Broadmeadow captain Kalista Hunter taking game to next level in NPLW NNSW

Week in, week out they are the unsung heroes of any team, producing tireless and often match-winning efforts.

But no one could have missed the outstanding form of Broadmeadow centre-back Kalista Hunter over the past 12 months in Northern NSW Football women's top-flight competition.

The 23-year-old was easily one of the most influential players in the league last year. Not only was she steely in defence, her penetrating runs out of the back line had opposition scrambling and Hunter also scored five times with well-timed headers off the set-piece.

The Magic captain has picked up where she left off this campaign and showed a new level of her game with a long-range goal into the top left corner of Mid Coast's net in a 6-0 win in Taree on Saturday night.

Hunter may have been "shocked" by the effort, but it was no surprise to Magic coach Jake Curley.

"We've been telling her that she's got to shoot more," Curley said. "She quite often picks up the ball at halfway and does her runs forward but there's never an end product. Now we're trying to work on her end product and she scored a bomb.

"She's definitely the best centre-back in the league because she forward-defends like no one I've ever seen before. She always goes for the ball and wins it 95 per cent of the time.

"In our first year she was good but a little inconsistent. Last year she got consistent and now she can take over a game herself by just running forward."

Hunter credits previously playing in a fullback role for her ability to get forward.

"I used to play 2, so I miss the overlapping and whenever there is an opportunity to go forwards I try to take it now," Hunter said.

"But it's definitely good having Jake, who pushes me to do that. He has definitely given me the confidence to push forward and last year I definitely felt like I was finally playing consistently."

Hunter was one of six different scorers in the win over Mid Coast with her goal coming in the 25^th minute.

"I was so shocked when it went in," she said. "Jake always says when I go forward I need to get my head up and have a shot, and I actually did that and it worked."

Broadmeadow were declared premiers in a COVID-shortened season last year and are unbeaten league leaders heading into round seven.

They have scored 27 goals in five outings for the league's equal-best attacking record with fifth-placed Adamstown and have leaked just five goals for the competition's most miserly defence.

It could prove a determining factor in the premiership race this campaign with plenty of rivals also boasting strong firepower.

Magic are yet to make a grand final appearance since re-joining the league in 2020.

"Obviously we did finish on top last year but the season didn't get completed, so we want to prove that we can be on top and also go to the grand final," Hunter said.

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