Culture, Goals And Ambition: Garces’ Bulls Chase More Glory

Sometimes the sequel can be just as good as the original, and that is exactly what Marty Garces and Bulls FC Academy will be hoping for when they return to Kogarah for another NPL Women’s NSW Grand Final this Sunday.

Garces guided the Bulls to the Premiership and Championship double in his first season in 2025, and now the defending Champions are back at the big dance with the opportunity to repeat the feat.

Speaking ahead of the decider, Garces reflected on a challenging but ultimately rewarding season and the task awaiting his side.

“It has been a challenging season, but exciting at the same time. A bit different to last year with the other teams taking charge, but we remained focused and got the job done,” Garces said.

Bulls FC have been a steady ship in the raging waters of the NPL Women’s NSW competition, and Garces believes that consistency has come from setting clear goals and maintaining a strong focus throughout the campaign.

“We set new goals for the season, clear ones, and worked towards them across the year and ended up achieving them in a different way.”

“There was a moment mid-season where it seemed to click for the squad and, following that, it was about keeping that standard going.”

The Bulls certainly maintained that standard.

They retained their Premiership and then produced a dominant Semi-Final performance, dismantling Western Sydney Wanderers 6-2 to book their place in another Grand Final.

Now, the opportunity to complete another double awaits.

For Garces, however, the significance of the season goes well beyond trophies.

While another Premiership-Championship double would be a remarkable achievement, he believes the culture being built at Bulls FC Academy is even more important.

“It is an audacious goal to complete the double, but mainly for me, it is building the culture off and on-field with a group of aspirational girls and an aspirational club to create a good pathway.”

“We have such a motivated squad of players, so the culture has to match up to that in all ways for us.”

That culture has been reflected in the way the Bulls have approached another successful campaign.

Their attacking football has once again been a feature, with Garces remaining committed to an entertaining style that encourages his players to express themselves while always looking for the back of the net.

“We aim to always play entertaining football in whatever way you define that. The biggest roar you can get from a crowd is scoring a goal, so we build from the back but always look to score.”

It is a philosophy that has served the Bulls well, particularly in their Semi-Final victory over the Wanderers, where six different players found the back of the net.

The challenge now is to produce another performance against a UNSW FC side that has also enjoyed an outstanding season.

Garces believes the presence of both clubs in the Grand Final is a positive reflection of the strength and competitiveness of the NPL Women’s NSW competition.

“Having both us and UNSW FC in this game is a good reflection for the league overall and shows that both sides want to remain at the top in a competitive league.”

“UNSW FC are an experienced side and it will be a good challenge for us out there on Sunday afternoon.”

That experience will provide a significant test for the defending Champions, with UNSW having pushed the Bulls throughout the regular season before securing their own Grand Final berth with a 3-1 Semi-Final victory over APIA Leichhardt.

For Garces and the Bulls, though, the focus remains firmly on themselves.

They have already achieved their first major objective by retaining the Premiership.

Now they have the opportunity to complete another chapter in what is becoming a remarkable period for the club.

And while the players will ultimately take centre stage on Grand Final day, Garces is quick to acknowledge the supporters and wider Bulls FC community who have helped create the environment in which the team continues to thrive.

“We have a clear vision to represent the people of Bulls FC because time is precious and we want to acknowledge them both during the games and afterwards.”

After last year’s Premiership and Championship double, the Bulls return to the Grand Final with another opportunity to make history.

The sequel is ready.

Now, Garces and his players have 90 minutes to decide whether it will have the same ending.

By Justin Davies