Fire Open Women’s Team goal keeper Renee Rudder experienced the intensity of the Roar WWL first-hand recently when she was invited to play for the team against Brisbane City Under 15 Boys.
Twenty-three-year-old Rudder, who joined the Fire this season after playing in America and for Brisbane Club Easts, stepped in to play while Roar WWL keeper Teagan Micah was out with an injury.
Rudder said Roar WWL coach Belinda Wilson had contacted her after watching the Fire Open Women’s home game against Mitchelton in Round 4 of the SEQWPL. Wilson then invited Rudder to play against Brisbane City at Spencer Park, where she joined fellow Fire player Isobel Dalton, who also regularly plays for the Roar.
“It was a great experience playing with the Roar WWL, and playing against the Brisbane City 15 Boys,” Rudder said.
“The game was played at a very high intensity; the main differences between the Roar game and the SEQWPL games are that the boys very fast on the ball and it was more difficult to judge the play.”
Rudder said training with Coach Dave Bensted at the Fire had allowed her to develop a number of aspects of her game which the Roar had identified.
“At the Fire, we focus on playing out from the back if possible, which ensures that the ball stays in our possession rather than being a 50/50 from a goal kick. This creates more opportunities for us to move up the field rather than having to defend as much,” she said.
“I’ve been working hard on my distribution and communication with the team. With Fire being such a sought after Club, the players who are on the team want to perform their best and this environment creates more opportunity to better myself as a player.
“I think it was this drive to be better that has allowed for my development and confidence during the season to show through each game. I feel that the elite coaches look for this passion and drive, as well as talent, in the players they select because at the end of the day it’s only the players that can better themselves, with the coaches to help facilitate this.”
Fire Technical Director Kevin A’herne-Evans said Rudder’s invitation to play for the Roar WWL was a great achievement.
“Renee is an enthusiastic and technically sound goalkeeper,” he said
“She has a firm understanding of playing out from back, which is a vital element of the Roar philosophy, and from all accounts she played very well on Sunday.”
You can catch Rudder in the Fire Open Women’s Team game against Peninsular Power at AJ Kelly Park on Saturday.
