To achieve their goal of winning their first W-League championship, a pair of former Canberra United players will have to inflict disappointment on their old teammates. Defender Bronwyn Studman and goalkeeper MacKenzie Arnold will be out to help Perth Glory claim their inaugural national title in Sunday's grand final at NIB Stadium.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Studman played with Canberra in the first three seasons of the W-League, while Arnold spent the 2012-13 campaign in the national capital as the replacement for Matildas custodian Lydia Williams.
Both players have had crucial roles in the Glory claiming the minor premiership, finishing 10 points clear on top of the table and losing just two games all season.
A part of Canberra's foundation squad in 2008, Studman had two seasons with United before moving to a US college on a soccer scholarship.
On returning after one year abroad, she didn't make the United squad for their championship-winning 2011-12 season and tried her luck with the Glory.
"I had a friend here in Perth, who I know from the under-20 Australian team, tell me they were looking for defenders but by the time I found out about not making the Canberra squad it was too late to move to Perth," Studman said.
"I tried the following year, and they wanted me to come over, and I fell in love with the city and the team and the coach and everything so I kept coming back. It's kind of a fairytale come true playing in the grand final, these are the games you dream about."
The 22-year-old continues to play in Canberra during the winter with Canberra FC in the Capital Football Women's Premier League. "It's good playing against the Canberra United players in the league at home and it's really good competition to be able to play against high-quality players in the off-season," Studman said.
Arnold, 20, made her W-League debut with the Glory in 2011-12 before she signed with Canberra United as the club's first-choice goalkeeper for 2012-13. That was followed by a stint with the Western Sydney Wanderers before re-joining Glory, conceding just 10 goals all season.
Arnold's toughness was on display when she copped a heavy knock from United striker Michelle Heyman in their recent encounter at Viking Park.
"Macca has had the best season I've seen of any 'keeper in the league so far," Studman said. "She saved so many one on one chances. She talks a lot at the back, we can always trust her in that sweeper, keeper role and she's great at clearing any through balls away."
Matildas striker Katie Gill said Studman's influence couldn't be under-estimated. "She's such a great character to have in the change room, as well as on the field," Gill said.
"I think she's been brilliant this year, she's improved quite a lot. Her positioning has been fantastic and she has been a rock for us at the back."
