It’s the midway point of the inaugural year of the NPLW, enough time to have an idea of how the season’s narrative has unfolded, with the below providing an idea of how the clubs have fared, and some of the key performers for each team.
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Alamein FC (4th)
Good: Alamein’s recruitment has helped raise the profile of Victorian football, particularly with the capture of Larissa Crummer and the American duo of Hannah Keane and Megan Fish. Up to Round 8 the side was sitting pretty with five wins and really pushing the top two. Melina Ayres continues to develop and adds a potent goalscoring threat to the side, leading the golden boot race so far on 12.
Bad: Injuries have decimated Sinisa Cohadzic’s squad, with both American imports suffering long-term ailments, Holly Richardson another victim of a knee debilitation, and results have suffered as a consequence. Hannah Keane for example had six goals up to Round 5 before being cut down.
Key players: Melina Ayres, Annabelle Gibney, Hannah Keane
Bayside United (8th)
Good: The focus on fostering youth in the Bayside region has led to the unearthing of a gem in Bronte James, while Emma Robers continues to make strides in her game. Despite their position on the ladder, Graham Dudley’s side has been there or thereabouts most games and have proven a competitive outfit even when not winning games, having not suffered the kind of big blowouts some other counterparts in the league have copped.
Bad: Just being able to string together 90 minute performances has been the main struggle, with the side tending to go into their shells every now and then and conceding promising positions (and goals) as a consequence. The departure of Canadian international Courtney Conrad, a key cog in the Bayside attacking machine, is also a blow to the side.
Key players: Emma Robers, Kirstie Shearing, Steph Parton
Box Hill United (6th)
Good: Wins have finally come to Box Hill in recent times, with consecutive victories over Heidelberg and the NTC followed by a credible draw away to Galaxy United, giving the club a sniff of keeping in touch with the leading pack. The club’s recruitment has also seen the likes of Kristina Hall, Emily Shields and Emma Littlewood contribute a positive influence. And with Bobby McGuiness at the helm as well, there’s also a feeling that despite tough times, the squad is in good hands.
Bad: Results have been hard to come by, and it’s not been helped by struggles in front of goal – they’ve scored the fewest goals in the league by a considerable margin. Apart from Melanie Camilleri’s six goals, only Hall has multiples (two), with Box Hill’s goal difference the second worst in the league. An injury to German Maren Heller hasn’t aided the cause for the former WPL powerhouse.
Key players: Emily Shields, Maddie Richardson, Kristina Hall
Bulleen Lions (1st)
Good: Bulleen have enjoyed generally dominant performances, showcased by having scored the equal most goals, conceded the equal least, and having the best goal difference in the league. The ability of Ricardo Martinez to take over, and with a few quality additions propel the side to the top, has been an overwhelming positive at the Veneto Club – a place that’s been very hard for visiting teams to gain results from.
Bad: A few cracks appeared, including a defeat and draw against Galaxy and Calder in consecutive weeks, momentarily halting Bulleen’s title credentials, while a draw against Southern also showed the competition that Bulleen wasn’t invincible. Taryne Boudreau’s departure as the club’s current top scorer, Beattie Goad’s impending departure, and injuries to the likes of Alex Natoli and Bella Scott (along with unavailability of numerous other players from time to time) has and also tested the squad’s (admittedly considerable) depth.
Key players: Liv Ellis, Beattie Goad, Jamie Pollock
Calder United (2nd)
Good: A blistering start saw Mark Torcaso’s side dominate early. There was the local contingent i.e Rachel Alonso and Enza Barilla impressing in that dual forward role, ably supported by the acquisition of Rachel Binning and the addition of experienced of assistant coach Williamson – both from Casey Comets – to the defensive and coaching stocks. Stacey Papadopoulos has also been reinvented as a fullback, while they’ve done a great job of promoting young, Australian talent without reaching out for internationals.
Bad: Cracks started to appear. Defeats against Heidelberg and Galaxy came at a time when the club was also knocked out of the Team App Cup. Admittedly, Calder do looked to have overcome that patch of form.
Key players: Rachel Binning, Rachel Alonso, Enza Barilla
Galaxy United (3rd)
Good: Galaxy are defensively very sound, with the equal least goals conceded in the competition. As one of the new kids on the block, it’s perhaps not a surprise that the focus for Vincenzo Ierardo was on defensive cohesion ahead of trying to get goals in the back of the net. They’ve also made their surf coast base a fortress, yet to lose a game at home, while at the same time many of the NTC/Victory girls have made the step up this season.
Bad: Perhaps an inability at the other end to put the foot down and put teams away. Only three clubs have scored fewer goals this season, with Kariah White the top scorer on five, followed by Laura Spiranovic on four, despite missing much of the season. The scoreless draws, where three points went begging, may end up regrets come the end of the season.
Key players: Adriana Taranto, Melissa Taranto, Annabel Martin
Heidelberg United (5th)
Good: After recovering from a very slow start to the season, Heidelberg are now just a couple of points outside a top four spot. Having clawed their way up the ladder, with everyone from goalkeeper Christine Fonua to Leigh Gray – netting 11 times – playing a prominent role for the team that has been gelling better, another finals spot is in sight for a club accustomed to late-season action in the old WPL.
Bad: A terrible start to the season while the new team gelled saw Heidelberg win only once in their first six games, including two consecutive clashes where they lost by a margin of five goals – against Calder and the NTC. And while Gray continues to impress, some added goalscoring support – next best to her 11 goals is Melissa Barbieri on three – would be handy for Bill Mihaloudis’ side.
Key players: Leigh Gray, Joey Cartwright, Rita Mankowska
Senior NTC (7th)
Good: The NTC have provided a regular threat to their counterparts throughout a season every mid-week. A ground swell of support for Victorian talented players has increased the level of optimism for future young Matildas and U17 Matildas selection. Players like MelindaJ Barieri, Sofia Sakalis and Coby Mcinerney in the seniors and Kyra Cooney-Cross and Isabella Sewards in the juniors are creating a bit of buzz for the Victorian talented player program.
Bad: The lack of height in the young team has left it susceptible to conceding aerial goals too easily, which often makes life much more difficult for the outfit. Injuries to Alina Zahovic and Nikolina Bucalo has robbed Stefan Busso’s team of two of their better players.
Key players: MelidaJ Barbieri, Sofia Sakalis, Hayley Richmond
Southern United (9th)
Good: Finally, results have come. After draws against the likes of Box Hill and Bulleen Lions, the maiden win came in spirited, come-from-behind circumstances against Alamein. The likes of Saphri Lines, Tiffany Eliadis and Brittany Dudley-Smith are forming a potent trio in the front third now that the latter two are fit and firing, while at the back, Freya Crocker, Antonia Niteros and Anouk Meereboer have been providing a stronger rearguard at the back.
Bad: Just how far behind the eight-ball the side started, and how they struggled to cope when Eliadis and Dudley-Smith were out injured. It was a time of transition for not just players, but also coach Stuart Munro in the women’s game, and the scorelines show that at times the side was completely outplayed. Defence does continue to be an issue with 40 goals conceded at a rate of over three per game, by far the most in the league.
Key players: Saphri Lines, Anouk Meereboer, Tiffany Eliadis