group’s resilience, A to come back and B to hold and not lose that game.
“At times last season I felt this team gave away that dying goal in the last minutes and gave up maybe a draw and coming away with a point.
“At the end of the day we took two points off a team and we move on. I think you can’t dissect things too much in club football. It’s review, move on and get ready for the next opponent.”
Sunday’s match is the closest the Nix women will get to a New Zealand derby this season.
The Jets boast four Kiwis in their squad, including Football Ferns Anna Leat and Kelli Brown, and are coached by Stephen Hoyle, who guided Eastern Suburbs to the National League title in 2022.
“It definitely brings a different flavour to it. I always like it. I used to enjoy my national team players coming up against their clubmates.
“We might have a few more fans at Porirua Park from all around the country, which will be great.
“It’ll be a great occasion for any Football Fern fan. You’ll get to see a whole load of Football Ferns on the pitch.”
Priestman is full of respect for the Jets, who beat Canberra United in Canberra in round one before having a bye last weekend.
“They’re very clinical. I’m not saying they have all of the possession in the final third and create 100 shots, but what they do do they convert really, really well.
“Last season as well even before Stephen came in I thought they were a high energy team so we have to expect that.
“They’re going to bring energy and try to make it uncomfortable for us early in the game. It’s how we can bring the calm in the chaos and be aware of their threats but also I’ve identified some areas that I think we can get after them.”
Lucía León and Tiana Jaber remain sidelined with injuries, while Macey Fraser is unavailable for Sunday’s match as she’s taking a mental health break.
The third round Ninja A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Newcastle Jets is scheduled to kick-off at Porirua Park in Wellington at 4pm Sunday and will be broadcast LIVE and free on Sky Open and LIVE on Sky Sport 3 in New Zealand, and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 19 January 2025 – Wellington Phoenix 3 Newcastle Jets 2
All-time A-League head to head: Phoenix 2W, Jets 5W.
Wellington Phoenix squad (one to be omitted): 1. Victoria ESSON (gk), 2. CJ BOTT, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Ellie WALKER, 6. Tessel MIDDAG, 7. Grace JALE, 9. Sabitra BHANDARI, 10. Alyssa WHINHAM, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 12. Ella MCMILLAN, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE, 16. Marisa VAN DER MEER, 19. Liv INGHAM, 20. Emma MAIN, 21. Lara WALL, 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk), 23. Brooke NUNN, 24. Pia VLOK.
Unavailable:3. Tiana JABER (injured), 8. Macey FRASER (mental health break), 14. Lucía LEÓN (injured).
Newcastle Jets squad: 2. Josie WILSON, 3. Claudia CICCO, 4. Natasha PRIOR, 5. Olivia PAGE, 6. Cassidy DAVIS (c), 7. India BREIER, 8. Emma DUNDAS, 10. Libby COPUS-BROWN, 11. Charlotte LANCASTER, 12. Georgia RITCHIE (gk), 13. Lauren ALLAN, 14. Melina AYRES, 23. Zoe KARIPIDIS, 24. Anna LEAT (gk), 26. Josie ALLAN, 32. Claire ADAMS, 44. Kelli BROWN.
Main image: Bev Priestman gives instructions during a Wellington Phoenix training session at NZCIS. Photo: Cam McIntosh/Photomac.
