Maroochydore Swans savour Kappa Women’s Super Cup experience in run to Sunshine Coast finals

A trio of standouts and valuable state campaign have lifted the Swans into a force primed to fight for a big finish to the season. SEE THE DETAILS

The Maroochydore Swans may have been knocked out of a statewide competition but the lessons learned have boosted a squad already boasting plenty of standouts.

The Swans premier women’s team’s campaign in the inaugural Kappa Women’s Super Cup has come to an end after falling to NPL side Western Pride 2-0 in the quarter-final on Saturday.

It was a big effort, with the knockout competition involving clubs across the state from community level to top National Premier Leagues Queensland sides.

They were the last remaining Coast club in the competition after Sunshine Coast Fire, Bribie Island Tigers and Sunshine Coast Wanderers were eliminated in Round 2 and Nambour Yandina United fell in Round 3.

Maroochydore Football Club 's premier women took out the premiership last year.

Swans coach Gareth Simmonds said he’d been proud of how the Swans had fought against the state’s top clubs.

“They are a good bunch of girls and are pretty young but we were pretty confident,” he said

“We knew we could match other teams in periods, maybe not for the whole 90 minutes, but we wanted to push ourselves.

He said the NPL teams had a lot more resources than his club.

“Whereas our girls, they work a lot, so the commitment can be hard but they are very determined and make up for it there,” he said.

The Swans sit third in the Coast premier women’s competition with five rounds and eight games remaining.

Simmonds was hopeful the Swans would enter the run to finals boosted by the Super Cup experience.

“To be able to play an NPL team in a competition game is so much better,” he said.

“You can play them in pre-season but it doesn’t have the same edge.

“The girls would’ve learned so much and we’ll find out this week how we pick up from it.”

They face a tough week ahead, taking on second-placed Beerwah Glasshouse United on Wednesday night and ladder leaders Nambour Yandina United on Friday.

After losing seven players to the Sunshine Coast Wanderers prior to the season, Simmonds said his outfit had gone “a bit above and beyond” their goals for the year.

He said among those rising to the occasion on field were captain Danae Pryce and teenagers Olivia Oates and Ruby Postan.

Here’s what he said of the trio:

DANAE PRYCE

“She is a great leader,” Simmonds said.

“Leading the team on and off the field and getting the girls organised and covering every blade of grass during the games.

“She is a real workhorse and is very valuable to the team.”

OLIVIA OATES

“She’s great at the back,” he said

“She’s only just turned 17 I think but she can definitely fit into any sort of NPL club and go all right.”

RUBY POSTAN

“She got four (goals) the other week against Sunshine Coast Fire,” Simmonds said.

“They (Western Pride) decided to double mark her on the weekend so she didn’t get much of a look in there.

“That shows how dangerous she can be.

“She’s only 16 as well and is fifth top scorer in the league.”