Vince Battiato recommits to Essendon Royals
Following a hugely successful Season 2022, the Essendon Royals can confirm that promotion-winning Senior Women’s Coach Vince Battiato is back on board for Season 2023.
Having overseen an incredible campaign in 2022 that culminated with the Royals finishing second in State League 1 North-West, with a championship-winning Reserves side, and earning promotion into the Victorian Women’s Premier League.
Boasting a record of 17 wins from 21 league and Nike FC Cup games, Battiato finished 2022 with an impressive win rate of just over 80%.
Over the course of the year, Battiato’s team only lost three games, one of them an incredibly narrow 1-0 loss against Calder United, who finished the season as NPLW and Nike FC Cup champions.
With an enormous first season under his belt, Battiato is well and truly focused on future challenges.
“After such an incredible first season at the club, which included promotion to VPL, I can hardly contain my excitement at going around again,” he said.
“We are so keen to see just how good we can be. This is the highest level an Essendon Royals Women’s side has ever played in, so we want to give a great account of ourselves. I’m thrilled that our hard work this season has given us the opportunity to test ourselves at a higher level.”
Battiato said there had been no shortage of interest in the Royals women’s program following the success of 2022.
However, his focus is on more than just improving the on-field product, with a keen focus on assisting the Royals with the overall structure of women’s football within the program from juniors up into the seniors.
“We obviously have a huge amount of interest from other players wanting to join the club but the key for them will be to integrate into the brilliant off-field culture that we have built this season,” he said.
“We are strengthening the entire female football program at the club with a junior TD appointment that will work closely not just with every junior team and coaching staff, but will build the program with us in the Senior Women’s program.
“The aim is to make the club strong and healthy no matter the age group. We are excited about the opportunities this will bring to every player at the club, no matter the age or ability.”
Whilst Battiato is keen to see the Royals women’s program continue to grow, he has not lost any sight of preparing for a big campaign in the VPLW.
“We are not going to the VPL to make up the numbers. After so much success in season one, we aim to challenge for a top-four spot straight away,” he said.
“We understand that with a tougher, more physical competition and also four games longer, it will be tough, but we are ready for the challenge.”