Coach: Bill Mihaloudis
Home Ground: Olympic Village
Brief overview: Heidelberg women’s team was first established in 1978, and following a hiatus from 1982 to 1990 it came back 1991 and played in the Victorian Women’s Premier league (WPL) ever since – the longest serving WPL team – successfully transitioning into the NPL era with a licence in 2016. The club won its first Championship in 2007, coming runners-up in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2014. Last season under Bill Mihaloudis the club embarked on a finals run, making it almost a decade of consecutive finals campaigns for the club.
Confirmed squad (2015 club in brackets):
Lexi ANASTASSIOU (Doncaster Rovers)
Bonnie BARNES (Heidelberg United)
Louisa BISBY (Bundoora United)
Joey CARTWRIGHT (Senior NTC)
Christina FONUA (Heidelberg United)
Lisa FONUA (Heidelberg United)
Steph GALEA (Preston Lions)
Leigh GRAY (returns from USA)
Elise MAMANU-GRAY (Heidelberg United)
Rita MANKOWSKA (Northern Redbacks)
Demi MIHALOUDIS (Heidelberg United)
Melissa MISSAILIDIS (Unattached)
Julia NICOLACI (Heidelberg United)
Candice SALLAMA (North Sunshine Eagles)
Katia TAVOLARO
Elly TORRE (Heidelberg United)
Michelle VERZI (Heidelberg United)
Pre-season: (three wins, two draws)
Heidelberg United 6 defeated Geelong Galaxy 1
Heidelberg United 1 drew with Bayside United 1
Heidelberg United 0 drew with Box Hill 0
Heidelberg United 1 defeated Southern United 0
Heidelberg United 4 defeated Bulleen Lions 1
Players to watch: In terms of familiar faces, captain Michelle Verzi and creative midfielder Julia Nicolaci are long-term players at the club and will once more grace the Olympic Village pitch. At the back, the Fonuas will add defensive stability, with Christina one of the competition’s standout keepers, while Lisa is a commanding centre-back. It’ll also be a happy homecoming for Rita Mankowska, with the former W-League player returning to Heidelberg after time away in Western Australia. In terms of ones for the future, Lexi Anastassiou and Joey Cartwright are talented young recruits who will look to make a mark in the top flight in 2016.
Coach comments: “We have worked hard and have been disciplined throughout our pre-season campaign. Even though we’ve had a strong caliber of opposition, our results from each game has been positive, but we know this means nothing and is only preparation to the season opener. I’m confident we can continue to grow from our pre-season form and we are definitely under no illusion that those games mean absolutely nothing and the real business starts Sunday.”
What to expect in 2016: The usual Heidelberg high standards on the pitch, underscored by determination and discipline from Mihaloudis’ side. Expect a balance of attacking prowess and defensive resilience that will make the side difficult to defeat. Despite a promising pre-season, there has been plenty of turnover at the club during this time, so there may be some early rust to shake off as the squad gels; but at the end of the day finals will nonetheless be an expectation.