Wellington Phoenix women's team were denied their first ever win in Victoria last week, with a two-goal burst from Melbourne City ending the sides four match unbeaten run.
In the game, forward Olivia Fergusson scored her first goal for the Phoenix by putting away a rebound from Grace Jale.
Fergusson joins Jason Pine to discuss why that first club goal is important and why she moved halfway across the world to link up with the Wellington Phoenix.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB, News Talks AB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
It's nineteen away from three. The Wellington Phoenix women's side
back at home this afternoon in a League women's action.
They take on Perth Glory at Pottidoor Park with the
kickoff at four. The Phoenix are currently seventh on the ladder,
but just one point outside the top six. Perth Glorious
currently sitting in ninth position. Phoenix striker Olivia Ferguson scored
(00:35):
her first goal for the club and last weekend's two
to one defeat away at league leaders Melbourne City.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
An Apple's giving away cheaply Jarly fumbles and there it is,
Olivia Ferguson gets on the score sheet. As I was
mentioning being dangerous at times from City to work their
way out and Wellington punished them. Poor pass from me
Res out straight to Jarley and ready and waiting was
Olivia Ferguson her first goal and the all important first
(01:02):
goal of this game.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Olivia Ferguson as well us now thanks for taking the time, Blovia,
despite the result obviously not going your way a week ago.
How satisfying. Was it to score your first goal for
your new club?
Speaker 4 (01:14):
Hello, Yeah, I think the result was obviously disappointing, but
the whole team performance, we felt like we deserve to
get something out of the game. For me, getting my
first goal was really important. For anyone that's seen the goal,
it was probably of the easiest ones off score or season,
but sometimes you just need one like that to get
off the mark. I would have preferred it if it
(01:36):
would have counted towards some points at the end of
the game. But yeah, we keep moving forward and we're
really pleased with Howard performed in the game. Well.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
One of the old editors about goals is that they
all count for one regardless of how they come. Is
a striker, how important is it for you to contribute
with goals even though your all around performances have been good.
How important is it to also chalk up goals for
the side?
Speaker 4 (01:59):
Yeah, definitely. I think when you were number nine and
you're playing in that position, you do carry that responsibility.
It's good for us that we've had goals from across
the pitch and I do fill my performances. They're adding
a lot of value even without goals. But yeah, I
do take that responsibility on my shoulders and I want
to be scoring, and yeah, it's really good to be
off the mark and hopefully I can find a bit
(02:19):
of slow now in front of goal.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
It was a narrow defeat and a good performance, as
you've outlined, and it came off the back of a
four game and beaten streak. So over the last four
or five games, what particularly do you think has been
going really well for the side.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Yeah, I think we've found some really good momentum. I
think that's everything in football, really positive performances individually but
also as a collective. I think we've really been buying
into what poor Temple has been asking us to do. Tactically.
We've managed to make tweaks dependent on the opposition, which
has been really good for us. And yeah, I think
(02:54):
momentum is the most important thing, but I also don't
think we've lost that with the defeat. I think we'll
carry on going. Our performance was really good and we
were unlucky not to get something out of the game
in the end.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Just a nine goal scored in eight games for the side.
You've been good defensively, but just nine goals scored. How
hard are you working on creating more chances and scoring
more goals.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Yeah, we always are. We're working on that in training
and finishing as well. I think ultimately, you know, if
we're struck tight at the barket, can only take one
goal to win a game. So yeah, tightening up defensively
was one of our targets after the first couple of
games and then getting that momentum with the wins. You know,
we haven't been scoring lots of goals, but we've done
(03:37):
enough to get the results, which is the most important thing.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
In the attacking third. And it maybe lends itself to
what you mentioned before about technically tweaking things for different oppositions.
You've started the last five games, but the likes of
Grace Jarlay in the main, Alissa winnerm and others have
been sort of rotated in and out of the side
and used and impact roles. Has that been challenging at
all for you or are the connections there regardless of
who's on the field.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Yeah, no, I don't think so. Obviously, we train together
full time in the world, so we have those connections,
and I think those players that have been used as
impact players has been brilliant off the bench and we
have a big week coming up where we'll need to
use everybody across the three games. But yeah, no, we
all connect really well no matter who's on the pitch.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
You played for a long time in the UK, why
did you decide to make the move to the other
side of the world and link up with Wellington Phoenix.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Yeah, I guess that's the question a lot of people
have asked me. I've played in England for quite a while.
I just fanted a different challenge. The A League was
exciting to me coming across to New Zealand and experience
in a different culture, meeting different people was also exciting
to me, just a life experience. But yeah, the A
League and playing for Phoenix was definitely what pulled me here.
(04:53):
Just a different challenge.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Really, as a new player to the A League, have
you had to do a bit more work in the
background to familiarize yourself with the players and the teams
that you're coming up against for the first time.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Yeah, definitely. I think our staff have been really good
with that, with the level of information we get given
before games anyway, but it can be a positive as well,
that little bit of naivety, especially when you play against
the bigger teams and bigger name players, just that bit
of bravery and freedom without any expectations.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Really, and here's the phane. It's been an easy team
for you to fit into. Culture wise, the playing group,
the coaching staff for the you know, living in Wellington.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Yeah, I'm having such an amazing time. It's such a
great group. All the girls are lovely, the staff are lovely.
It's been one of the easiest places for me to settle,
even though it's so far away from home. But yeah,
it really does feel like home already. Everyone's been so
welcoming and so nice.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
So can your family and friends back home watch the games,
presuming they can pick them up somewhere.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
Yeah, they are managing to watch them. The biggest issue
is the time difference. My dad's having to get up
at three am to watch the game. Sometimes you'll send
me a myth after the game with what he thought
about the game, and it's just spelling mistakes everywhere. He's
type a silly hour in the morning. But my dad
(06:14):
and my granddad are actually over here now in Wellington
and they'll be they'll be at the game today, so
that'll be really nice.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Fantastic. Oh, that's great. That's typing will be a lot
better and they can probably just tell you after the
game rather than rather than send you a message. That's
terrific stuff. That's parental dedication and wonderful. You mentioned before
about the busy week ahead after Perth Glory this afternoon,
you've got a game on Thursday away at Western Sydney
and then Adelaide on Sunday. So with the slightly busier week,
(06:43):
does that change the way that you structure a week
with three games in it.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Yeah, I guess. So we'll be training most days as
we normally have a day off, but we need to
use every day that we have to get the tactical
information in. I do think the group's in a really
good place. I think we've got the balance right between
enjoying the new year and Christmas but also being in
and we'll obviously be needing to use our depth across
(07:10):
our squad, which I think we have really strong squad,
and like we spoke about those players before who have
kind of been rotated at times, we'll need everybody and
they'll all be ready, I'm sure, all right.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
And then so after these three games, that'll be the
halfway point of the twenty two game regular season. This
is probably a silly question to ask, but does Wellington
feel like a top six side to you?
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Oh, definitely, I think looking at our performances, particularly in
that unbeaten run of those four games. You know we've
played Brisbane Raw, we've played Sydney Esty, we've played Melbourne
Citty and we've had good performances and we've managed to
get results in those games. You know, the table is
so sorry, the ladder is so tight at the moment,
(07:53):
and you know a result one way or another can
leave you in tenth or fourth, so it's really exciting.
We just concentrate on ourselves and I think by the
end of the season, yeah, we can definitely be finishing
in that top six.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Fantastic, Olivia, great to chat to you, all the best
against Perth Glory. Really appreciate you taking the time.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Thank you, Olivia. Olivia Ferguson there, English striker for Wellington
Phoenix's women's side. Four o'clockick off this afternoon at Pottydor
Park they take on Perth Glory. A busy week ahead,
as you heard Olivia outline, there were three games in
eight days.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB, News Talks AB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
It's nineteen away from three. The Wellington Phoenix women's side
back at home this afternoon in a League women's action.
They take on Perth Glory at Pottidoor Park with the
kickoff at four. The Phoenix are currently seventh on the ladder,
but just one point outside the top six. Perth Glorious
currently sitting in ninth position. Phoenix striker Olivia Ferguson scored
(00:35):
her first goal for the club and last weekend's two
to one defeat away at league leaders Melbourne City.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
An Apple's giving away cheaply Jarly fumbles and there it is,
Olivia Ferguson gets on the score sheet. As I was
mentioning being dangerous at times from City to work their
way out and Wellington punished them. Poor pass from me
Res out straight to Jarley and ready and waiting was
Olivia Ferguson her first goal and the all important first
(01:02):
goal of this game.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Olivia Ferguson as well us now thanks for taking the time, Blovia,
despite the result obviously not going your way a week ago.
How satisfying. Was it to score your first goal for
your new club?
Speaker 4 (01:14):
Hello, Yeah, I think the result was obviously disappointing, but
the whole team performance, we felt like we deserve to
get something out of the game. For me, getting my
first goal was really important. For anyone that's seen the goal,
it was probably of the easiest ones off score or season,
but sometimes you just need one like that to get
off the mark. I would have preferred it if it
(01:36):
would have counted towards some points at the end of
the game. But yeah, we keep moving forward and we're
really pleased with Howard performed in the game. Well.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
One of the old editors about goals is that they
all count for one regardless of how they come. Is
a striker, how important is it for you to contribute
with goals even though your all around performances have been good.
How important is it to also chalk up goals for
the side?
Speaker 4 (01:59):
Yeah, definitely. I think when you were number nine and
you're playing in that position, you do carry that responsibility.
It's good for us that we've had goals from across
the pitch and I do fill my performances. They're adding
a lot of value even without goals. But yeah, I
do take that responsibility on my shoulders and I want
to be scoring, and yeah, it's really good to be
off the mark and hopefully I can find a bit
(02:19):
of slow now in front of goal.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
It was a narrow defeat and a good performance, as
you've outlined, and it came off the back of a
four game and beaten streak. So over the last four
or five games, what particularly do you think has been
going really well for the side.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Yeah, I think we've found some really good momentum. I
think that's everything in football, really positive performances individually but
also as a collective. I think we've really been buying
into what poor Temple has been asking us to do. Tactically.
We've managed to make tweaks dependent on the opposition, which
has been really good for us. And yeah, I think
(02:54):
momentum is the most important thing, but I also don't
think we've lost that with the defeat. I think we'll
carry on going. Our performance was really good and we
were unlucky not to get something out of the game
in the end.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Just a nine goal scored in eight games for the side.
You've been good defensively, but just nine goals scored. How
hard are you working on creating more chances and scoring
more goals.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Yeah, we always are. We're working on that in training
and finishing as well. I think ultimately, you know, if
we're struck tight at the barket, can only take one
goal to win a game. So yeah, tightening up defensively
was one of our targets after the first couple of
games and then getting that momentum with the wins. You know,
we haven't been scoring lots of goals, but we've done
(03:37):
enough to get the results, which is the most important thing.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
In the attacking third. And it maybe lends itself to
what you mentioned before about technically tweaking things for different oppositions.
You've started the last five games, but the likes of
Grace Jarlay in the main, Alissa winnerm and others have
been sort of rotated in and out of the side
and used and impact roles. Has that been challenging at
all for you or are the connections there regardless of
who's on the field.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Yeah, no, I don't think so. Obviously, we train together
full time in the world, so we have those connections,
and I think those players that have been used as
impact players has been brilliant off the bench and we
have a big week coming up where we'll need to
use everybody across the three games. But yeah, no, we
all connect really well no matter who's on the pitch.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
You played for a long time in the UK, why
did you decide to make the move to the other
side of the world and link up with Wellington Phoenix.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Yeah, I guess that's the question a lot of people
have asked me. I've played in England for quite a while.
I just fanted a different challenge. The A League was
exciting to me coming across to New Zealand and experience
in a different culture, meeting different people was also exciting
to me, just a life experience. But yeah, the A
League and playing for Phoenix was definitely what pulled me here.
(04:53):
Just a different challenge.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Really, as a new player to the A League, have
you had to do a bit more work in the
background to familiarize yourself with the players and the teams
that you're coming up against for the first time.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Yeah, definitely. I think our staff have been really good
with that, with the level of information we get given
before games anyway, but it can be a positive as well,
that little bit of naivety, especially when you play against
the bigger teams and bigger name players, just that bit
of bravery and freedom without any expectations.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Really, and here's the phane. It's been an easy team
for you to fit into. Culture wise, the playing group,
the coaching staff for the you know, living in Wellington.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Yeah, I'm having such an amazing time. It's such a
great group. All the girls are lovely, the staff are lovely.
It's been one of the easiest places for me to settle,
even though it's so far away from home. But yeah,
it really does feel like home already. Everyone's been so
welcoming and so nice.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
So can your family and friends back home watch the games,
presuming they can pick them up somewhere.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
Yeah, they are managing to watch them. The biggest issue
is the time difference. My dad's having to get up
at three am to watch the game. Sometimes you'll send
me a myth after the game with what he thought
about the game, and it's just spelling mistakes everywhere. He's
type a silly hour in the morning. But my dad
(06:14):
and my granddad are actually over here now in Wellington
and they'll be they'll be at the game today, so
that'll be really nice.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Fantastic. Oh, that's great. That's typing will be a lot
better and they can probably just tell you after the
game rather than rather than send you a message. That's
terrific stuff. That's parental dedication and wonderful. You mentioned before
about the busy week ahead after Perth Glory this afternoon,
you've got a game on Thursday away at Western Sydney
and then Adelaide on Sunday. So with the slightly busier week,
(06:43):
does that change the way that you structure a week
with three games in it.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Yeah, I guess. So we'll be training most days as
we normally have a day off, but we need to
use every day that we have to get the tactical
information in. I do think the group's in a really
good place. I think we've got the balance right between
enjoying the new year and Christmas but also being in
and we'll obviously be needing to use our depth across
(07:10):
our squad, which I think we have really strong squad,
and like we spoke about those players before who have
kind of been rotated at times, we'll need everybody and
they'll all be ready, I'm sure, all right.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
And then so after these three games, that'll be the
halfway point of the twenty two game regular season. This
is probably a silly question to ask, but does Wellington
feel like a top six side to you?
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Oh, definitely, I think looking at our performances, particularly in
that unbeaten run of those four games. You know we've
played Brisbane Raw, we've played Sydney Esty, we've played Melbourne
Citty and we've had good performances and we've managed to
get results in those games. You know, the table is
so sorry, the ladder is so tight at the moment,
(07:53):
and you know a result one way or another can
leave you in tenth or fourth, so it's really exciting.
We just concentrate on ourselves and I think by the
end of the season, yeah, we can definitely be finishing
in that top six.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Fantastic, Olivia, great to chat to you, all the best
against Perth Glory. Really appreciate you taking the time.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Thank you, Olivia. Olivia Ferguson there, English striker for Wellington
Phoenix's women's side. Four o'clockick off this afternoon at Pottydor
Park they take on Perth Glory. A busy week ahead,
as you heard Olivia outline, there were three games in
eight days.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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