Article: Jeremy Magan 
Photo: Anthony Caffery Photography

Canberra Croatia could be forgiven for celebrating their achievement of finishing the 2020 NPLW regular season on top of the table, ending Belconnen United's 10-year stranglehold in the process.

But according to their captain Grace Gill, her side still needs to find another gear if they are going to claim the 2020 NPLW title. 

"I am incredibly proud of the group of girls," Gill said. "Being able to secure it in a short season where every game mattered and there was no room for error is even better."

Canberra Croatia has won the seven games they played in 2020, a performance achieved as a team, as Gill explains.

"What we have done well this year, is not having to heavily rely on one girl to score all goals," she said. "It is a very advantageous position to be in as a team, and makes it even more difficult for other teams, because if they focus too much on one player then the others can have more freedom and be decisive." 

The league leaders’ captain sounds a lot like her coach when it comes to describing what game her squad can use as a reference before the Finals.

"Our performance throughout the season has been far from perfect," Gill said. "We did not play the prettiest football but we still got away with great results.

"I don’t think we have seen our best football yet." 

The thought that Canberra Croatia can play better than they have this season must keep the other coaches awake at night, days away from the Finals.

Another advantage the minor premiers have is almost a fully healthy squad.

"It breaks my heart seeing girls go down with injuries, especially with Canberra being such a tight-knit community," Gill admits. "We are going into the Finals with almost a full squad (Anna Bennett is still touch-and-go with her ankle), which is an advantage for us." 

Before the Finals, Canberra Croatia is facing Gungahlin this weekend, another team already qualified for the next round.

"Gungahlin will be a really tough team, they will push us to our limits," the captain analysed. ‘‘The girls understand and appreciate how important a result against a strong Gungahlin side is." 

Deakin can have the perfect season if they win at home on Sunday.

"We spoke about it at the start of the season," Gill recalls. "Some of our goals were: winning the minor premiership and going undefeated. We want to go with a perfect record in the season, any team would like to do that in our position." 

Regardless of the Finals’ result, the Canberra Football community will hope to see Gill’s talents again in 2021. 

"I always get to this time of the year and think ‘oh my body is so sore," she laughed. "I have had this conversation with myself the past three or four years, but at the same time, I am really enjoying my football, enjoying working with the group of girls we got and with Nik, and it is something that is very hard to walk away from.

"When I do stop, I know that it will be the right time. As soon as I have made my decision you ll be the first one to know," she said, tongue in cheek.