Lisa De Vanna - Injury, Brisbane and the Future

The Football Sack caught up with the diminutive in statue but huge on talent, ability and heart Matilda striker Lisa De Vanna, after Brisbane Roar's 1-0 win against her former club Perth Glory. She scored the only goal coming off the bench late in the second half.

We first ask Lisa about her ankle which was broken in a game six months ago-

I’m really conscious of what I do. I think now more of the future. It’s more on my mind but I think I have to get a bit fitter and everything will start coming back into play.

Before last week it’s been six months since I’ve played and today was very important to me. It’s been good for my confidence. I really have been struggling a lot with that lately. I did the things I’m good at today. It was all about achieving that. I was really happy. For any striker to score a goal is fantastic but to do it in the last minute. I’m quite happy. Perth done very well and as an ex-player I’m always going to respect them.

So why Play for Brisbane this W-League season?

I was really down from coming back from America. I needed a bit of a fresh start. I thought what team would be best for me to play at and with girls I know. Also the rehab facilities are important. I’m living here, I do my rehab, have my personal trainer and that’s how I’ve got to where I’m at now, because of all the training we have been doing.

I love Brisbane it’s not as busy as Perth or Melbourne but it’s comfortable, simple, easy but nice. And playing for Brisbane they know me and how I play. I’m getting more service. They are smart enough, quick enough so it’s easier to make runs and know I’m going to get played in. And little things like that, which I struggled with at Perth. It’s a bit easier and more enjoyable this way. No pressure, that’s nice. I get along with Jeff (Hopkins, Brisbane Coach) it’s nice to be able to talk to the coach if I don’t feel great.

What are your plans regarding the World Cup next year and returning to America to play in the Women’s National league again?

To get to the World Cup is my main goal. The national coach has advised me to be careful with what I do, think of the long term. The World Cup is definitely the long term goal for me but there are other little things I want to do before I get there. And in regards to Washington I don’t know exactly what I’m doing just yet. I don’t want to make a decision until I know what I can give to a team and then I’ll make a decision.

The Football sack also caught an exclusive with the national Matilda’s coach after the game Tom Sermanni and posed a few questions first about Lisa De Vanna.

From my perspective it’s great to see her back on the field and back doing what she does best and that is change games when she comes on. I think today was a typical example of why she’s a world class player. The team doctor has been keeping tabs on her and seeing how she is progressing.

Lisa has been doing all the right things; she has been really disciplined in her approach to coming back from rehab and like every player wants to play the full 90 minutes. But she’s done well cooling her heels on the sideline and then to come on and play herself into the game but not take any major risks. So from my perspective I’m really delighted with what she’s doing and her progress. Her finishing is improving all the time, terrific finish today.

Does Lisa have competition for the striker position?

We have gone from a team which was playing very defensively minded to having a lot of potent strikers. We have real depth of our forward line and in fact it’s probably our strongest position at this stage.

And the strength of the W-League in general?

The W-league has exceeded my expectations way beyond what I thought it would do for the national team and for Women’s football. So I’ve been really delighted with how it’s going.

Thanks to Lisa De Vanna and Tom Sermanni, great Ambassadors for Australian Women’s Football.
Image courtesy: Nick Guoth