December 20, 2025 • 10 mins
The Women's Wellington Phoenix redeemed themselves after back-to-back losses yesterday in a match against Sydney FC winning 7-0.
Wellington FC Women's Team Head Coach Bev Priestman talks about their victory against Sydney FC, what changes were made to the gameplans, how they maintained the energy, and how they've shaped their defensive identity.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Wellington Phoenix women have kick started their Ninja A
League season in record breaking style.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
What about that? What about that performance from Wellington Phoenix.
The final whistle has gone. The funds are absolutely loving it.
Quite rightly too, because this is a win for the
ages for the Phoenix. They've come away here with a
seven nail win over.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Sydney after scoring just three goals and they're opening five
matches of the season and none in the last two games.
The Phoenix have recorded the biggest win in the team's history,
beating SYDNEYFC seven nil at Potidawa Park yesterday, the biggest
winning margin in Phoenix club history men or women, and
(01:02):
the heaviest defeat the five time champion SYDNEYFC women's side
I have ever suffered. Nepolie strikers Abetra Bandari or Samba
as she is widely known, and football firm Grace Jarlay
both scored twice. Manaia Elliott was also on the score
sheet along with two late own goals. Phoenix head coach
Bev Priestman as well as Bev congratulations on an outstanding result.
(01:25):
You see during the week that you thought someone at
some stage was going to be on the end of
a good hiding from your side, But could you have
possibly imagined that it would be as emphatic as that.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
No, I mean, in reality, I think to score seven
goals off the back of you know, we're arguably the
team's confidence just in terms of goal scorer could have
been law I think, yeah, all threadits to the players
all week. You can imagine we've worked on putting the
ball in the back of the net and yeah, I mean,
what are way to send people off for their Christmas break?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Man? Elliott opened the scoring after just three minutes. How
important do you think that early goal was, as you say,
having worked on that during the week and not being
able to find the net in the last two games, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
I think it set us on our way, right. I think,
to be honest, in the last two games that we've
played away, if we'd got the early goal, I'm sure
those results would have been different based on, you know,
the dominating performances. But I think, yeah, you're spot on there.
I think the early goal got us underway, and then
I think people just you know, got into the rhythm
and a floor that you know, allowed us to go
(02:31):
and do what we did.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
There seemed to be a real intent and energy right
from the start. Look, I know no team goes out
there to start you know and laid back fashion. But
was there a particular focus? Yes, did I to start
fast with big energy, And.
Speaker 4 (02:48):
You know, I would say that even the last time
we were at Paru Park. I didn't talk about that.
Right the last time we were here. Give we didn't
just give the fans a game, We gave them a moment.
And I think a real intent of you know, the
fans come every week yellow fever ments and so I
talked about that a little bit in the you know,
in the premium. But I also think generally across the
(03:09):
season we've we've started well. It's actually been the last
parts of games where maybe we've had lighter bench in things.
That's probably you know, teams have worked their way into
the game. But I think what I was most pleased
with we just kept going right and we didn't think
illut off the gas. We defended well and yeah, just
they're put in.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
A big shift to be fair, so yeah, well halftime
you're throwing the lap so look, things are going really
well at halftime. How did you ensure your players didn't
let up when they went out after halftime?
Speaker 4 (03:38):
To be honest, I got after them a little bit
because I felt in the first half I were defending
habits weren't as strong as they needed to be. And
what I do know about people and humans, and you know,
when you arefering, Neil, it's very easy to take your
foot off the gas. And so I made sure that,
you know, I demanded the same standards they're demand every
week from them, and I knew more goals would come.
(03:59):
I had a feeling, but I want to make sure
we kept the clean sheet and we kept all the
great work that they have done and you know, kept going.
And so I think we've just got to set real
high standards for this group. And they they rose to
the occasion, which is great.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
And even at the end of the game, BA have
ten minutes to go, it's five nil, the points are safe.
How pleasing was it to watch your side continue to
push forward even at five nil ahead.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
Yeah? Absolutely, I think clean sheet? Right, So I think
that you might heard you from the sidelines like demanding
the clean sheets. I think, yeah, But I've seen these
games where maybe you conceived one or two at the
end and it's so frustrating. But yeah, I think it
was just a real intent. I think we wanted to
send a message. You know, there's a lot of talk
about this team, you know, can't score and all the
(04:45):
rest of it. I knew it was coming in terms of,
you know, the performances and data doesn't lie, but also
the data in the box doesn't lie, and so we
had to put some more attention on that. And yeah,
they did it.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
So Samber so a bit for Ben Doura or Nipol's imports.
She came with a big reputation, She's been hugely supported everywhere.
She's gone no goals in her first three appearances. How
much of a weight do you think that'll be off
her shoulders that she is now off the mark and
with two yesterday.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Yeah, and I think probably more than she's on race.
But I think every straight the wants to score, the
one being known for goal scoring. But I think the
pleasant thing is with somebody you see what else she
brings to the team. She's not just a goal scorer.
She is a bit of a handful rate. And then
in many ways, if people are occupied with her as
freeze others up to. But yeah, I've got no doubt
about her. Right every straight the ontes to score goals,
(05:36):
and a new one she got one. She'll be underwear
now that's her.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
You mentioned it a little bit before, but I just
want to get a bit more insight into it. The
nil is as impressive probably as the seven. You know,
the clean sheet and defense has been a hallmark of
this side. Just the four goals considered in your first
six games, and really other teams have had very few
scoring opportunities. How much do you pride yourself on that base,
that defensive base, which yesterday was the springboard for you know,
(06:03):
a lot of goals at the other end.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Yeah, And I think when I took over with the team,
I talked about anybody that wants to beat this team
has to have a really really good game and performance
to do that. Now, you'd argue maybe and that last
two games necessarily it hasn't been that for the opposition,
but they have scored and the potball in the back
of the neck. But I do think, like anybody that
puts on a Phoenix shirt and I'm going to demand
(06:27):
that they work hard, right, that's that's the bare minimum.
And I think what you're seeing is a collective effort
from a group of players who want to work hard.
They believe in the way that we're setting up, and
they're all sticking to it and facing in the right direction.
So I think it's the collective effort and just demanding,
you know, like every recovery runs a sprint and yeah,
I mean you look at the captain right CG boss.
(06:48):
I mean, that's that's where it starts. And I think
the team really prided themselves on that.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I'd imagine that I was on a team that won
seven nil, I'd be up this morning, I'd beginning my
team gear on. I'd be I'd be swaggering around and rightly, so,
you have to enjoy these moments. But how do you
keep your side grounded after such a mess of won?
Speaker 4 (07:07):
Yeah, and I think that's it, right. I think what
I've learned in this game, never too high, never too low.
But at the same time, what I've also learned is
you've got to enjoy enjoy these moments because often they
can be few and far between as well. So I
think for us, you know, in the review tomorrow, I'll
do exactly the same as I do every week, and
not get too carried away, but do let them, you know,
enjoy Christmas because I do think it's been a They've
(07:29):
put a real shift in. We've had some stepbacks along
the way and then be fresh and ready to go.
And I think for us now we have to go
and back this up right. It can't be a one
off performance, not necessarily performance, but results. And now we've
got to go away and we've got to get rewarded
for the hard work put in when we were lost
away and hopefully you know, and I've seen some of
the stats on the away record, but I think I
(07:52):
do have faith that the performances when we're away were
good enough to go and win. And so yeah, it's
onto the next one now.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Yeah, I was going to ask you about the the
away games coming up. You're a white Western Sydney and
then Brisbane just after New Year. As you say, why
points litt alone wins have been hard to come by.
Are you any closer to cracking this or do you
think it has just that you will eventually be rewarded
for your performances on the road.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Yeah, listen, I'd be concerned. Piney if you know, I
didn't think we started slow. You know, I think in
the Melbourne City game we were on top output, you know,
a number of shots and number of touches in the
box to their one shot. I think the away performances
have been winning performances are just for some reason hasn't
fallen with us. And to be honest, we've switched off
in a critical moment, particularly in that City game. So
(08:38):
for me, I think we've done a lot of little
things that I think can go a long way on
away trips and all the little details that matter, and
there was nothing in them away trips to me that felt,
you know what, we started sluggish, and you know, we
felt overly like it was too much of our own
away performance. And so that gives me a lot of
I guess positives moving forward and especially building off the
(08:59):
back of this big win.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
All right, So at ten dive break now before Western
Sydney on the thirtieth, So what does Christmas look like
for you? Can we Christmas for you?
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Yes, KUEI Christmas down in christ Church with the players
and the staff, have got a three deer break and
we've got some Christmas Christmas thinging tomorrow with the groups
and we'll see how see other different groups perform. Yeah,
there's a few players I can see they really looking
forward to that.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Well, a wonderful one yesterday. Just it felt like a
real watershed moment for this team. BF, congratulations and overseeing
a record winning the club's history. May there be many
more goals and many more ones like that. Thanks for
taking the time for a chat. No, thank you, BF.
BEF priestsman there, coach of the Wellington Phoenix women who
put seven past Sydney FC yesterday. It was quite incredible
(09:47):
and just the most impressive part, as I said to BEV,
was that when the points were safe at four nil,
at five nil, they kept going we want more, we
want more, and they protected their own end as well,
because you know, as we have said it, you know
if you win seven nil or seven one, seven two,
the points are still yours, but there's just that nagging,
you know, frustration that you haven't been able to keep
(10:10):
a clean shit at the other end. Seven nil utterly comprehensive.
So the men can they emulate that? I mean, they'll
be happy with a win. I would say just two
in their first eight games of the season and around
thirty five minutes from now, they'll take on the Central
Coast Marins at Sky Stadium. How are they feeling? I
spoke with their captain Alex Ruffer earlier this week. We'll
(10:32):
hear from him when we come back.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talk said 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.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Wellington Phoenix women have kick started their Ninja A
League season in record breaking style.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
What about that? What about that performance from Wellington Phoenix.
The final whistle has gone. The funds are absolutely loving it.
Quite rightly too, because this is a win for the
ages for the Phoenix. They've come away here with a
seven nail win over.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Sydney after scoring just three goals and they're opening five
matches of the season and none in the last two games.
The Phoenix have recorded the biggest win in the team's history,
beating SYDNEYFC seven nil at Potidawa Park yesterday, the biggest
winning margin in Phoenix club history men or women, and
(01:02):
the heaviest defeat the five time champion SYDNEYFC women's side
I have ever suffered. Nepolie strikers Abetra Bandari or Samba
as she is widely known, and football firm Grace Jarlay
both scored twice. Manaia Elliott was also on the score
sheet along with two late own goals. Phoenix head coach
Bev Priestman as well as Bev congratulations on an outstanding result.
(01:25):
You see during the week that you thought someone at
some stage was going to be on the end of
a good hiding from your side, But could you have
possibly imagined that it would be as emphatic as that.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
No, I mean, in reality, I think to score seven
goals off the back of you know, we're arguably the
team's confidence just in terms of goal scorer could have
been law I think, yeah, all threadits to the players
all week. You can imagine we've worked on putting the
ball in the back of the net and yeah, I mean,
what are way to send people off for their Christmas break?
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Man? Elliott opened the scoring after just three minutes. How
important do you think that early goal was, as you say,
having worked on that during the week and not being
able to find the net in the last two games, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
I think it set us on our way, right. I think,
to be honest, in the last two games that we've
played away, if we'd got the early goal, I'm sure
those results would have been different based on, you know,
the dominating performances. But I think, yeah, you're spot on there.
I think the early goal got us underway, and then
I think people just you know, got into the rhythm
and a floor that you know, allowed us to go
(02:31):
and do what we did.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
There seemed to be a real intent and energy right
from the start. Look, I know no team goes out
there to start you know and laid back fashion. But
was there a particular focus? Yes, did I to start
fast with big energy, And.
Speaker 4 (02:48):
You know, I would say that even the last time
we were at Paru Park. I didn't talk about that.
Right the last time we were here. Give we didn't
just give the fans a game, We gave them a moment.
And I think a real intent of you know, the
fans come every week yellow fever ments and so I
talked about that a little bit in the you know,
in the premium. But I also think generally across the
(03:09):
season we've we've started well. It's actually been the last
parts of games where maybe we've had lighter bench in things.
That's probably you know, teams have worked their way into
the game. But I think what I was most pleased
with we just kept going right and we didn't think
illut off the gas. We defended well and yeah, just
they're put in.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
A big shift to be fair, so yeah, well halftime
you're throwing the lap so look, things are going really
well at halftime. How did you ensure your players didn't
let up when they went out after halftime?
Speaker 4 (03:38):
To be honest, I got after them a little bit
because I felt in the first half I were defending
habits weren't as strong as they needed to be. And
what I do know about people and humans, and you know,
when you arefering, Neil, it's very easy to take your
foot off the gas. And so I made sure that,
you know, I demanded the same standards they're demand every
week from them, and I knew more goals would come.
(03:59):
I had a feeling, but I want to make sure
we kept the clean sheet and we kept all the
great work that they have done and you know, kept going.
And so I think we've just got to set real
high standards for this group. And they they rose to
the occasion, which is great.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
And even at the end of the game, BA have
ten minutes to go, it's five nil, the points are safe.
How pleasing was it to watch your side continue to
push forward even at five nil ahead.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
Yeah? Absolutely, I think clean sheet? Right, So I think
that you might heard you from the sidelines like demanding
the clean sheets. I think, yeah, But I've seen these
games where maybe you conceived one or two at the
end and it's so frustrating. But yeah, I think it
was just a real intent. I think we wanted to
send a message. You know, there's a lot of talk
about this team, you know, can't score and all the
(04:45):
rest of it. I knew it was coming in terms of,
you know, the performances and data doesn't lie, but also
the data in the box doesn't lie, and so we
had to put some more attention on that. And yeah,
they did it.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
So Samber so a bit for Ben Doura or Nipol's imports.
She came with a big reputation, She's been hugely supported everywhere.
She's gone no goals in her first three appearances. How
much of a weight do you think that'll be off
her shoulders that she is now off the mark and
with two yesterday.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Yeah, and I think probably more than she's on race.
But I think every straight the wants to score, the
one being known for goal scoring. But I think the
pleasant thing is with somebody you see what else she
brings to the team. She's not just a goal scorer.
She is a bit of a handful rate. And then
in many ways, if people are occupied with her as
freeze others up to. But yeah, I've got no doubt
about her. Right every straight the ontes to score goals,
(05:36):
and a new one she got one. She'll be underwear
now that's her.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
You mentioned it a little bit before, but I just
want to get a bit more insight into it. The
nil is as impressive probably as the seven. You know,
the clean sheet and defense has been a hallmark of
this side. Just the four goals considered in your first
six games, and really other teams have had very few
scoring opportunities. How much do you pride yourself on that base,
that defensive base, which yesterday was the springboard for you know,
(06:03):
a lot of goals at the other end.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Yeah, And I think when I took over with the team,
I talked about anybody that wants to beat this team
has to have a really really good game and performance
to do that. Now, you'd argue maybe and that last
two games necessarily it hasn't been that for the opposition,
but they have scored and the potball in the back
of the neck. But I do think, like anybody that
puts on a Phoenix shirt and I'm going to demand
(06:27):
that they work hard, right, that's that's the bare minimum.
And I think what you're seeing is a collective effort
from a group of players who want to work hard.
They believe in the way that we're setting up, and
they're all sticking to it and facing in the right direction.
So I think it's the collective effort and just demanding,
you know, like every recovery runs a sprint and yeah,
I mean you look at the captain right CG boss.
(06:48):
I mean, that's that's where it starts. And I think
the team really prided themselves on that.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I'd imagine that I was on a team that won
seven nil, I'd be up this morning, I'd beginning my
team gear on. I'd be I'd be swaggering around and rightly, so,
you have to enjoy these moments. But how do you
keep your side grounded after such a mess of won?
Speaker 4 (07:07):
Yeah, and I think that's it, right. I think what
I've learned in this game, never too high, never too low.
But at the same time, what I've also learned is
you've got to enjoy enjoy these moments because often they
can be few and far between as well. So I
think for us, you know, in the review tomorrow, I'll
do exactly the same as I do every week, and
not get too carried away, but do let them, you know,
enjoy Christmas because I do think it's been a They've
(07:29):
put a real shift in. We've had some stepbacks along
the way and then be fresh and ready to go.
And I think for us now we have to go
and back this up right. It can't be a one
off performance, not necessarily performance, but results. And now we've
got to go away and we've got to get rewarded
for the hard work put in when we were lost
away and hopefully you know, and I've seen some of
the stats on the away record, but I think I
(07:52):
do have faith that the performances when we're away were
good enough to go and win. And so yeah, it's
onto the next one now.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Yeah, I was going to ask you about the the
away games coming up. You're a white Western Sydney and
then Brisbane just after New Year. As you say, why
points litt alone wins have been hard to come by.
Are you any closer to cracking this or do you
think it has just that you will eventually be rewarded
for your performances on the road.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Yeah, listen, I'd be concerned. Piney if you know, I
didn't think we started slow. You know, I think in
the Melbourne City game we were on top output, you know,
a number of shots and number of touches in the
box to their one shot. I think the away performances
have been winning performances are just for some reason hasn't
fallen with us. And to be honest, we've switched off
in a critical moment, particularly in that City game. So
(08:38):
for me, I think we've done a lot of little
things that I think can go a long way on
away trips and all the little details that matter, and
there was nothing in them away trips to me that felt,
you know what, we started sluggish, and you know, we
felt overly like it was too much of our own
away performance. And so that gives me a lot of
I guess positives moving forward and especially building off the
(08:59):
back of this big win.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
All right, So at ten dive break now before Western
Sydney on the thirtieth, So what does Christmas look like
for you? Can we Christmas for you?
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Yes, KUEI Christmas down in christ Church with the players
and the staff, have got a three deer break and
we've got some Christmas Christmas thinging tomorrow with the groups
and we'll see how see other different groups perform. Yeah,
there's a few players I can see they really looking
forward to that.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Well, a wonderful one yesterday. Just it felt like a
real watershed moment for this team. BF, congratulations and overseeing
a record winning the club's history. May there be many
more goals and many more ones like that. Thanks for
taking the time for a chat. No, thank you, BF.
BEF priestsman there, coach of the Wellington Phoenix women who
put seven past Sydney FC yesterday. It was quite incredible
(09:47):
and just the most impressive part, as I said to BEV,
was that when the points were safe at four nil,
at five nil, they kept going we want more, we
want more, and they protected their own end as well,
because you know, as we have said it, you know
if you win seven nil or seven one, seven two,
the points are still yours, but there's just that nagging,
you know, frustration that you haven't been able to keep
(10:10):
a clean shit at the other end. Seven nil utterly comprehensive.
So the men can they emulate that? I mean, they'll
be happy with a win. I would say just two
in their first eight games of the season and around
thirty five minutes from now, they'll take on the Central
Coast Marins at Sky Stadium. How are they feeling? I
spoke with their captain Alex Ruffer earlier this week. We'll
(10:32):
hear from him when we come back.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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