Coach: Stuart Munro
Home ground: Comets Stadium
Brief overview: Southern United is a consortium comprised of a number of teams from around the Frankston area, including Casey Comets, Mornington, Langwarrin, Seaford United and Peninsula Strikers. Most will associate Southern with Casey Comets, the former WPL club whose home ground, Comets Stadium, will be used as the side’s base.
Confirmed squad (2015 club in brackets):
Tiffany Eliadis (South Melbourne)
Saphri Lines (South Melbourne)
Antonia Niteros (Casey Comets)
Shaunna Murray (Casey Comets)
Chelsie Selleck (Casey Comets)
Natasha Dakic (Senior NTC)
Anouk Meereboer (Casey Comets)
Selena Karlson (Box Hill United)
Sharnoah Hurley (Casey Comets)
Daniella Galluccio (Bundoora United)
Jessica Miller (Ashburton United)
Jaye Todd (Caulfield United Cobras)
Jess Beddows (Berwick City)
Freya Crocker (Boroondara Eagles)
Kate Leder (Box Hill United)
Brittany Dudley-Smith (South Melbourne)
Candela Ferreyra-Bas (Casey Comets)
Rebecca Saber (Ashburton United)
Pre-season:
Southern United 0 defeated by Bulleen Lions 1
Southern United 0 defeated by Heidelberg United 1
Southern United 5 defeated Box Hill 1
Players to watch: Most eyes will be on another ‘South’ connection, with the talented trio of Tiffany Eliadis, Saphri Lines and Brittany Dudley-Smith making the switch the switch from Lakeside to Comets Staidum. All three are attacking players with considerable goal-threat. Some familiar names remain, with Antonia Niteros, Shaunna Murray and Sharnoah Hurley forming just some of the Casey Comets group to remain at Southern. Elsewhere, Jaye Todd was a talented keeper at Caulfield, and can make a real impact in the top flight if she can stay injury-free.
Coach comments: “The focus will be on Peninsula football, women’s Peninsula football. I’ve lived here for seven years, so I thought it was a great opportunity to get involved in something here in the Peninsula and this came along at the right time – that’s why I’ve done it. As for the senior coaching, I’ll be trying to develop a culture in my team. Women’s football is very technical, and if you can get quick players who aren’t so technical, you can help them out and they’ll have the edge. I want a fast, exciting game, and that’s something that modern football has become now.”
What to expect in 2016: They’ve played their cards close to their chest this pre-season, but all will be revealed this weekend as Southern face off against Box Hill. Expect some answers to a lot of unanswered questions: How will Munro adapt to women’s football? What style of football will be seen on the pitch? How will the new squad – which rather differs from the old Casey set-up – gel together? While they’ve been one of the more difficult teams to predict in 2016, one thing’s for sure: with one of the state’s most experienced and respected coaches at the helm, high standards will be upheld.