<\/p>\n
If beating Sydney FC is always sweet for Melbourne Victory, for young defender Jessika Nash knocking out her former club would be particularly rewarding.<\/p>\n
Nash enjoyed a stellar debut season as a 16-year-old central defender at Canberra United in 2020-21 before moving to Sydney with the aim of kicking on.<\/p>\n
Instead, she had limited minutes last season and was predominantly used off the bench.<\/p>\n
Nash, 18, escaped to Victory over the off-season and has developed throughout the year as Jeff Hopkins’ first-choice right-back.<\/p>\n
“The moment I stepped foot into this environment, Jeff took me under his wing and has guided me through the season,” Nash told AAP.<\/p>\n
“I really feel I’m stepping into the footballer I want to become.<\/p>\n
“With his backing and the minutes being played, I can truly play the football I want to play with these amazing girls.<\/p>\n
“There’s definitely an unspoken point to prove but at the end of the day, my football is going to do the talking and we’ll see what happens.”<\/p>\n
Nash has bounced back from an unnerving Matildas debut, her only cap to date, last November.<\/p>\n
The then 17-year-old and fellow youngster Courtney Nevin were thrown in at the deep end against world No.1 the United States, conceding inside the opening 30 seconds.<\/p>\n
“Honestly, it’s just such a learning curve,” she said.<\/p>\n
“It’s football – you’re going to have your highs and your lows.<\/p>\n
“Going into that camp was really eye-opening, and seeing where I need to be at and what growth I need to step into that Matildas spot.”<\/p>\n
Nash’s familiarity with Sydney wingers Princess Ibini and Cortnee Vine should hold her in good stead for Saturday’s preliminary final at Allianz Stadium, with a spot in the season’s showpiece against Western United on the line.<\/p>\n
“It’s recognising they have incredible strengths with their wide players and nullifying those will be key,” she said.<\/p>\n
“They’ve got some great players and as soon as we step out onto the pitch we need to show them that we’re there.”<\/p>\n
Victory won the past two grand finals against the Sky Blues in Sydney and are hoping to again crash the party on the road to a third consecutive championship.<\/p>\n
“The past two years, the history there with just us and them, it’s so big,” the Melbourne club’s 17-year-old midfield sensation Alana Murphy told AAP.<\/p>\n
“They have so much anger towards us. Fair enough, I would too.<\/p>\n
“If we can beat them again, that would be unreal.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n