Kyra Cooney-Cross’ Grand Final heroics capped a fine season that saw her win the Westfield W-League Young Player of the Year Award.
The 19-year-old’s rise continued in 2020/21, a season which ended with Cooney-Cross curling in a corner in the final minute of extra-time to secure a 1-0 win over Sydney FC in April’s decider.
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Unsurprisingly, a Westfield Matildas debut followed against Denmark earlier this month.
It came off the back of Cooney-Cross’ best domestic campaign yet, and the Young Player of the Year award was deserved recognition.
Cooney-Cross’ numbers in 2020/21 told part of the story.
- Equal fifth for goals with six.
- Equal fourth for assists with four.
- First for chances created with 41, nine more than any other player.
- Third for shots with 38.
- First for crosses with 82.
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Cooney-Cross’ dynamism and creativity were on show throughout, and her dangerous set-pieces were a feature, with the Grand Final ‘Olimpico’ barely coming as a surprise.
While Cooney-Cross showed her ability to deliver the spectacular with stunning strikes against Perth Glory and Sydney FC and the Grand Final winner, she also produced numerous all-action displays to lift Victory.
With Victory’s season building, Cooney-Cross’ former club, the Western Sydney Wanderers, visited AAMI Park on March 4, with Jeff Hopkins’ side having played four days earlier.
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A Cooney-Cross set-piece would lead to Annalie Longo’s first-half winner, but there was a lot more to a standout display.
While she created an equal game-high three chances, Cooney-Cross also topped the list of any player in the clash for tackles (six), duels (21 – eight more than the next best), and duels won (12 – double the next best) in an outstanding performance.
It was an inspired display, in a game in which she finished without a goal or a credited assist, but showcased just what else she was capable of.
Cooney-Cross received the recognition she deserved on Wednesday night, and it looks like just the beginning.
