Canberra United will open the 2018/19 Westfield W-League season with a blockbuster against Melbourne City at McKellar Park in Canberra.
The season opener is one of six home fixtures in the full draw which was released to the public on Thursday and features two home standalone Thursday night fixtures.
The Thursday night fixtures, LIVE on Fox Sports, are a first for the Westfield W-League and Head Coach Heather Garriock praised FFA for their role in getting them off the ground.
“To now have Thursday night fixtures is exceptional and show’s how far women’s football has come,” Garriock said.
“I’d like to say well done to FFA for setting these fixtures up, and putting the Westfield W-League front and centre in a prime slot.
“For us to be able to promote Women’s Football as the priority is great.”
The draw also features another first for Canberra United, with the Round 12 game against Melbourne Victory set to take place at Queanbeyan’s Seiffert Oval, embracing United’s role and status in the ACT & surrounding region.
“It’s really exciting for us to be taking a game to Seiffert Oval,” Garriock said.
“Canberra United has a role to play for young women not just in Canberra but in the surrounding region, and this helps us to realise that.”
“McKellar Park will always be our home, but it is important that we embrace all of the community here and we’re excited to play in front of both our loyal fans and fans from the Queanbeyan region.”
“Today we also announced that Karly [Roestbakken] will return to our club, and she is from the area, so it is great for her and also a great indicator of the pathway that is available.
Roestbakken said she was looking forward to playing in front of the locals that she grew up with as she played her Junior football at Monaro Panthers.
“It will be so great,” Roestbakken said.
“That’s the area I grew up in, so to be able to come back and play in front of friends and family from here, as well as the locals, and showcase the area I am from will be awesome.”
United open Season 11 of the Westfield W-League against reigning Premiers Melbourne City in a McKellar Park blockbuster, and Garriock said it is the perfect way to get the campaign underway.
“You always want to be taking on the best teams, and we have the opportunity to do that straight away.”
“It’s a great way to open the season and our fans at McKellar Park will be treated to a top-drawer game of Football in round one.”
public://2018-09/Westfield W-League Season Draw.pdf
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