The name Natasha Dowie is synonymous with Melbourne Victory. Fans now even playfully refer to the side as “Dowie FC” and it’s no secret that the love is mutual between player and club.
“I think I shout about it all the time!” Dowie laughed when asked about it ahead of Saturday’s semi-final against Sydney FC.
The English striker first signed mid-way through the 2015-16 season, at a time when the side struggled to rise from the bottom of the ladder.
“It just shows how much I love the club because everyone knows I’m a winner, and I hate losing,” she said. “So to come to a team that really was struggling and still really enjoy myself, [to] feel as if I’m still improving as a player, just says so much for the club.”
Known for her eye for goal and ability to outsmart defences, she has pipped the award for club golden boot five years running. However, this is her first season to receive the accolade across league and the first time a Victory player has won.
She shares the Golden Boot with three others – Sydney’s Remy Siemsen, Perth’s Morgan Andrews and Wanderers’ Kristen Hamilton. Reflecting on the personal win, Dowie was quick to link it to her team.
“I’m really happy one, that the team is doing so well and we’re still in with a chance of obviously getting the big one this year but [two] also myself personally to have gotten that award is a really proud proud achievement.”
Her current focus is making the grand final – something she hasn’t added to her list of achievements during her tenure at Victory.
Victory clinched second place on the ladder and the home semi-final with a dominant 3-1 win over Sydney in Round 14.
The result contrasts against the bumpy start to their 2019-2020 campaign: a sharp 3-0 loss away to Sydney in Round 1.
Expectations were high, following the side’s 2018-19’s premiership win. However, they had to contend with a tricky fixture (a string of away games with an AFC Club Championship wedged in), a fresh squad and a short preseason.
“It was tough. We looked at it [as] we need to try and grind out results somewhere somehow. And we did that.
“We obviously picked up a really valuable point against Western Sydney where they looked unplayable. They were on fire. So to get a draw against them at that time was probably a massive result.
“And then, you know, the draw against Brisbane at home and the little points that we picked up were really important.”
Dowie described centreback Laura Brock’s return from injury as the turning point in the season, allowing for changes to their formation.
“When Laura came back it allowed us to have obviously three centre halves… Then Darian Jenkins and Angie Beard who can run all day and that’s their strength could then play those wing back roles.
“And that allowed me to have a bit more support upfront with an extra body in the likes of Rosie Sutton, Melina Ayres. [That change of formation] has really suited the players that we’ve got, and also allowed me and our strikers to get a lot more opportunities to create chances and score goals.”
And score goals they did, netting 16 in five games and claiming wins over Adelaide, Canberra, Newcastle and Sydney. However, akin to every other side this season, they were unable to defeat a clinical Melbourne City, losing 0-4 in the second derby.
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Dowie noted the trademark chaos that comes with the W-League – something that also adds interest to Melbourne City’s semi-final against Wanderers on Sunday.
“You need to be careful because the beautiful thing about the W-League is that anyone can beat anyone and I think that’s actually quite rare. It doesn’t happen in many leagues.
“I think if you go into any game, underestimating them and thinking, ‘Oh, you know, we beat them 3-1 last game, you know we’re probably the favourites now’- that’s not the case at all!”
Victory learnt this the hard way last season, playing Sam Kerr’s Perth Glory in the semi-final after beating the side in the last round of the season.
“[We] fell short… So we don’t want that to happen again,” Dowie said of the 2-4 loss.
“But we also do need… the 3-1 [win against Sydney] to be a confidence boost.
“If we can perform as well as we did and – probably we will have to perform a little bit better because we know Sydney will up their game even more – then I’m really, really confident that we’ve got the players in the squad and the form to get to the grand final.”
Victory play Sydney FC at Epping Stadium, Epping, Saturday 14th March. Kick off 2pm. Broadcast on Kayo, Fox Sports 505 and My Football Live app.
Attendance at games may be subject to change due to concerns regarding COVID-19. Stay updated at www.w-league.com.au.
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