Wellington Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman wants her players to be bolder and braver over the second half of the Ninja A-League season.
The Phoenix have 15 points from their first 10 matches to be right in the middle of a congested race for the top six.
The Nix entered the weekend in eighth place, but just three points off second and with one or two games in hand over six of the seven teams above them.
Priestman says she challenged the group going into last weekend’s game against Canberra United, which they won 2-0 thanks to late goals from teenage substitutes Zoe Benson and Pia Vlok.
“We’ve got to be our best version of us,” she told media after training on Friday. “Forget what’s going on around the table, forget who we play, we have a certain level that we want to hit.
“I want us to be a bit bolder and a bit braver, and I saw elements of that against Canberra.
“They’re a tough team to play against and it wasn’t certainly our best performance but we’re on a journey now to replace some of those players, get the partnerships in and try and get that roll again.
“We’ve just got to go game-to-game now and be ruthless and be bold and just worry about us.”
She was buoyed by the fact both of her side’s goals against Canberra were scored by substitutes.
“My vision for this team at the beginning of the season, when the depth was there with all our signings, was that we’d have a really good bench and depth to go and finish games.
“You look at us, we never give up and to be able to throw on some players that I knew would have some really good impact on the road, that started to feel a little bit of where I want to get the team to.
“I think we have to carry forward the energy that we ended that game with into what will be a tough game, but I love Porirua Park.
“Our fans were immense on the road, they’re always immense at home and they’re a big part of what we do so I can’t wait to get in front of them.”
Wellington are playing host to the A-League’s form team at Porirua Park on Sunday afternoon.
Adelaide United are unbeaten in their past five matches, with five wins, after just one win and a draw from their opening six games.
The Reds came from behind to beat the Jets 2-1 in Newcastle on Wednesday night.
“They’ve got a lot of threat. In their last game against the Jets they put some of their starters on the bench and you could see they came on and changed the game.
“They’ve changed shape and I think shape change has helped them.
“We’re facing a very resilient team in Adelaide. They’re always dangerous and a good team.”
Bev Priestman will be unable to call on CJ Bott on Sunday or for the remainder of the season, with the club captain announcing this week that she’s pregnant.
“I’m happy with the squad I’ve got. Daisy Brazendale and Emma Pijnenburg have stepped in and started to fill the void that CJ leaves.
“I’ve been really impressed with Mack (Mackenzie Barry) in terms of her leadership. She’s stepped up and then when she went off Ellie’s (Walker) put the captain’s armband on and I thought she was immense leading.
“CJ will still be around the training pitch and she’ll be training as much as she can and she still has that leadership presence in and around the group, which is great.”
Barry is in doubt to play Adelaide after being forced off with an ankle injury against Canberra.
“We’re seeing where we can get her to by this weekend.
“She’s been immense all season [and] very, very consistent.
“It’ll be tight for this weekend… but she also is super tough so we’ll see where we can get her to.”
New signing Mackenzie Anthony is unlikely to feature as she’s waiting on her work visas to be approved.
“We’re Friday now and we’ll see where that gets to.
“[But] she’s really fitted into the group well. She’s a lovely human being and very smiley and bubbly, and on the pitch I’ve started to really see what she can bring as well.”
The round 14 Ninja A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United is scheduled to kick-off at Porirua Park in Wellington at 4pm Sunday and will be broadcast LIVE and free-to-air on Sky Open and LIVE on Sky Sport 4 in New Zealand, and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 2 March 2025 – Wellington Phoenix 1 Adelaide United 3
All-time A-League head to head: Phoenix 3W, Adelaide 6W, 0D.
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 1. Victoria ESSON (gk), 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Ellie WALKER, 7. Grace JALE, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 13. Brooke NEARY (gk), 14. Lucía LEÓN, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE, 16. Marisa VAN DER MEER, 17. Ela JEREZ, 20. Emma MAIN, 21. Lara WALL, 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk), 23. Brooke NUNN, 24. Pia VLOK, 27. Zoe BENSON, 28. Grace BARTLETT, 31. Makala WOODS, 32. Emma PIJNENBURG.
Unavailable: 2. CJ BOTT (c) (maternity leave), 6. Tessel MIDDAG (injured), 9. Sabitra BHANDARI (injured), 10. Alyssa WHINHAM (injured), 18. Ella MCCANN (injured).
Adelaide United squad (two to be omitted): 2. Emily HODGSON, 3. Matilda MCNAMARA, 4. Holly MURRAY, 5. Sarah MORGAN, 6. Melissa TARANTO, 7. Emilia MAKRIS, 8. Emily CONDON, 9. Paige ZOIS, 10. Chelsie DAWBER, 11. Isabel HODGSON (c), 12. Carina ROSSI, 13. Ella TONKIN, 15. Adriana TARANTO, 17. Zoe TOLLAND, 21. Claudia JENKINS (gk), 22. Erin HEALY, 23. Fiona WORTS, 27. Sian DEWEY, 30. Ilona MELEGH (gk).
Unavailable: 25. Lara GOOCH (injured).
Main image: Wellington Phoenix players warm up for training at NZCIS on Friday. Photo: Cam McIntosh/Photomac.
