By Mitchell Keenan

Belconnen United took out their 6th Premiership in as many years this season, and the Blue Devils will prove a tough task for their opponents, as Antoni Jagarinec’s side approach another finals series. Priding themselves on a dynamic playing style, Belconnen have bagged upwards of 100 goals this season, with just over half of those coming from the prolific duo of Maddy Whittall and Chloe Callaghan.

The pair have illustrated the clubs attacking prowess throughout the season, while a rock solid backline has demonstrated that Jagarinec’s side is about more than just scoring goals, providing a well-rounded team that play a very professional brand of football.

Jagarinec spoke of the season so far, praising his squad on the reintroduction to a 21 round format.

“The longer they can train, the more they are on the pitch and that can only benefit them,” he said. “We can have them in a semi-professional environment for a long time of the year and that benefits their fitness, strength and conditioning and that has shown this year,” said Jagarinec.

United have had 12 separate goal scorers throughout the season, with four of them reaching double figures, and Whittall (30 goals) and Callaghan (23 goals) topping the goal scorers this year.

“Consistency amongst goal scorers was one of the key focuses this year, we’ve always been among the top with scoring,” Jagarinec said.

“But we have never had this many stand-out goal scorers. It’s great we’re not relying on them to score, but the style we play has set them up to be the beneficiary of some good football.”

The last player to score 30+ goals in the competition was Meg McLaughlin of Tuggeranong United, racking up 36 goals after the finals back in 2014, and Whittall could very well break the strikers record, approaching finals football with confidence.

“I think we can win it again this year, the team has gelled really well and we’re playing really good football,” said Whittall.

Perhaps a surprise package among the top scorers this season, Callaghan started the season as a fullback, but said she was thankful for Jagarinec’s confidence in the squad, giving the defender a chance further up the pitch.

“Ant has put some faith in me and played me in some positions I’m not really used to, and with persistence and such good feedback he’s giving us the confidence that we’ve shown out on the pitch,” said Callaghan.   

Wrapping up the season in style with a 7-0 win over the Canberra United Academy last weekend, Belconnen topped the WNPL table with an astonishing 19 wins, dropping just four points over 21 rounds.

The next test for Belconnen United comes against competition runners-up Gungahlin United, when the two sides face off at McKellar Park on Sunday for the first spot in the grand-final.