MASTRANTONIO 100MATCHES PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY TH 19 JAN 2020 105 EDITION #WSWvPER VS SAT 15 FEB 7:30 PM WANDERLAND VISIT WANDERLAND.COM.AU THIS MATCH 03 THIS MATCH REGULAR COLUMNS FEATURES THE LETTER 5 THE WANDERER HEFFERNAN REVOLUTION 8 The views in this publication are not Former Wanderers player Dean Heffernan WARM UP 6 necessarily the views of the Western Sydney has turned heads since he jumped into Wanderers FC. Material in this publication is the Westfield W-League hot seat PLAYERS TO WATCH 13 copyrighted and may only be reproduced with Brought to you by Turner and Freeman written permission from the club. MILESTONE MASTRANTONIO 14 Ella Mastrantonio is set to reach her 100th TODAY’S MATCH 16 ADVERTISING Westfield W-League match today For all advertising enquiries for JUNIOR WANDERER ZONE 18 The Wanderer or partnership with the MÜLLER READY TO MAKE MARK 20 club contact the Corporate Partnerships Having finally settled into life in Western TAKE FIVE 25 Team by sending an email to Sydney, Nicolai Müller has his sights set on Brought to you by Turner and Freeman [email protected] or making an impact at the Red & Black visit corporate.wanderland.com.au IN THE COMMUNITY 27 WANDERERS TAKE ON CHINA 22 PHOTOGRAPHY Confidence and belief is soaring for CORPORATE NEWS 29 All photography in The Wanderer is courtesy our Wander Women after their historic of Aleksander Jason, Kellie Lemon, Getty win over China OUR PARTNERS 31 Images and Steve Christo. THE LETTER 05 MICHAEL BEAUCHAMP WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS INAUGURAL CAPTAIN AND WESTFIELD W-LEAGUE ASSISTANT COACH As a professional footballer, there was no greater feeling than walking on the field at a spectacular stadium as it made you feel like a footballer. Looking at Bankwest Stadium and just getting to feel the atmosphere, the fans are on top of you and noise factor is something else... it is really a very special experience. It adds even more to the occasion when you have a double header with the Westfield W-League and Hyundai A-League teams playing. We have two this season and I think the fans have really taken to them. Double headers allow members and fans to come in early and watch the girls play, allowing them to feel the atmosphere building. It gives the players a massive lift. It's also fantastic see that the Hyundai A-League boys are out watching the girls play before they start getting ready for their game. It is really all about a one club mentality, which we have within this great club now. It's great to see everyone buying into what the Wanderers are all about and we were that from the get go when I was there as the inaugural captain. I really feel we are getting up there where the club belongs and deserves to be. PRIDE. POWER. WEST. 06 WARM UP The Wanderers have been branded as one of the most exciting outfits in the league MATCH thanks to their explosive attacking style of football and resolute defence. There was a slight hiccup last week PREVIEW following a surprise 4-0 loss to Brisbane Roar - the Red & Black’s first loss in seven games. But under Heffernan and his staff, there's no doubt the team will be quick to bounce back from last week's disappointment. With four games left in the regular season after today, a win is vital if the Wanderers are to keep up the pressure on leaders It promises to be an exciting afternoon Melbourne City who have now opened a six- of football when the Wanderers gear up point gap at the top of the table. for their last double header at Bankwest The Hyundai A-League side also return to Stadium today. Wanderland for the first time in two weeks With both competitions at the half way following a 2-0 loss away to Wellington mark of the season, the Red & Black's sides Phoenix last Saturday afternoon. will play Perth Glory in matches that could The Red & Black were well in the game define both team's seasons. against the Kiwis for much of the 90 minutes The Wanderers will be aiming to but luck deserted them in front of goal. collect all six points for the first time in The Wanderers will be hoping to find their a double header. mojo in front of goal in a match that would The high flying women's outfit will go in catapult them back into the Top Six with a win. as strong favourites against a Glory side Currently sitting in eighth spot on 14 struggling near the bottom of the table, points, the Wanderers are just a point behind while the men's face a stiff test against the Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United. defending Premiers. While the results have been disappointing In his first season in a senior job, head as of late, there is still plenty of football Westfield W-League coach Dean Heffernan still to be played this season. There are has got the team firing and headed for a 12 games and 36 points up for grabs after spot in the Finals for the first time in the today's fixture - ample time for the Red & (Top to bottom) The Wanderers Westfield W-League team celebrating club's history. Black to make a run for the Finals. their first win at Bankwest Stadium; Mitchell Duke in Wellington TONIGHT'S MATCH DAY PARTNER unlimited internet from $49! 1 month risk free guarantee no contracts, unlimited data on all plans, all Aussie service call us today on 13 14 13 or visit LetsBeMates.com.au for full terms and conditions. WARM UP 07 ON THIS DAY FIELD CATHERINE CANNULI REPORTER @CANNULI_13 beginning and that for us, is coming together really nicely. It all started in a room where we spoke about values and culture first and then came the recruitment and style of play. On that note, it's amazing to see how far women's football has come since my own We're back at Bankwest Stadium this playing days. afternoon and there's no better place to It's unbelievable and there's still some bounce back from last week's disappointing days that I need to pinch myself, to say that result against Brisbane. this is real what we have. It was definitely a tough game for our I always make sure that I remind the girls Wander Women who were defeated 4-0 at how lucky we are of what we have and not to Marconi Stadium but in a positive, it was take anything for granted. great to see over 1,000 people make their Past players before them didn't have the way to the venue to support our girls. facilities, didn't have the support of what It feels so long ago that we sat down and women's football has now so don't take it started planning. Putting pen to paper in for granted. terms of what we wanted at the team and Use all the facilities, use everything that what we wanted things to look like. we have and use it to your advantage. We set out from the beginning that the We're just over the half-way point, we've number one thing is that we wanted the still got a long way to go and we haven't won On this day in 2019, the Wanderers Westfield W-League team team to have the values that the Western anything yet but hopefully we can sit here smashed Adelaide United 4-1. Rachel Lowe, Kylie Ledbrook, Sydney Wanderers have as a club, things in another few months time about how we Erica Halloway and Elizabeth Addo got on the scoresheet in that have been with this club from the brought the trophy back to Western Sydney. the Red & Black's only win that season. THE MEMBERS’ BAR IS BACK! EXCLUSIVE TO MEMBERS NORTH WEST TERRACE, LEVEL 1, WANDERLAND SHOW YOUR PASS TO GET ENTRY MEMBERSHIP PARTNER 08 FEATURE WATCH WSWTV #WSWVPER FEATURE 09 HEFFERNAN REVOLUTION FORMER WANDERERS PLAYER DEAN HEFFERNAN HAS TURNED HEADS SINCE HE JUMPED INTO THE W-LEAGUE HOT SEAT RAY GATT @GATTY54 Confidence and belief has understandably soared and that was evidenced in the remarkable 1-0 win over China, ranked 15 in the world, in a friendly on the Gold Coast last week. During their amazing run, the Wanderers W-League side have also set remarkable Five wins, one draw, one loss and second on benchmarks and created club history, the table behind Melbourne City with a game including their best ever start to a season, in hand, the Red & Black have been the talk most wins in a season and record victories of Australian football with their outstanding over Sydney FC and Canberra United. and exciting brand of football. Names like Lynn Williams, Kristen Under the guidance of Dean Heffernan, Hamilton, Denise O’Sullivan, Abby Smith, who is in his first season as a senior Alex Huynh, Sam Staab, Amy Harrison, Kyra coach, and his assistant coaches Michael Cooney-Cross, Ella Mastrantonio, Erica Beauchamp and Catherine Cannuli, as well Halloway and Courtney Nevin are on the lips as the back-room staff, the transformation of the fans. from last season's wooden spooners to But, the results are not flukes. serious title contenders has been simply As Heffernan, never one to pat himself eye-opening. on the back, is quick to point out, they WE ARE THE WANDERERS. 10 FEATURE “The bigger the foundation, the higher you go.” have come about because of the tireless of people are we looking for.