Adelaide United midfielder Dylan Holmes says there were plenty of positives to take from the Reds’ Round One defeat to Central Coast Mariners ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Sydney FC at ServiceFM Stadium.
Reflecting on the 3-0 loss in Gosford, Holmes said the team is taking valuable lessons from the match, and remains confident about what’s ahead this season.
“Obviously not an ideal result in Round One, not the result we were looking for,” Holmes admitted. “But we’ve had a new coach come in, and we’re still learning how he wants us to play and the systems he has. It’s going to take time, but I think we saw glimpses of what we can do in that game.”
The Reds started brightly in Gosford, dominating the early stages before being undone by the reigning Champions. Holmes said the opening spell showed the team’s potential.
“It gives us a lot of belief that we have those moments in us,” she said. “We’re a team that can play at that level, but losing Round One has taught us a lot. We’re working hard on the training pitch to fix the things we need to improve.”
With a new era beginning under Tsiounis, Holmes said the group is finding the balance between building on past foundations and embracing fresh ideas.
“I think it’s a bit of both,” she said. “There’s a really strong foundation from the last few years under Stents, and now it’s been great to have new energy and ideas come in. Theo’s very principle-driven, and we’re learning a lot from him. It’ll take time, but we’re excited by the way he wants us to play.”
The midfielder also highlighted the squad’s increased depth and competition after several new arrivals.
“It’s been nice to have some new faces,” Holmes said. “The players who’ve come in are really experienced at A-League level, and that’s lifted training standards and competition within the group. It was great to see so many debutants for the club last weekend.”
Holmes believes the opening loss may ultimately serve as an early turning point.
“If it’s going to happen, Round One probably isn’t a bad time for it,” she said. “We have 19 games and hopefully finals ahead, so there’s a lot of time to grow. We learned a lot from the game, and I think you’ll see a much improved performance on Saturday.”
When asked about the league’s current landscape – particularly after a 14-year-old debuted for Sydney FC – Holmes said it was a positive sign for Australian football.
“I don’t see it as a negative at all,” she said. “I watched that game and thought she did incredibly well. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough, and she clearly deserved her opportunity.”
