After her debut season in the Westfield W-League with the Western Sydney Wanderers, Illawarra Stingrays’ Margaux Chauvet has embraced a move to the middle of the park as she eyes off a hopeful finals charge, pending restrictions, in this year’s NPL NSW Women’s competition.
Life has come pretty quickly for nineteen-year-old Chauvet who in the past twelve months has completed her first season of professional football and most recently being selected as a member of the Young Matildas.
However in retrospect, Chauvet says the challenge of making the move to number six position has been an enjoyable highlight as she continues to develop into an exciting prospect for womens’ football.
“It was a slow start. I knew it was going to be a challenge for me being a defender naturally, however I’ve really enjoyed learning the new role.
“I feel like I’m gradually getting there, it’s a shame being in lockdown as I felt myself and the team getting on a roll.”
And on a roll they were.
Having collected back to back victories prior to the enforced break, it was a welcome return to form for a side who had struggled after leaping out of the gates in the early stages of the year.
“We started really well with three wins and a draw but then we ran into some tough results. Losing Caitlin (Cooper) to the Matildas along with a handful of unlucky results we fell down the ladder a bit.
“I had to battle an injury early on which never helps although I felt like myself and the team turned a corner prior to lockdown.”
Playing a deep-lying role, Chauvet has slowly grown to being one of the hottest prospects in the Women’s top tier competition.
“I’ve gained a lot of experience having played in this league for a few years and I can say it has become very competitive.
“With the players you come up against each week, you can’t allow yourself to take any game lightly. The challenge each week makes the step into the professional game more manageable which is fantastic for me.”
For an ever flourishing womens’ game, it is fair to say that the enforced break couldn’t have come at a tougher time although for the former Football NSW Institute graduate, she is itching to get back out there and carry on the run of form.
“I’m really looking forward to the season beginning again and coming up against these players where I’ll be able to continue to develop in my new role.
“The club has given us programs to keep us in shape so we’ll be ready to continue our roll when the season restarts. If we can pick up where we left off we’ll give ourselves every chance to finish strong.”
-By Joseph Esposito
