Reds Head Coach Adrian Stenta addressed the media ahead of Saturday night’s blockbuster clash with Central Coast Mariners at Coopers Stadium. He reflected on the team’s recovery from their long trip to Wellington, squad availability, and the significance of the club’s International Women’s Day celebration.
Stenta on recovering from the Wellington trip…
“It was a difficult trip, and I take my hat off to the players and the staff from Wellington who do it regularly. It was a tough, physical game, but we put in a really strong performance. We created a lot, though we were probably a little wasteful in front of goal, but we defended well. It’s a long way to go for a game of football, but it’s a great place to visit when you come back with three points.
“We’ve adjusted our recovery process slightly with the travel. We had a solid training block for the players who didn’t travel, and after a recovery day, we’ve prepared as well as possible despite losing a day in our schedule. The squad is fresh, fit, and ready for Saturday night.”
Stenta on squad availability and Izzy Hodgson’s progress…
“Izzy’s progressing really well and is super close to being selected. She’s not far off from making a matchday squad, and I’m excited to see the impact she can have when given the opportunity.
“Unfortunately, Fiona Worts and Katie Bowler are out with minor soft tissue injuries, but we expect them back soon. Other than that, everyone is available. The players just outside the squad are pushing hard, and the competition for places is exactly what we want.”
Stenta on Chelsie Dawber’s fitness after her facial injury…
“Chelsie is fine. She trained really well this week and is in great form. I know she would have liked to have finished one of her chances last weekend, but she’s working incredibly hard off the ball defensively for us. Her high-speed running is up, and she’s a real threat in attack. I hope people outside the club are starting to notice how valuable she is for us.”
Stenta on playing as the showcase match on International Women’s Day…
“It’s a fantastic initiative. It’s not something we’ve done here before in Adelaide, and I hope our fans embrace it, stay after the men’s game, and support the women’s team. As I’ve said many times before, we’re worth watching, and we’ll put on a good performance.
“It’s really exciting to play a night game at Coopers. The surface is in great condition, and we’re hoping for a big crowd to stick around and get behind us, because we’re going to need their support against Central Coast.”
Stenta on Central Coast Mariners…
“It’ll be a tough game. They’re well-coached, well-organised, and hard to score against. They probably haven’t scored as many goals as they would have liked, but they’re in the top six and have quality in their squad. They’ll be desperate for points with teams outside the top six putting pressure on them, so we know they’ll see this as a must-win game.”
Stenta on engaging with the football community ahead of the standalone match against Brisbane…
“We’re hoping to get out into the football community, visiting WNPL and WSL clubs and their juniors in the lead-up to the game. We want as many future footballers at that standalone match, representing their clubs and seeing what’s possible for them if they continue on their football journey.”
