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TWENTY-FOURTH EdiTiON • sEasON 2013/14 VS BRISBANE ROAR INSIDE THIS ISSUE RACE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP POPA VS MULVEY CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: THE NEXT FRONTIER LEGENDS OF THE WEST: JIM FRASER W-LEAGUE: ASIAN CUP HOPEFULS NEXT CROP OF STARS PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY 03 VISIT WSWANDERERSFC.COM.AU & SIGN UP TO THE WEEKLY WANDERER THIS WEEK ... FOLLOW US @WSWANDERERSFC 05 FROM THE PRESENTER... at an end, The Wanderer sees which of our Lucy Zelic on what makes the Wanderers great players could make it to the asian Cup 07 NEWS AND VIEWS 27 TAKE FIVE WITH ... Tonight’s match at a glance with on this Emily van Egmond takes some time day, score wrap-ups and more out with The Wanderer 08 RaCE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP 29 THE NEXT CROP OF STARS Tonight’s match may go some way to deciding With a strong contingent of youth players the premiership but it could also land the coming through the ranks, read about who first blow in the race to the championship you’ll be cheering on in future years 13 COACHES TO WATCH 35 SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Tony Popovic and Mike Mulvey Can you spot the five differences this week? 15 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: THE NEXT FRONTIER 36 #WandERTWEET Qualification for the aFC Champions League means Thanks for your tweets! more than just a few extra games each season 18 LEGENDS OF THE WEST: JIM FRASER The views in this publication are not necessarily the Jimmy Fraser has had a lasting impact views of the NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers on australian football. From World Cup FC. Material in this publication is copyrighted and may qualification to coaching our current heroes only be reproduced with the written permission of the NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers FC. All 20 TODAY'S MATCH photography courtesy of Getty Images, George Suresh, Brought to you by amart sports Steve Christo, Quarrie Sports Photography, Les Shorrock and Laurie Schwab collections at Deakin University Library, 23 ASIAN CUP HOPEFULS Roy Hay. With the Westfield W-League season almost OFFICIAL HYUNDAI A-LEAGUE PARTNERS WSWANDERERSFC.COM.AU 05 FROM THE PRESENTER... after seventeen rounds of football, it’s easy to see why this has been our biggest and best season of the Hyundai a-League. ur Round 1 attendances alone eclipsed as a child some of my fondest memories of those of both rugby league and union, football stem from the former National soccer League Owe retained our marquee signings, continue where the passion and support was contagious. to lure impressive talent back to australian soil Walking into Pirtek stadium that fateful day i felt and the quality of football has improved. that nostalgia and was reminded all over again why since the league’s inception in 2005 we’ve i love this game. it was because of you – the fans. witnessed its fair share of ups and downs but i truly at the last Wanderers player appearance day i was believe it reached one of its highest points when given the opportunity to chat with many of you about the Wanderers were introduced to the competition. why you love this club so much. The overall response after achieving unprecedented success last season, was that it felt like a second family and a home away the 2013/14 campaign has seen them continue from home. You have all created this culture that their chase for the title in what has been another binds the very fabric of what makes this club great thrilling ride for the club and its supporters. and i couldn’t be more proud to sing with you. My very first Wanderers home game experience Go Wanderers! came at a time when the team was tipped at 50/1 to win the league in 2012. What impressed the most was not just the vision that Tony Popovic had for Lucy Zelic his playing group but also the atmosphere and the Football Presenter show that the fans put on for the full 90 minutes. sBs WSWANDERERSFC.COM.AU We’re waiting to speak to you about your home loan Talk to your mortgage broker or adviser Visit pepperonline.com.au/customers Call one of our Private Account Managers on 1800 737 737 (Option 3) 07 NEWS & VIEWS ROUND ON THIS DAY... WRAP-UP Courtesy of andrew Howe @AndyHowe_statto HYUNDAI A-LEAGUE n February 7, 2007 australia commenced its 2008 Beijing Olympics Round 16 sun 26 Jan qualifying campaign with an 11-0 hammering of Chinese Taipei with Pirtek stadium ONikolai Topor-stanley scoring twice in this match. after a three stage Western Sydney Wanderers 3 qualification process the U23 team successfully reached the Olympic (santalab 29, Mooy 34, Bridge 70) Games with Mark Bridge, adam d'apuzzo, Matthew spiranovic and Perth Glory 1 Topor-stanley each taking part in the 14-match qualifying campaign. a (smeltz 56) draw with serbia followed by one-goal losses to eventual Champions argentina (featuring Lionel Messi) and the ivory Coast meant australia failed to get past the group stage at the 2008 Olympics; Round 17 sat 1 Feb nevertheless it was a valuable experience for the Olyroo squad. Hunter stadium Newcastle Jets 2 (Taggart 26, 90) Western Sydney Wanderers 2 WANDERERS (Mooy 45, Beauchamp 65) WINNING PERCENTAGE AGAINST WESTFIELD W-LEAGUE Round 10 Fri 24 Jan suncorp stadium BRISBANE ROAR Brisbane Roar 3 (Crummer 19, NO OTHER HYUNDAI A-LEAGUE CLUB Raso 31, Butt 82) Western Sydney Wanderers 2 (Gordon 8, Carney 45+2) 80% HAS A BETTER RECORD Round 11 sun 2 Feb GUARDIAN FUNERALS WandERCREW MEMBER OF Campbelltown stadium THE WEEK: MARNIE WATKINS Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Cannuli 95) fell in love with the Wanderers Football Club after i met a few of the Sydney FC 3 (Khamis players through my job and decided to go along to a game to watch 8, Taylor 37, 57) Iand support them. i was addicted after my first game and was highly impressed; it was great to finally have an awesome team in Western sydney. i found out about the WanderCrew by accident. i was looking for something on the website and i came across the link to apply. i very FOXTEL National much wanted to support my YOUTH LEAGUE club and assist other fans. i Round 13 sun 26 Jan was put into Merchandising. i Centre of Excellence love meeting other Wanderers Central Coast Mariners 2 fans and seeing the looks on (dixon 35, Pandurevic 47) the kids’ faces when their Western Sydney Wanderers 3 parents buy them their first (appiah 6, 89, Olsen 65) jersey; it's a great feeling to be a part of that experience. Round 14 sun 2 Feb, Campbelltown stadium Proudly BROUGHT TO YOU BY Western Sydney Wanderers 2 (Hannah 17, Fofanah 54) Newcastle Jets 3 (Virgili 32, 62, Cowburn 77) VISIT WSWANDERERSFC.COM.AU & SIGN UP TO THE WEEKLY WANDERER WANT MORE WANDERERS FC? FOLLOW US @WSWANDERERSFC WSWANDERERSFC.COM.AU 08 RACE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP story by Matt dorman @Matt11Dorman WANDERERS FC VS BRISBANE ROAR 09 Winning the premiership at the first attempt is worthy of all the superlatives bestowed upon NRMa insurance Western sydney Wanderers last season. Only an opponent more desperate for Grand Final glory than any other prevented further silverware. But every great narrative needs a complication, lest its payoff be anything but sweet. risbane Roar wilted in two preliminary finals and a premiership chance before graduating Bto greatness. Central Coast Mariners did it even tougher, losing three deciders by a goal or less. Now the Wanderers have their reason for redemption. so today sets the platform for a thrilling run- in to the 2013/14 Hyundai a-League Grand Final with the first versus second battle a potential preview for the show piece in May. With a trophy per season conversion rate to maintain, it doesn’t require Tony Popovic to publicly state the championship is where his gaze is fixed. despite Graham arnold’s campaigning for the regular season title to be recognised as the ultimate achievement it was his own reactions that illustrated the emotional high finally reached last year. arnold himself said it best: “Our fairytale has been achieved.” For Wanderers fans harbouring lingering feelings of despair, the former Central Coast boss’ words should offer hope in knowledge the best is yet to come. Can it be expected this season? Last weekend’s 2-2 draw away to Newcastle Jets, having led up to the 88th minute, was in keeping with any troubles to date. No deep wounds inflicted, just mild headaches. Hyundai a-League history confirms it could be far worse for the Premiers than owning second place after 17 rounds. The Beauchamp/Topor-stanley/spiranovic question may have been at least momentarily settled with " TODAY SETS THE PLATFORM FOR A THRILLING RUN-IN TO THE 2013/14 HYUNDAI A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL" WSWANDERERSFC.COM.AU 10 the latter’s successful move to midfield. Regardless, options abound from back to front. For Popovic it’s about timing those choices. any doubts over his precision in doing so would be unfounded. The decisions, of course, are informed in part by the fast-approaching aFC Champions League – a prestigious opportunity. Brisbane Roar would consider themselves in pole position. When it comes to winning Grand Finals the league-leaders can claim superior know-how to their nearest competitors. a dozen wins from their 17 matches, each more important than the last, tied to a stats sheet of most goals scored and fewest conceded all contribute to early favouritism for a third championship in four years but as Wanderers fans will know, a large lead in the regular season does not necessarily translate to ultimate victory.