Played 15 – Won 10 – Lost 5

In their inaugural season, the W6A-1’s Engadine Eagles established themselves as a rising force within the junior football ranks, demonstrating exceptional promise and team cohesion well beyond their years. Despite their young age, the squad displayed impressive fundamentals, tactical awareness (when not looking at the clouds), and a strong competitive spirit across every fixture. Their debut campaign has laid a solid foundation for future development and signaled the arrival of a team with significant long-term potential.

Our Six Foundation Players

Isla Bennett – The Engine
Isla, affectionately dubbed by the press as “The Engine”, didn’t just run the midfield—she practically owned it. With endless energy and determination, she covered every blade of grass twice and still had enough in the tank to encourage her teammates and chase down stray balls like a heat-seeking missile.

Each week, Isla went from strength to strength, combining natural pace with sharp instincts and a fierce competitive edge. Her speed? Borderline unfair. She’d burst into attack like a sprinter, then be back in defence before the opposition had time to blink. And when it came to scoring, she had a knack for being in the right place at the right time.

Professional, passionate, and powered by pure heart—Isla “The Engine” brings the heat every match and still has time to high-five the whole team on the way off the pitch.

Lucia Cali – The Maestro in Boots
Lucia lit up the pitch this season with some absolutely sensational goals, leaving defenders wondering if they’d accidentally signed up for a dance class instead of a football match. Her fancy footwork and mazy runs were the stuff of highlight reels.

A wise head on young shoulders, Lucia plays with maturity beyond her years and a sportsmanship streak that makes referees wish all players were this polite. She’s as hungry for the ball as a seagull at a fish and chip shop, and just as quick to swoop in and stop anything headed toward her goal.

Off the ball, Lucia is always encouraging teammates, and so selfless she often celebrates their goals with more gusto than her own (which, to be fair, are usually still being replayed in slow-mo on the tele for Match of the Day).

Zoey Meyers – The Phantom
Zoey “The Phantom” Meyers is the kind of player you don’t see coming—until it’s too late. One moment she’s gliding effortlessly across the field, the next she’s tucked the ball into the bottom corner with ice-cold precision.

Effortless, elegant, and impossible to predict, Zoey plays with a smoothness that makes defenders question if she’s even touching the ground. Comfortable on both feet and dangerous from anywhere, she capped off the season with an impressive goal tally and a reputation as one of the most reliable finishers on the pitch.

Always happy to drop back into defence, Zoey’s the ultimate team player—quiet off the pitch but ruthless on it. She might not say much, but she plays loud. Her calm composure hides a steely will to win that never switches off.

Matilda Neville – The Lightning Bolt
Small in Size, Huge in Impact, don’t let her size fool you—Matilda “Lightning Bolt” Neville is a fearless force of nature on the pitch. Fast, fierce, and always switched on, she zips through defenders and tracks back like her boots are turbo-charged.

She truly embodies the saying: “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” With incredible footwork, relentless defending that makes strikers rethink their life choices, and a goal tally that includes a screamer from halfway (eat your heart out Becks), she’s the complete package.

Her competitive spirit is second to none—she loves every second on the field and would probably play through halftime if allowed. Subbing her off? Prepare for a polite but passionately puzzled look.

Zoe Porter – The Energizer Bunny
Zoe zipped through the season with boundless energy that never quit. She scored plenty of goals, each one delivered with precision and flair, making the opposition’s defense look like they were chasing shadows.

But Zoe’s magic wasn’t limited to offense. She threw herself into goal-line clearances with the same relentless enthusiasm, turning defense into game-changing moments and rescuing the team from some nail-biting situations. Whether charging forward or digging deep to protect the net, her enthusiasm was contagious and inspiring.

Fast, fearless, and fueled by an unbreakable work rate, Zoe “Energizer Bunny” Porter never gave up on a ball—relentlessly chasing every play and inspiring the team with her unstoppable will to win.

Matilda Shields – The Rocket
Matilda blasts across the pitch with speed and precision that leave opponents breathless. Whether she’s launching jaw-dropping, length-of-the-field goals or defending with unyielding determination, Matilda plays with unmatched energy and an infectious smile.

As the coach’s daughter, the pressure might be on, but Matilda’s fiery passion and natural talent speak louder than any expectations. She celebrates crucial goal-saving clearances like they’re game-winning strikes—because for her, defense is just as thrilling as scoring.

Matilda’s blend of fearless determination, skill, and contagious positivity makes her an invaluable force on and off the pitch.

Backroom Staff

Dane Neville & Tim Porter – A huge thank you to both gentlemen who fearlessly stepped up whenever the coach was unavailable—or off gallivanting across Europe on “important research missions.”
Whether it was running energetic, fun-filled training sessions, managing game days with tactical flair, or simply making sure everyone was in the right place at the right time, their dedication has been invaluable to all of the girl’s development in their football journey.

Corinne Humphreys & Vanessa Cali – Another big shout out to Corinne and Vanessa—the dynamic duo who kept everything running behind the scenes.
As team managers, they juggled it all: Organising team photos, coordinating charity events, planning off-field activities, and somehow making sure every player got their fair share of time on the pitch. Their attention to detail, fairness, and endless enthusiasm made a world of difference to the team.
From spreadsheets to substitutions, nothing was too big or too small—and always done with a smile. I am incredibly grateful for all that they do.

Pia Cali, Poppy Neville & Lena Shields – Big shout out to our superstar elder siblings Pia, Poppy, and Lena — our assistant coaches. Whether it was helping run training drills, leading warm-ups with enthusiasm, or supporting from the sidelines, you were always happy to help. Thank you for being absolute legends!

The Final Word

A sincere thank you to all our wonderful parents—your support, encouragement, and early Saturday starts (rain, hail or shine!) never went unnoticed. From cheering on every player to helping out wherever needed, you’ve been the backbone of our team spirit.

Your dedication and teamwork have made this season so special. Truly, team work makes the dream work—and I couldn’t have done it without you!

Coach Blake.