Planning has already begun for the Wellington Phoenix women's 2026-27 season, after the side fell short in its maiden grand final appearance last Saturday.
Director of football Shaun Gill joined Adam Cooper to discuss recruitment, and the implications of the side's memorable season.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
News talks that'd be on the Illsport Breakfast twenty seven
past eight. Well, they were pipped at the final hurdle,
but it certainly was an historic season for the Wellington
Phoenix Women in the A League. Their highest ever points tally,
first ever playoff appearents and of course first time for
the club in a Grand final. So how are the
Phoenix reflecting on the campaign and what planning is in
the works for next year. Director of Football Sean Gill
(00:23):
is with me. Now morning to you, Sean, thanks for
your time. Firstly, what have been your initial thoughts since
the season came to an end with that Grand Final
defeat in Melbourn last Saturday.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Yeah, look, there's obviously still a little bit of disappointment
around how Saturday night played out, but amongst that disappointment,
you know, you do start to reflect and ultimately, you know,
it's been a season full of records for the Alge Woman,
(00:54):
you know, with the points tally, you know, finishing second place,
Grand final, defensive records, you know, various wind streaks along
the season. You know, number of players that made the
PFA Team of the Season. So you know, overall, I
think we have to be very pleased with how it
went and now the hard work starts to go one
(01:17):
or two better than what we did last year this season?
Speaker 1 (01:19):
How much did the result of the final impact how
you view the season as a whole?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Look, I think I think ultimately, you know, getting to
a Grand Final is a massive achievement in itself, and
the icing on the cake would have been, you know,
a Grand Final win and taking the title. So you know,
a little bit of glass has taken off the season.
But ultimately we do have to look back on it
with pride and consider it a successful season. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
And I guess if you toss your eyes back a
week prior, seeing that the fan base that packed out
potty to a park to support the team for its
final home game of the year in that semi final,
I'm sure fans will remember that for were the ones
that were there in attendance. How sort of nice was
that to cap off the home version of matches for
the season on such a special occasion.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yeah, that was an incredible day at Polydoor Park. You know,
I think you know what the what the team and
the and the and the staff and the club have
done to you know, to elevate women's football in the country.
You know, to get to a point where you've got
nearly six thousand people in attendance, which I think is
a club record anywhere, you know, and probably New Zealand
(02:33):
for a game of football, is really pleasing. And you know,
the team and the club walk away with a lot
of fans to take into next year.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
In terms of I guess looking ahead, I mean, it
was pretty remarkable through the season seeing how many of
the players, particularly the imports, wanted to stay on. I
think there's about what it doesn't or so already on
the books for next season. How's the recruitment going with
the others? And I guess are you're expecting any departures
at this point?
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Yeah, Well, look, we're really pleased with where things have
gone to so far. You know, there was obviously a
period we went through where we thought there was some
really critical recruitment that needed to be done, and then
as we sort of got closer to that the final series,
you know, we just wanted to put a bit of
a pause on it and take away any unnecessary noise.
And now over the coming days weeks we'll sit down
(03:31):
and sort of finalize, you know, and the rest of
the squad and you know those positions now that we
need to fill. BEV and I actually catching up this
morning and a live in the plot to start their process.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
A great. I mean, that's interesting, isn't it, Because often
when you have spots to fill that you go to
the market with the plenty of options available as imports,
but you've already kind of retained your imports. So is
that a tough balancing actor? I guess great that you
know the overseas players want to stay. But will that
make recruiting for the positions you need any harder?
Speaker 2 (04:00):
I don't think so. You know, we we we were
obviously very keen to jump on a couple of the imports,
you know, Putner and Early Walker and Mikayla Woods, you know,
all of coming and had excellent seasons. And I think
one of the one of the key things in sport
is to is to have some continuity with a team.
(04:20):
You know, we've had a lot of work to do
coming in this year with with a with a largely
new squad and sort of building it. And now that
base is there and gives us the ability to you
add a few pieces to the jigsaw in critical areas
and you know them, bev was not starting from scratch
for next season.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
What about vick Esson obviously, you know, shared signing with
touted to very experienced football firm back back home to
play her club football. Are Yeah, where are things at
with her?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
What's the space, Adam?
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Is that all you're saying?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
That's all I'll say today.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
That's good, Okay, I look forward to it and sumber
what's sort of with her status at the moment.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Yeah, so she is currently in Qatar Espata doing the
rehab side of things. Unfortunately, we you know, had a
little bit of a store there and getting the surgery done.
You know, she was all booked to go and then
the war started in the Middle East, so that sort
(05:23):
of put things back by a couple of weeks. At
this stage, it's too really really to know exactly when
she's going to be available. You know, we're hopeful that
it would be close to the start of the season,
but we just need to now see how the rehab
goes with Aspatar and you know, the rationale for going
to Aspata it's the premier and me specialist sort of
(05:48):
clinic in the world. You know, all Premier league players
and the big players from around the world go there
to complete their rehab or have their surgeries and complete
their rehab, and you know, there's evidence that it does
knock a bit of time off off the off the
rehab and the return to play. So you know, we're
hopeful she will be close to the start of the season,
(06:08):
but that's one will sort of follow closely, and you know,
if we have to look at some sort of replacement
options in the interim, then then then we'll have that ability.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
So she definitely wants to come back to Wellington.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Oh yeah, she's contracted again and you know she's doing
the rehab to come back here and help us hopefully
go win a Grand Final.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
What are the aspects of recruitment is important at this
stage short as you sort of look look ahead, casting
your eyehead to next year's roster.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
I think now, really it's around the balance and finding
the right players to compliment what we do have. Bev's
going to go through a review process for the staff
and the players over over the coming week. You know,
is the tweaking system that we need to look at.
Are we comfortable with the system, And you know, one
those sort of decisions are made, then that ultimately frames up,
(06:59):
you know, where we need to go and find some
some players. But you know, if you look at the
players that we have retained, you know they are largely
starting eleven players. So you know, now we're looking at
really just the finishing touches to complement what we have.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Yeah, and you've mentioned going one better as the plan
for next year, and obviously everyone will be hoping the
same thing. How do you do that? How do you
at a management level, you know, and approaching the off
season plot out to try and do that next year?
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Yeah, well, ultimately, you know, that's where the review process
becomes really critical to look at some areas where you know,
did we get everything right? You know, if we look
at this season, you know we had a we had
a difficult run there with some A C O injuries.
You know, we lost CJ to the pregnancy. So you know, ultimately,
(07:49):
I think if we can keep players fit and healthy,
particularly those players that have had a cl injuries. You know,
if you can have a fit CJ and a fit
Sumber for a large part of the season, then that
will ultimately help us. So you know, I think now
it's really just giving Bed the ability to build upon
what the great foundation that's already in place. You know,
(08:13):
there the quality players there. Uh, there's a quality coach there,
There's there's good support stuff, you know. So I think
a lot of the jigsaw pieces are there. You know.
Now we just got to look for those little one
percenters to help us, you know, take it, take it
to the next step.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
How important is minimizing the number of player changes and
keeping that retention.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Yeah, I think that's really important. Uh. You know, there's
there's a bit of research out there around continuity and
uh you know that that type of stuff. You know,
so I think there was a report I read the
other day. You know, once you sort of start changing
three or four players to to a first eleven, you know,
you lose a little bit of cohesion. You've got to
sort of start again. And as I said previously, you know,
(08:56):
I think when you look at the players we have resigned,
who we were largely all part of that sort of
made up that starting eleven a lot. You know, that's
where I think we're in a really good spot that
that will have that cohesion and we'll have that continuity
going into next season.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
And naturally where the success comes. I guess interested in
players and probably your coach from overseas other parts of
the world. Are the parts of the A League. You're
confident that, you know, Bev is in it for for
another season and there won't be attempts to sort of
buy her out of a Phoenix contract.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Look, you never know where what the future holds. But
all I can say at the moment is that, you know,
Beavers has really focused on how do we go, how
do we go and win the when the you know,
win the league and win the grand Final and all
the all the talk she's so far ahead with me
doesn't indicate that she's in a hurriy to go anywhere.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
And what about players, I mean, it's it's competitive recruitment
around the A League. You guys, you know took a
few from other teams in the A League for this season.
Is that quite a competitive market in the women's game at.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
The moment, Yeah, definitely, definitely. I mean you're always looking
to to make a squad better. But as I said earlier,
you know, we we really do have a lot of
that what we would call first eleven players locked in
and ready to go. You know, so with that being
a salary cap league, you know, you can't you can't
just go and buy everybody of a high quality, you know,
(10:17):
so now we have to uh look for look for
players that are going to compliment what we do have
and probably the one area you know, we've got one
visa spot left and uh you know current thinking on that,
you know, potentially down the left hand side, went back,
you know, left center back, that type of option to
(10:39):
to to strengthen up on that left hand side.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Yeah, great, and just on on the women's and the
men's team. Sean, any any updates here? I guess you know,
the likes of the Alex Ruthers and and things. The
fans are still probably interested to hear if things are
at with that.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Yeah, look, we agree, and I've been doing a lot
of work over the last couple of days. We've got
some conversations going on at the moment with a couple
of agents around a couple of players. Discussions with Alex
Rufer and Sarbrey Singer ongoing. You know, they have both
indicated that there is an interest, but there's also a
massive World Cup coming up, and you know, both guys
(11:17):
want to want to see what we have to say.
You know, we've already tabled something to Alex, we'll look
to table something to Starbury, but we're probably going to
have a you know, maybe sort of five six weeks
of the World Cup. See how that plays out, see
how both go there. You know, whether there's any other
interest from around around the globe for those two. But
(11:38):
you know, we're we're comfortable with where that process is
at given we do have visa spots available and you know,
if we if we can't tie those two up, then
we have options to go to the to the global
market to find visa players.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Great and just finally on the women says it in
the fan base and seeing that crowd applay on a
last week in what I mean, and you'll be what
should this do to the support this women's team gets
at home next season? Do you expect and hope crowds
drastically increase as a result of their great season?
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Yeah, of course we do. You know, you know, as
I said, they have been incredible all year, the team
and bevenue, coaching team, and you know the fans have
been awesome coming out. You know, even before that that
semi final, we were up around sixteen seventeen hundred people
along the Pottydor Park, which is which is a great
(12:29):
you know, sort of regular season number, you know, and
if we can start pushing that to two three thousand
per week, you know, that's that that would be great.
And I think what people are seeing now is that,
you know, the women's game is an exciting watch. There's
good quality on the pitch and you know, the fans
showed that through the season coming up.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Absolutely, it's certainly been great. Sean really appreciate your time
here on Newstalks there be this morning. Congrats to all
involved for the historic women's campaign and he is hoping
for well, maybe one better next season. Thanks for joining us.
Sean Gilded, the director of Football at the Wellington Phoenix.
For more from News Talk st B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
News talks that'd be on the Illsport Breakfast twenty seven
past eight. Well, they were pipped at the final hurdle,
but it certainly was an historic season for the Wellington
Phoenix Women in the A League. Their highest ever points tally,
first ever playoff appearents and of course first time for
the club in a Grand final. So how are the
Phoenix reflecting on the campaign and what planning is in
the works for next year. Director of Football Sean Gill
(00:23):
is with me. Now morning to you, Sean, thanks for
your time. Firstly, what have been your initial thoughts since
the season came to an end with that Grand Final
defeat in Melbourn last Saturday.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Yeah, look, there's obviously still a little bit of disappointment
around how Saturday night played out, but amongst that disappointment,
you know, you do start to reflect and ultimately, you know,
it's been a season full of records for the Alge Woman,
(00:54):
you know, with the points tally, you know, finishing second place,
Grand final, defensive records, you know, various wind streaks along
the season. You know, number of players that made the
PFA Team of the Season. So you know, overall, I
think we have to be very pleased with how it
went and now the hard work starts to go one
(01:17):
or two better than what we did last year this season?
Speaker 1 (01:19):
How much did the result of the final impact how
you view the season as a whole?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Look, I think I think ultimately, you know, getting to
a Grand Final is a massive achievement in itself, and
the icing on the cake would have been, you know,
a Grand Final win and taking the title. So you know,
a little bit of glass has taken off the season.
But ultimately we do have to look back on it
with pride and consider it a successful season. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
And I guess if you toss your eyes back a
week prior, seeing that the fan base that packed out
potty to a park to support the team for its
final home game of the year in that semi final,
I'm sure fans will remember that for were the ones
that were there in attendance. How sort of nice was
that to cap off the home version of matches for
the season on such a special occasion.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yeah, that was an incredible day at Polydoor Park. You know,
I think you know what the what the team and
the and the and the staff and the club have
done to you know, to elevate women's football in the country.
You know, to get to a point where you've got
nearly six thousand people in attendance, which I think is
a club record anywhere, you know, and probably New Zealand
(02:33):
for a game of football, is really pleasing. And you know,
the team and the club walk away with a lot
of fans to take into next year.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
In terms of I guess looking ahead, I mean, it
was pretty remarkable through the season seeing how many of
the players, particularly the imports, wanted to stay on. I
think there's about what it doesn't or so already on
the books for next season. How's the recruitment going with
the others? And I guess are you're expecting any departures
at this point?
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Yeah, Well, look, we're really pleased with where things have
gone to so far. You know, there was obviously a
period we went through where we thought there was some
really critical recruitment that needed to be done, and then
as we sort of got closer to that the final series,
you know, we just wanted to put a bit of
a pause on it and take away any unnecessary noise.
And now over the coming days weeks we'll sit down
(03:31):
and sort of finalize, you know, and the rest of
the squad and you know those positions now that we
need to fill. BEV and I actually catching up this
morning and a live in the plot to start their process.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
A great. I mean, that's interesting, isn't it, Because often
when you have spots to fill that you go to
the market with the plenty of options available as imports,
but you've already kind of retained your imports. So is
that a tough balancing actor? I guess great that you
know the overseas players want to stay. But will that
make recruiting for the positions you need any harder?
Speaker 2 (04:00):
I don't think so. You know, we we we were
obviously very keen to jump on a couple of the imports,
you know, Putner and Early Walker and Mikayla Woods, you know,
all of coming and had excellent seasons. And I think
one of the one of the key things in sport
is to is to have some continuity with a team.
(04:20):
You know, we've had a lot of work to do
coming in this year with with a with a largely
new squad and sort of building it. And now that
base is there and gives us the ability to you
add a few pieces to the jigsaw in critical areas
and you know them, bev was not starting from scratch
for next season.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
What about vick Esson obviously, you know, shared signing with
touted to very experienced football firm back back home to
play her club football. Are Yeah, where are things at
with her?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
What's the space, Adam?
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Is that all you're saying?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
That's all I'll say today.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
That's good, Okay, I look forward to it and sumber
what's sort of with her status at the moment.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Yeah, so she is currently in Qatar Espata doing the
rehab side of things. Unfortunately, we you know, had a
little bit of a store there and getting the surgery done.
You know, she was all booked to go and then
the war started in the Middle East, so that sort
(05:23):
of put things back by a couple of weeks. At
this stage, it's too really really to know exactly when
she's going to be available. You know, we're hopeful that
it would be close to the start of the season,
but we just need to now see how the rehab
goes with Aspatar and you know, the rationale for going
to Aspata it's the premier and me specialist sort of
(05:48):
clinic in the world. You know, all Premier league players
and the big players from around the world go there
to complete their rehab or have their surgeries and complete
their rehab, and you know, there's evidence that it does
knock a bit of time off off the off the
rehab and the return to play. So you know, we're
hopeful she will be close to the start of the season,
(06:08):
but that's one will sort of follow closely, and you know,
if we have to look at some sort of replacement
options in the interim, then then then we'll have that ability.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
So she definitely wants to come back to Wellington.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Oh yeah, she's contracted again and you know she's doing
the rehab to come back here and help us hopefully
go win a Grand Final.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
What are the aspects of recruitment is important at this
stage short as you sort of look look ahead, casting
your eyehead to next year's roster.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
I think now, really it's around the balance and finding
the right players to compliment what we do have. Bev's
going to go through a review process for the staff
and the players over over the coming week. You know,
is the tweaking system that we need to look at.
Are we comfortable with the system, And you know, one
those sort of decisions are made, then that ultimately frames up,
(06:59):
you know, where we need to go and find some
some players. But you know, if you look at the
players that we have retained, you know they are largely
starting eleven players. So you know, now we're looking at
really just the finishing touches to complement what we have.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Yeah, and you've mentioned going one better as the plan
for next year, and obviously everyone will be hoping the
same thing. How do you do that? How do you
at a management level, you know, and approaching the off
season plot out to try and do that next year?
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Yeah, well, ultimately, you know, that's where the review process
becomes really critical to look at some areas where you know,
did we get everything right? You know, if we look
at this season, you know we had a we had
a difficult run there with some A C O injuries.
You know, we lost CJ to the pregnancy. So you know, ultimately,
(07:49):
I think if we can keep players fit and healthy,
particularly those players that have had a cl injuries. You know,
if you can have a fit CJ and a fit
Sumber for a large part of the season, then that
will ultimately help us. So you know, I think now
it's really just giving Bed the ability to build upon
what the great foundation that's already in place. You know,
(08:13):
there the quality players there. Uh, there's a quality coach there,
There's there's good support stuff, you know. So I think
a lot of the jigsaw pieces are there. You know.
Now we just got to look for those little one
percenters to help us, you know, take it, take it
to the next step.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
How important is minimizing the number of player changes and
keeping that retention.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Yeah, I think that's really important. Uh. You know, there's
there's a bit of research out there around continuity and
uh you know that that type of stuff. You know,
so I think there was a report I read the
other day. You know, once you sort of start changing
three or four players to to a first eleven, you know,
you lose a little bit of cohesion. You've got to
sort of start again. And as I said previously, you know,
(08:56):
I think when you look at the players we have resigned,
who we were largely all part of that sort of
made up that starting eleven a lot. You know, that's
where I think we're in a really good spot that
that will have that cohesion and we'll have that continuity
going into next season.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
And naturally where the success comes. I guess interested in
players and probably your coach from overseas other parts of
the world. Are the parts of the A League. You're
confident that, you know, Bev is in it for for
another season and there won't be attempts to sort of
buy her out of a Phoenix contract.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Look, you never know where what the future holds. But
all I can say at the moment is that, you know,
Beavers has really focused on how do we go, how
do we go and win the when the you know,
win the league and win the grand Final and all
the all the talk she's so far ahead with me
doesn't indicate that she's in a hurriy to go anywhere.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
And what about players, I mean, it's it's competitive recruitment
around the A League. You guys, you know took a
few from other teams in the A League for this season.
Is that quite a competitive market in the women's game at.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
The moment, Yeah, definitely, definitely. I mean you're always looking
to to make a squad better. But as I said earlier,
you know, we we really do have a lot of
that what we would call first eleven players locked in
and ready to go. You know, so with that being
a salary cap league, you know, you can't you can't
just go and buy everybody of a high quality, you know,
(10:17):
so now we have to uh look for look for
players that are going to compliment what we do have
and probably the one area you know, we've got one
visa spot left and uh you know current thinking on that,
you know, potentially down the left hand side, went back,
you know, left center back, that type of option to
(10:39):
to to strengthen up on that left hand side.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Yeah, great, and just on on the women's and the
men's team. Sean, any any updates here? I guess you know,
the likes of the Alex Ruthers and and things. The
fans are still probably interested to hear if things are
at with that.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Yeah, look, we agree, and I've been doing a lot
of work over the last couple of days. We've got
some conversations going on at the moment with a couple
of agents around a couple of players. Discussions with Alex
Rufer and Sarbrey Singer ongoing. You know, they have both
indicated that there is an interest, but there's also a
massive World Cup coming up, and you know, both guys
(11:17):
want to want to see what we have to say.
You know, we've already tabled something to Alex, we'll look
to table something to Starbury, but we're probably going to
have a you know, maybe sort of five six weeks
of the World Cup. See how that plays out, see
how both go there. You know, whether there's any other
interest from around around the globe for those two. But
(11:38):
you know, we're we're comfortable with where that process is
at given we do have visa spots available and you know,
if we if we can't tie those two up, then
we have options to go to the to the global
market to find visa players.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Great and just finally on the women says it in
the fan base and seeing that crowd applay on a
last week in what I mean, and you'll be what
should this do to the support this women's team gets
at home next season? Do you expect and hope crowds
drastically increase as a result of their great season?
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Yeah, of course we do. You know, you know, as
I said, they have been incredible all year, the team
and bevenue, coaching team, and you know the fans have
been awesome coming out. You know, even before that that
semi final, we were up around sixteen seventeen hundred people
along the Pottydor Park, which is which is a great
(12:29):
you know, sort of regular season number, you know, and
if we can start pushing that to two three thousand
per week, you know, that's that that would be great.
And I think what people are seeing now is that,
you know, the women's game is an exciting watch. There's
good quality on the pitch and you know, the fans
showed that through the season coming up.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Absolutely, it's certainly been great. Sean really appreciate your time
here on Newstalks there be this morning. Congrats to all
involved for the historic women's campaign and he is hoping
for well, maybe one better next season. Thanks for joining us.
Sean Gilded, the director of Football at the Wellington Phoenix.
For more from News Talk st B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com