Sasha Grove has had a breakout 12 months. The 18 year old is now a regular starter for Canberra United and in the frame for Young Matildas selection, while off the field she is about to start university studies. Grove has already been voted Player of the Match twice this season by club members and leads United in attempted tackles and intercepts.
This is the perfect time to not only look back at the road she has travelled, but also touch on what may lie ahead.
A football-loving family, the Grove clan are an immediately recognisable fixture at Canberra United Academy and Canberra United games. Sasha is the third oldest of four siblings and all three sisters have played multiple seasons at the Academy, while her father and uncle played competitively in New Zealand.
Dan (the eldest sibling) has spent the last couple of seasons with Tigers FC and West Canberra Wanderers. Sasha’s older sister Annie is currently entering her second season in the US College Football system after playing 17 games for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2022, while younger sister Ciara is progressing through the ranks at Canberra United Academy.
Commentator Jeremy Magan spoke to Annie and Sasha for Capital Football in 2020, just prior to Sasha’s first season with Canberra United, and it’s interesting to compare notes with Sasha’s thoughts today. While these two are very supportive of each other, there is still an undeniable competitiveness.
“It’s a very unique situation that I’m very fortunate to have because not everyone can play a sport with their sibling. Seeing someone that you know playing back there [in defence] … it was really nice being able to play with her. Because all the time we’d go down to our local oval and play football and tennis really aggressively with each other. When you’re with your siblings, you don’t realise that you’re enjoying the time that you’re spending with them until they leave, because she’s studying in the US now and playing football in their college system. So I only saw her for about two or three months last year. And I do miss her.
“Yeah, it’s competitive. But we love each other.”
“My brother … I think if he didn’t start football, I’m not sure if the rest of us would have. I mean, he really cares about it. When I asked him ‘Oh, can we go down to the Oval to practice?’ he would always say yes. So I’m really grateful for him.”
Football wasn’t Grove’s only sport. She is known for her ability to “run for days” – as described by Canberra United coach Njegosh Popovich – and it will come as no surprise that distance running has always been important to her. It wasn’t too long ago that Grove had to choose between athletics and football.
“Running was a very large part of my life from probably seven to sixteen. [I was part of] the Merici College running group, where you’ve different ages of kids, and it was really nice for me. We would travel around Australia for nationals, and I got pretty good results from that.
“But as I got older, I realised, do I want to be more serious or not. I would do running training, and then I’d go to football training. It was quite problematic because it led me to develop an unhealthy relationship with food, and so it was important for me to choose a sport where I could feel the best and feel the most healthy and comfortable in my own body.”
Canberra United fans will be grateful that Grove chose football in the end, especially considering her rapid rise to United’s A-League Women side. After getting her first taste of football with the Woden Valley club in Canberra, Grove commenced playing with Canberra United Academy at age 10 and her talent was such that she made her NPL 1st Grade debut as a 13 year old. She formed a celebrated attacking partnership with Hayley Taylor-Young, scoring 23 goals in 47 games between 2018 and 2021.
Click here for an interview with Taylor-Young’s thoughts on their attacking relationship.
Despite these demonstrations of attacking prowess for the Academy, Grove is now a firm fixture in the Canberra United backline. Although she had already played some games at fullback for United, Grove truly found her feet in a defensive sense during the 2022 winter campaign, while playing for North West Sydney Spirit in the NPL NSW competition.
This transition is even more impressive when you consider that her switch to left back wasn’t part of Spirit’s original plan for the season.
“Yeah, [the coach and I] didn’t really have much of a conversation because, after our first game against the Rams, which we lost, Rach Patterson said ‘oh, just put her in defence’, because we didn’t have anyone to fill left back. I’m not left-footed, but I’m comfortable enough, and we just went from there.
“Every game was Rach and Erin [Pridmore] coaching me and Nat [Tobin] telling me how to do my job because I didn’t really know what the job was. We had Kirsty [Fenton] on the other side [of the defensive line]. Our coach Tiana Gauci was really supportive because she knew that I was skating on thin ice [early on].
“I was quite nervous to be fully honest, going from midfield to fullback. It took a little bit of time but they were such a lovely bunch of girls that it was really easy for me to do well because they wanted the best out of me.”
Grove is unsure about her 2023 winter season plans given she has been admitted to ANU for this year and is contracted with Canberra United for 2023-24. NWS Spirit has already announced their combined Firsts and Reserves squad for 2023, with Grove not named on the list.
“I was fortunate enough to get [university] offers to Sydney Uni and here in Canberra. But with where I want to be in my football, I need to be at a university that’s accommodating for living out of state and maybe in a different country and ANU was that fit for me. My brother goes there, so he’ll show me the ropes. I’m still with Canberra United next year as well, so it’s a lot easier for me to balance my studying and football if it’s in the same place, as opposed to Sydney, which is three hours away.
“[Playing in Sydney] depends [on] if I want a break following the A-League season. I’ve definitely talked with Ti [Gauci], but I have been a bit busy with [sorting] Uni, so it’s just figuring that out.”
Balancing the demands of travelling to Sydney is difficult for anyone who calls Canberra home. This lifestyle was made even more challenging by events in the last 12 months.
“We would travel up [to Sydney] twice a week. I think a lot of players can relate to that when you want the best out of yourself, you’re willing to give everything and fortunately for me, my family were really supportive of that. They would watch the games from home and my little sister came up for one of the games because she really wanted to watch. It’s really comforting knowing that when you have your family behind you pretty much anything is possible. So that was the most important thing for me, having people in my corner for last year. Because I know there’s a lot of pressure, you’ve got to try your best to finish Year 12 … and I still wanted to go to Uni [as well as] be a professional footballer. Without family that won’t happen.
“Spirit was training on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. I would go on Tuesday and then to the game on Saturday or Sunday. But I was fortunate enough to train with the TSP [Talent Support Program] boys with Ali [Efe, Assistant Technical Director for Men and Boys Programs/Coach Education at Capital Football]. That was great supplementary training for me because I hadn’t trained much with boys before. Of course, they’re faster than you, but [smiles] it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re smarter. I’ve always thought ‘Oh yeah, quick is all you need to play football’ but it’s really not – you need to be a bit smarter.”
More and more ex-NPL Capital Football players have transitioned to NPL NSW over the last few years. Grove joined two Canberrans at Spirit: Ivana Galic and Mia McGovern. Galic had also been part of the Canberra United squad in the 2020-21 season, while McGovern was a teammate at Canberra United Academy.
“I’m not sure about Ivana but I know Mia is still living here [in Canberra]. We drove together a few times when Mum and Dad weren’t able to. It’s very nice when you see your own people. It was actually during my first game against Sydney University where they had a corner and I was at the front post.
“Emma [Ilijoski] was saying ‘Oh, I like your boots’ and [laughs] I was like, ‘Don’t talk to me right now, don’t do that, I will get distracted’.”
“It’s so refreshing [moving to] a competition where you genuinely don’t know how every game will go. I was very nervous about some of the games because you know that there are a lot of A-League players who bring the heat and are very good at what they do.”
2022 was also the year when Grove received her first Young Matildas callup. Having previously attended a Future Matildas camp, Grove relished the opportunity to be involved with Australia’s Under-20 setup.
“Maybe two or three years ago, I went to a short three-day camp. I was staying with a host family with Charli Grant and she and the family were absolutely lovely. For me the past few years there haven’t been many camps that I’ve been to, I’ve been on the margins of that kind of stuff. I wasn’t part of the Under 20 World Cup last year, which was sad, but that’s the way football goes, you’re not going to be in every squad, and you’re not going to make every opportunity. I think I’ve learned over time that it’s not the ‘now’ that matters, it’s the ‘later’.
“I was really fortunate to be part of the Pacific tournament we had here in Canberra, which is a beautiful intersection of culture between us and our Pacific Islander friends. It’s a great new cycle of young players. Milsy Murray [Emilia Murray], she’s so good. I could speak for days about all of them. It’s a great environment. When I came back to Canberra [United], I was like, ‘Oh, my goodness, that’s the standard. That’s where I need to be’. And you need to be commanding, demanding, really just like Brushy [Ellie Brush].”
Grove dominated the first half of the U20 Matildas Green vs U20 Matildas Gold game at Seiffert Oval, revelling in her temporary return to an attacking role and picking up a first-half hat-trick.
“It was actually boys versus girls in the coaching staff. I was with the boys’ team. And we were like, oh, gosh, we have to win – [goalkeeping coach and former Canberra United keeper] Chantel Jones was with the girls, and she’s an awesome human, but she is so competitive, and you don’t like losing to her. It was a really strange game, I’ve never experienced having to stay inside for thunder and lightning for maybe an hour and a half, it felt very long. I was really proud of the team that I was playing with.
“Going from NPL where it’s a mix of older and younger players, when you’re just with people kind of your own age, there’s something so comforting about it. It was great to meet the girls, and a good way to measure where you’re at in the game. It certainly gives you confidence playing with people your own age and gets you thinking ‘Oh, I can apply this into this game’ and whatnot.
“At the time, I was in an exam period at school. I had done an English oral two days prior which I had been worried about. So it was really nice because football has always been a kind of release from school and a release from home life.
“When you find that equilibrium between, it’s so easy to enjoy what you’re doing.”
“The whole tournament was good. The Fijian team, they would sing after every game. We were fortunate enough for them to invite us to sit and listen to them sing and it was just so lovely, angelic.”
“I think the greatest thing about all these young players coming in is how absolutely fearless they are.”
“As a young player, it’s easy to be quiet and a little timid. Whereas this group, they’re not scared of making mistakes and they’re in for every single tackle. I know when I was a little bit younger, I was timid but it means so much more for young fans watching people who are not that much older than them absolutely killing it in the game.
“I feel like with the progression of the league [A-League Women], many people are quick to say that the FA WSL or the NWSL is miles ahead but with these good new players coming through it’s a great catalyst for change and development in this league.”
The first half of the current A-League Women’s season has ticked a lot of boxes for Grove and from the fan viewpoint it feels like everything is starting to come together. Grove agrees:
“It’s the best I’ve ever felt playing football.”
“When you feel confident and comfortable, that’s when things just come so naturally and so easily. I love the group of players that I’m with every day, because they’re lovely people, but they’re even better footballers. So come game day, I’m more excited than I am nervous. I used to have horrible nerves, especially when I used to do running and racing.”
In addition to Grove leading Canberra United in some defensive stats, she is also displaying admirable discipline for someone relatively new to playing at fullback. It’s been noticeable that particularly in first halves, Grove has concentrated on her defensive duties first. United plays a hard-pressing game which can take a physical toll, especially for forwards chasing the ball around the opponent’s backline. It’s in the second half that we typically see Grove venturing forward more, overlapping and using her remarkable stamina to the best effect. It’s also evident that even when a player is able to get behind her, she’s nimble enough to double back and cut off the attack.
She is quick to credit her coaching team for some of what we’re seeing from her.
“I would say it’s incidental [that we see her venturing forward more in second halves]. For me, being more of an attacker, it’s very easy for me to get dragged forward. Whereas at the start of the game, I really need to calibrate my mind and think ‘OK, this is my job for now’. And I think in the second half, it’s more so the other team is tired as well. I get more opportunities to go forward. In the first half, they might be able to catch me, they might be able to put their foot in. It’s a tightrope because I get excited sometimes. I don’t want to run out too early. But that does happen, and I’m working on it.
“[Coach] Goshy absolutely loves how confident we are with our speed and our ability to deliver. He encourages that, and so does Ant [Jagarinec, assistant coach].”
“But we can’t just be doing that all the time in the first half because then we’re tired, and gaps will open up. So it’s very much about choosing our moments going forward.
“[Recovering when an attacker gets in behind] is all due to Ant helping me out because he knows that it’s still relatively new to me. He says yeah, we can rely on our speed to get to the ball but it’s always about our body positioning. Those little fixes really add up in the end.”
With her experience as an attacking midfielder/forward, and now a couple of seasons as a defender at a high level, Grove can already be considered a well-rounded footballer. What part of her game is she proudest of, and where would she like to see some improvement?
“I’m really proud of how much I’ve progressed in my defensive abilities. As a smaller player, I need to be a little bit smarter, especially when they’re getting long balls in behind. As a winger that was quite foreign to me.
“Things I want to work on … scoring more goals and, as a fullback, getting the ball up into that final third. And just always playing with confidence and consistency. [Being consistent is] something I think about regularly.”
Grove is diplomatic about where on the field she prefers to play these days.
“I’ve always said it, but I’ll do my best wherever you put me as long as it’s not centre back. At fullback, the stakes feel a lot higher. You can’t have as much pizzazz in the back third because if you mess up it’s very obvious. I remember one of the first games I did a backheel that didn’t come off and I got banned from doing them unless I’m in the front third.
“I like where I am [as a fullback]. I have so much faith in our front three.”
With Kelly Stirton – who is also the Australian ParaMatildas coach – as the only woman in the day-to-day Canberra United coaching/management setup, Grove was asked how often the heralded coach mentoring group (Grace Gill, Nicole Begg, Ash Sykes & Caitlin Munoz) get involved with the team.
These girls 💚💫 @CanberraUnited pic.twitter.com/kMfolJ1eCO
— Grace Gill (@gracegill9) June 28, 2020
“It’s absolutely lovely that they’ve taken time out of their everyday lives to come to visit us because they have such a profound history with the club. It’s great for newer players coming in to visually see the history. They’ve got so much to offer and to say. Nic came to training a few weeks back and was helping Emma [Ilijoski] and me with our crossing. Having someone there who has the experience and who’s been in your shoes is so reassuring. We’re very grateful to have that in Canberra because I feel that is such a unique thing that we have in this community.
“When Nic and Munoz come they both have babies and everyone just gets so excited, especially when Brushy brings her bub. Baby fever.”
While Grove is firmly focused on Canberra United, she understandably has ambitions to play at higher levels. A recent United matchday programme contained an article on Grove which included her future goals as a footballer (reprinted with permission from Canberra United):
“Just like any other young player, I am extremely passionate about my football and am beyond determined to break into our national team. […] I’m also a staunch Manchester City supporter, so I would absolutely love to play with the WSL side because they are incredible!”
First, however, there is the small matter of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
“Oh, my gosh, yes, as soon as they came out, Dad asked ‘do you want tickets to the final?’ We have the final locked in, but we’ll see which games we can get to. I’m so excited. I’m just disappointed with the number of players out with ACL injuries, absolutely devastating. I don’t know if Beth Mead will make it, or Vivianne Miedema. But goodness, it’s going to be so good.”
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