CAPALABA Bulldogs women’s head coach Chris Shepley says his side is brimming with confidence ahead of their finals showdown against Caboolture Sports Club at John Fredericks Park on Saturday evening.
The Bulldogs secured automatic promotion back to the National Premier League (NPL) after finishing second in the FQPL1, losing just one game all season, with 14 wins, three draws and one loss.
Their defensive record was particularly impressive, with goalkeeper Cass Zaffina a standout between the sticks, conceding only five goals all season.
“Our biggest goal for the season was to get promoted back to the NPL and that’s already secured, so we’re really confident going into the final series,” Shepley said.
The Bulldogs meet Caboolture at 6pm on Saturday in what promises to be a tight contest, with the sides having played out two 1-1 draws during the season.
“We’ve had a strong year, but Caboolture have shown they can push us. It could go all the way to penalties, so we’ll be training for that this week and work out the order of takers,” Shepley said.
While emphasising it had been a team effort, the coach praised his side’s defensive strength and singled out Zaffina.
“She’s been fantastic. She’s only conceded five goals this year and has been a big part of our success,” he said.
The women’s program at Capalaba has grown rapidly since its first competitive side formed in 2015, reaching the NPL grand final in 2022, only losing to the Lions.
“We’re moving towards being a very female-focused club, and promotion back to the NPL is a big step,” Shepley said.
“It’s been a club-wide effort as we push to become one of the dominant women’s clubs in Queensland.
“There are exciting things happening behind the scenes for next year.”
Captain Demi Robins, a long-time Bulldog with over 100 games for the club, is set to lead the side, with the team hoping for a strong home crowd to cheer them on as they aim to cap off a memorable season with finals glory.
