Winning a Grand Final often brings a myriad of emotions but for Sydney FC pride was the one constant as the players reacted to their triumph.
The Sky Blues’ 4-2 triumph over Perth Glory at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Saturday afternoon was as chaotic as the score line suggests.
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Ultimately it was a Savannah McCaskill brace that separated the two sides, earning Sydney some redemption after they fell to Melbourne City in last year’s Grand Final.
Speaking to Fox Sports in the game’s aftermath, Sky Blues hero McCaskill told of her pride in the group.
“It’s amazing being able to play with a great group of girls,” she said.
“We’ve kept faith in each other and kept working and we improved as the season went on and finally put it all together today.”
Westfield Matilda Caitlin Foord, who missed last year’s decider after suffering a serious injury in the Semi-Final, said she always knew her side would find the back of the net when it mattered.
“It’s amazing, obviously the season we’ve had I couldn’t be prouder of the girls and just super stoked right now,” Foord said.
“This year I’ve put a couple in but I knew that there were 11 goal scorers out there today so I was happy for them to score the goals, I just wanted to win the Grand Final and we did that.
“Sofia (Huerta) nearly ripped the net off down there but they were awesome goals and I’m just super proud.”
Westfield Matildas defender Alanna Kennedy, who returned to Sydney from City this season, revealed her homecoming made the triumph even sweeter.
“I think the difference is this is my home team, my home club that I’ve played for for a long time and it’s been a while since we’ve won one here so I’m really happy,” Kennedy said.
“I think we were quietly confident, obviously coming up against Sam [Kerr] and Rachel Hill it’s never going to be an easy game, you can never switch off but I think with the whole job the team did today it was never really in doubt.”
While a dream come true for the Sky Blues, Perth were left devastated after suffering a third Grand Final loss in the space of five years.
Westfield Matildas star Sam Kerr, who won and scored a penalty during the first half, was philosophical after the full-time whistle.
“It was a tough one, sometimes football sucks and today was that day,” Kerr told Fox Sports.
“Honestly we gave it all we could but I felt really tired, Sydney played really well and I think everything just got the better of us.
“I’m so proud of our girls, we’ve given it our all this season, we took it right to the last whistle and we gave it everything we’ve got, it just wasn’t good enough this season and Sydney were the better team.”