Since her entry into the Ninja A-League in January, Holly Furphy has captured the attention of fans and analysts alike. Here, aleagues.com.au examines the statistics that underline the rise of the Melbourne Victory starlet.
Let’s rewind to January 24. Prior to this date, Holly Furphy had yet to set foot on a professional football pitch, but in the weeks that followed, this young talent has quickly become one of the most thrilling prospects in the A-Leagues.
Remarkably, she has achieved this with minimal playing time.
BUY TICKETS TO THE NINJA A-LEAGUE!
After spending a few years in the United States college system, the 21-year-old returned home as an injury replacement for Victory. She inked her contract just a day before the club’s Big Blue clash against Sydney FC and, within 24 hours, was on the field, making her debut and scoring in under ten minutes.
R19 DISCUSSION: ‘It almost feels like we won a Grand Final’
“I was aware I might be playing if everything went through, but it felt like such a whirlwind when I was warming up and heard them call my name,” Furphy shared with Impetus Football recently.
“Obviously, there were some nerves, and I thought, ‘Wow, this is actually happening.’”
“At that moment, despite my nerves, I reminded myself, ‘Why am I scared of playing a sport I love? This is what I want to do!’ That was my mindset as I stepped onto the pitch.”
R20 PREVIEW: Your guide to the Ninja A-League
“I realised there was no space for nerves because I want to enjoy this experience as much as I can. Scoring that goal was surreal—I hit it and watched it go in, thinking, ‘What just happened?’ as I looked at my teammates.”
After having been a train-on player with Victory in her teens, Furphy has made a significant impact since her return.
The young forward has netted goals in consecutive matches, bringing her total to three in just six appearances in the Ninja A-League.
BUY TICKETS TO THE NINJA A-LEAGUE!
What’s particularly remarkable is that Furphy, who suffered an ACL tear in her first year of college, has made only one starting appearance for the Championship-chasing side, playing a total of 215 minutes on the pitch.
Her three goals to date have come from an Expected Goals (xG) of just 0.50, a testament to her efficiency in front of goal. This suggests she requires very few opportunities to find the back of the net.
WONDERKID WATCH: The 18-year-old’s unforgettable debut with Melbourne Victory looks destined for greatness
“Confidence plays a huge role,” Furphy stated in her interview with Impetus Football.
“However, the key focus for me over the past year has been on the mental aspect of my game and ensuring I don’t hesitate.”
“I try to approach every shot as if it’s the last one I’ll ever take—just shoot without overthinking.”
BUY TICKETS TO THE NINJA A-LEAGUE!
Furphy, whose two brothers are involved in professional basketball and AFL, is averaging a goal every 71.7 minutes, placing her fifth in the Ninja A-League this season. Digging deeper reveals that she ranks second behind Matildas star McNamara for players who have featured in at least five matches since January 24.
Her three goals are the third highest in the league since her debut.
Examining her performance per 90 minutes amongst those who have played at least five times highlights even more impressive stats for Furphy. She boasts a shooting accuracy of 83%, leads with total carries per 90 (21.35), total carry distance per 90 (269.62), and total carry progress per 90 (122.5), whilst sitting second to McNamara for goals per 90 (1.26).
“Can I mention the M-word? (Matildas)”, exclaimed A-Leagues commentator Teo Pellizzer during last week’s Dub Zone episode.
“We brought it up early with Laini Freier. Can I share the M-word here regarding Holly Furphy?”
“Considering we still have the interim coach Tom Sermanni for the Korea series in early April… we can’t forget that Remy Siemsen is scoring again in Sweden, and she missed the SheBelieves cup, so she should be back.
“Nonetheless, looking at what’s emerging from the Ninja A-League, Holly Furphy certainly deserves to be in the conversation.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
Fanpage: SportArena.com.au.
LiveScore – Live Sports Results & Odds.
