As the goals flow, Kat Smith sees clarity in Western United's play

Clarity of purpose and vision. As she tries to keep a lid on her side's push for a maiden A-League Women premiership, that's what Kat Smith credits for Western United's goalscoring exploits.

The goals have been bountiful as Western United stormed to the top of the A-League Women table in recent weeks, and coach Kat Smith believes that it is a sign her players are truly beginning to grasp their responsibilities in her system.

Victors of six straight, United’s women have netted at least three times in four of the last five, with fifteen in total hitting the mark. That's been good enough to move them up to equal third on the goalscoring charts, trailing only Canberra United, whose leaky defence has ensured they remain rooted to the foot of the table despite their goalscoring exploits, and Melbourne Victory. 

Last Friday, a Hannah Keane hattrick – the first in United’s women’s side’s history – combined with a penalty from Chloe Logarzo lifted Smith’s side to a comfortable 4-2 win over Canberra in what was their last home game at City Vista Reserve before they move into their new training base at Ironbark Fields. Showing how well-earned it was, it was a contest in which they recorded 4.6 expected goals (xG) to just 0.4. 

Keane and Logarzo now sit equal fourth on the Golden Boot race with nine goals apiece, four back of leader Michelle Heyman, with four games remaining on the season to overhaul the Matilda for the crown. The former is also equal third in the competition for assists with four, trailing three players tied for second with five and outright leader Holly Caspers. 

And indicative that United may have even more left in the tank as 2023-24 enters the final month of its regular season and begins to eye the playoffs, United, per FotMob, leads the league in both big chances created and missed. Their xG, meanwhile, sits at 36.5, compared to their actual total of 33, per FbRef – a figure that trails only Melbourne City’s 38.4. 

In other words, they’re getting the ball into positions wherein, with a bit more accuracy, even more punishment could be inflicted on opponents. Not bad for a side that experienced a midseason coaching change. 

“It's the clarity and the vision we set from the start of my tenure around where we want to see the ball, in what areas,” said Smith. “Players have now got that confidence.

“Whether it's the physical capabilities, the technical astuteness to deliver in their moments but that was all part of the building process. And these are the rewards for the hard work that's happened in the last couple of months.”

Four points clear atop the table heading into this weekend’s actions, United will face one of the stiffest tests of the Premiership bonafides yet when they travel to face third-placed Sydney FC on Saturday evening. 

Whereas United has become something of a bogey side for local rivals and finals stalwarts Victory and City since they entered the league, Sydney has inflicted some painful defeats on them during their short history together.

There was a 3-0 defeat in round 16 of the 2022-23 season, a 1-0 loss in this year’s Unite Round (the last time the team lost), and, of course, last season’s 4-0 thumping in the Grand Final. 

The Harboursiders will be missing six players to Young Matildas duty heading into this weekend but will welcome back Teigan Collister from a foot injury, while Lucy Johnson and Shea Connors have been named to play after returning from injury in their Sydney Derby win last Saturday. 

“They're in an interesting stage, given some of their omissions through international representation,” said Smith. “But they do have some players coming back from injury. 

“Look, we're well prepared. We know potential lineups, and what they were able to contribute in a game last week. 

“But other than that we focus on ourselves. We've got enough here to nullify their strengths and hit their vulnerabilities with some of the strings we can leverage.”

After not being risked in the win over Canberra following their late returns from international duty, both Jaclyn Sawicki and Tyla Jay Vlajnic will be available to Smith for the trip, while Catherine Zimmerman pulled up well from her return from a long-term injury and is available once again. 

However, with plenty of football in the season still to come for her side, Smith said she was inclined to take a cautious approach to the American’s minutes. 

A win on Saturday would secure United a spot in this year’s finals series – the first of an expanded, six-team format – and help them take a major step on the road to a maiden premiership in just their second season in existence. 

Smith, however, won’t countenance talk of silverware just yet.

“We never get too far ahead. Every moment we have to impact the team's performance or preparation for performance, that's what we're focused on,” she said. 

“In terms of having that competition for places, that drive within each individual, our role within the coaching staff and technical staff is continued to support every individual. So there's lots of those conversations happening. 

“There's real clarity in terms of where people sit and where they can contribute whatever their role is at that time.”