Michelle Carney has one clear goal in 2020: bring the Women's National Premier League One title home to the Illawarra.
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At 38, Carney is in the twilight of her career. But the former Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC W-League star has re-signed in her second stint with the Stingrays and is hungry for more success.
The Stingrays have gone nearly a decade without winning a Women's NPL title, after being back-to-back premiers in 2010 and 2011.
"I still enjoy the game. When you're still enjoying it and feel like you can compete with the others, you just keep playing," Carney said.
"We've got a great bunch of girls and we all get on well. Hopefully we can get to that final because I've had so much success with the Stingrays earlier on [in my career].
"It would be good to bring the title back again. Hopefully this season is our year."
Carney, who enjoys playing striker or mid, will be a key figure if Illawarra charges towards the top in 2020.
The older sister of ex-Socceroo David Carney will look to score plenty of goals and also act as a mentor for the younger Rays, including Chloe Middleton, Danika Matos and Margeaux Chavet.
"They're obviously young but they're getting to that age where they can probably make the W-League next season," Carney said.
"I want to be motivated so I can always show a good example on and off the pitch with training, putting in the hard work and with fitness so they [young players] know what they're looking out for.
"We've got a lot of young ones and some older ones in their 30s. I feel like it is a good mix."
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