The 2012/13 premiers commence pre-season in Byron Bay | (Credit: Clare Polkinghorne/Instagram)

The Brisbane Roar have commenced their preparations for the 2013/14 W-League season with a pre-season training camp at Byron Bay.
For Head Coach Belinda Wilson the three day camp is a journey back to her old stomping ground and where she began her coaching career as a 15 year old at Byron Bay Football Club.
“This weekend is a great opportunity for me to give back to the club that has given me so much over the years and to share a big part of my history as a coach with the Roar players," said Wilson
“Byron Bay Football Club is one of the main reasons I’ve been able to continue by career as a coach and be part of elite programs in Australia and around the world.”
Although the squad is yet to be announced, images from the camp suggest a large core of the premiership winning Season Five squad will return.
Matildas/Roar captain and reigning Julie Dolan Medallist Clare Polkinghorne, Tameka Butt, Katrina Gorry, Vedrana Popovic, Emily Gielnik, Elise Kellond-Knight, Brooke Spence and Laura Alleway look to be the solid foundations of the squad. However there are still a number of squad positions to be filled.
One position already settled is the starting goalkeeper role with recent Euro2013 winning German captain Nadine Angerer set to join the squad later this month. Evidence points to some interstate acquisitions with former Canberra United striker Hayley Raso and Sydney FC championship winning defender Larissa Crummer also taking part in the camp.
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Wilson, who doubles as the U17WNT Head Coach, has also called in Queensland players from that U17WNT squad including captain Sunny Franco and Ayesha Norrie with a view to evaluating their chances of stepping up to W-League level.
“Last season, I had very little time to put a squad together so I’m enjoying the fact I’m able to take my time and assess the playing group.”
“With the support of the club, we’ll have a proper pre-season this year with various matches still to be scheduled which will prepare us well leading into the start of the W-League season.”
The W-League kicks off on 9 November with fixtures due out later this week.
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