By Ben Gilby
Perth SC’s NPLW defence has taken well-earned plaudits this season for currently having only conceded nine goals in 15 league games. As one of the youngest members of the defence, Violet Longmore puts their success down to having such a range of abilities that compliment each other.
“Our backline is one of the best in the league, we have such a mix of players. Epril (Nossent) and I are very similar – we love to get up, she is fantastic in duals. Kim (McCartney) is just made to be a centre back. She does the perfect long balls and is very good in her battles,. Matilda (Boehm) – she is quite literally our brick ball and rarely anyone gets past her but she is also a very attacking player, and myself I just fit right in and have the freedom to do what I feel is right at the time with complete trust in my backline to have my back. We all put our bodies on the line in the box and have the help of Dayle (Schroeder) if something gets past us also.”
In terms of her own qualities, the Azzurri defender describes herself as “calm, determined and hungry for the ball, being a defender I always want to win 1v1s and not get beaten, but on the other hand I love to get up in the box and try my luck.”
Longmore is one of several NTC alumni at Dorrien Gardens this season. In terms of what it’s like being part of the system, the young defender highlighted how it comes with real advantages, but also major challenges.
“Being in NTC from such a young age was hard, though rewarding. Playing with such amazing players who have been on Matildas camps and in Perth Glory was really awesome. It was really challenging when the core of NTC aged out and we had such a new team with many young players.
“Last season we found it really hard to find our form, even with such a talented group. Being such a young team was difficult when we came up against such strong and experienced teams every week, but we didn’t make it easy and certainly put in a fight. NTC was definitely a big part of my journey from the success we had and the learning curves we had to face, I learnt so much there and I’m grateful to have been coached by some amazing people.”
At the end of the 2024 season, it was Longmore’s turn to age out of the NTC set-up, and along with several of her team-mates, made her way to Dorrien Gardens for this year.
“Coming into the team at the start was nerve wrecking, though coming across with the girls from NTC made it easier, and right from the beginning we fitted right in. The girls were all really welcoming and Tommy (Glavocic, head coach) definitely pushed that with many team bonding activities. Looking back and comparing the start of the season to now you would think we have been together as a team for years. The club itself has been so welcoming also, it’s such a warm and friendly club with some awesome people involved.
“Tommy is a very, very passionate coach who loves football, he is married to the game. He really cares about us developing individually and as a team. He wants us to succeed. For me personally I have gained a lot more confidence and also freedom on the pitch. He is very focused on the way we want to play, he wants us to be possession based and to be able to able keep the ball under pressure while letting us be creative as a team and individually.”
The strength of bond felt both on and off the pitch has been a key part in the Azzurri’s excellent NPLW WA form in 2025 so far. As the season enters its final third, Longmore is thrilled with both her personal development, and the progress that the team has made. For her, it bodes will for a successful run-in.
“The season so far has been extremely rewarding, as a team we have learnt so much both on and off the field and have really connected with each other. With quite a new team we knew it would be a challenge but it’s been quite the opposite and as a team we really like to focus on our performance and it’s certainly showing on the pitch with the quality of the football we have been playing and the results that have come from it.
“Personally I have developed a lot as a player and I have so much more freedom on the pitch as well. I have heaps more confidence when I play now and I’m excited to see where the rest of the season takes me and the team.
“We all really want to win the league and the Top Four Cup. We know it’s not going to be easy and we just have to put 100% into everything as we finish of the season if we want to have any hope. We come up against some tough opponents but if we stick to how we play and give it our all I think we have every chance to take out the title. We all want it and if we give it everything we will get it.”