A chance meeting with Canberra United coach Heather Garriock has paved the way for Melissa Maizels back to take care of "unfinished business" in the capital.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Maizels has signed with United for the 2018-19 W-League season as Canberra looks to bounce back from its worst season on record.
The 25-year-old goalkeeper played with Canberra from 2014-16 - and now she is desperate to add to her four caps in green after bumping into Garriock at the cafe at the AIS last year.
The former Perth Glory goalkeeper was stuck behind Lydia Williams and Chantel Jones during her first stint in the capital, and now she has a golden opportunity to fill the void left by star United States import Haley Kopmeyer.
"It was a chance meeting that Heather and I had last year, where we had a brief chat about our philosophies and how it would be nice to one day work together," Maizels said.
"It didn’t work out last year because I’d committed to Perth and I was excited to head back west. This year it fell into place, the timing was right on both of our ends.
"My first official contract came with Canberra so the opportunity to return back to Canberra now couldn’t have come at a better time in my career.
"I’m super excited because I’ve always wanted the opportunity to work with a coach like Heather. Having been where I intend to go in my career, being she has been a Matilda, I feel like she has got a lot of wisdom to pass on to me, not only as a retired player but now obviously as a coach.
"I’m really looking forward to picking her brain and having her hopefully drive me towards achieving my dreams.
"We’re both pretty focused and driven, and like to get down to business. I’m entering into my seventh W-League season now and I really want to be trying to put my best foot forward and be putting my hand up for some big things next year.
"I want to be doing whatever it takes so I’m in a position where I’m ready to knuckle down and grind out a huge season."
Maizels was a part of Canberra's 2014 championship-winning squad and the Victorian product is desperate to help United back to the finals after the club's subpar showing last season.
Maizels joins Nikola Orgill, Tash Prior, Taren King, and South African duo Refiloe Jane and Rhoda Mulaudzi on Canberra's books for the upcoming season.
Garriock has assembled the bulk of her squad with a raft of further player announcements to come before the season kicks off in late October.
"To have Melissa returning to Canberra is great for the team and the club as a whole," Garriock said.
"When she was here last time she obviously was behind Lydia, but now I am very excited to have her ready for this season.
"She has aspirations to play for the Matildas and that’s what I love in a player, someone who sets themselves challenges and a long-term goal."
