Interview with Julianne Sitch

Sitch having fun with Sky Blue FC | (Credit: Fans Corner)

Melbourne midfielder Julianne Sitch has added some fire power and strength to the Victory engine room.

From Chicago, Sitch brings plenty of experince to Melbourne including playing alongside Perth's Collette McCallum in the WPS championship winning side Sky Blue FC.

Can you tell me how you came to play for Melbourne Victory?

I found myself finishing playing my season over in the States and I had some Australians in my team. They had talked about the idea of coming over and playing.

I also know one of the girls on the team right now. I just kinda went through her and my agent hooked me up with coming over here and playing.

Were you aware of the Australian League before you came across?

No. I didn't know too much about the League. Just what my friends who have played in it had said. That was all the information I really knew.

What did the Australian girls say about the League?

They didn't talk too much about it. I just wanted the opportunity to come over and play, keep in shape and work on things.

I really didn't ask too many questions. I just wanted to come over and experience it all for myself and get my view on it. But I mean they spoke very highly of it. That it was a good League and an opportunity to continue playing.

How did your love for the sport begin?

I started playing when I was younger. It was when I was 5 years old and found myself on an all boys team. I kinda continued playing through the years with a club and then in College.

Was football a viable career option for you?

It hasn’t always been until the League started up again in the States this past year. It was the first year of the WPS.

Really until then your could play it but it wasn't going to be your career. You would need to have another job. Now though that opportunity is out there for myself and other players.

The younger girls and the girls in College have something to aspire to. Something that will inspire them. They can go out there and know that they can continue playing after College.

What did you think about the inaugural WPS season?

It was awesome. It was probably one of the best experiences that I have ever had with any sport.

I learned a lot about myself on and off the field. I learned a lot about other people and it was just really good for me to go through that.

Obviously it was rush and an amazing experience to win the whole League in the first year.

How have you seen the Victory's start?

It's been very good even after oming here and not knowing any of the players. I think we have a very young team but I think we have done very well. Even in the games that we unfortunately lost I still think we did well and we are capable of a lot more. I think we figured that out in that we are capable of more and think we are going to do really well this year.

What do you bring to the side that can help the team make the finals this year?

I think competitiveness and I am just hoping to help make everyone else a better player.

What's the most exciting part of being Australia?

Just having the opportunity to be here and experience life Down Under. Having the opportunity to travel around Australia and see different places as well as playing soccer.

What do you miss most about home?

At this particular moment I miss Trade Joe's dark chocolate covered raisins, chips and salsa. Oh, and obviously my family [laughs]. Definitely just little food things.

What about Australia has been different to your expectations?

Honestly, I was told that it was going to be summer here. So when I got here and found out that it isn’t summer yet and that it won't be for awhile until I pretty much gone. A little disappointed but the weather seems to be getting nicer now so it will be good.