WPL Team of the Season: The Corner Flag

by Staff Writers 2

Before the announcement of the Fan-Voted Team of the Season for the WPL Victoria 2014, The Corner Flag staff wanted to weigh in on the debate themselves. So we’ve taken the liberty of posting our own personal XI’s from the season gone-by. Let us know who you’d have in your perfect XI in the comments below!

Mark Gojszyk @hahahamark 

Again – much like the NPL TOTS – my players are based on those I’ve seen most that have impressed me, rather than letting their reputations precede them. A bit South Melbourne heavy I admit, but how could you ignore the runaway leaders (in the home and away season)? Bulleen have also been technically sound this season, with the type of players I want in my team.

GK: Frances Land (Bulleen Lions)
I’m sure South Melbourne are haunted by Land after the Knockout Cup Grand Final. She has cat-like reflexes and is good off her line.

LB: Olivia Ellis (Bulleen Lions)
A solid tackler, positionally sound and some pace to burn. The attributes I want in a full-back.

CB: Leah Barrett (Boroondara Eagles)
She is a solid and dependable centre-half and can hit a long range shot too.

CB: Alex Cheal (South Melbourne)
A defender in the most miserly defence in the league is a must in my books.

RB: Bella Scott (FC Bulleen Lions)
I like good symmetry, so she can partner team-mate Ellis on the other side of defense.

CM: Emily Thomas (Cairnlea FC)
I need a competitive, dogged player, one who’s been through the tough times, a Broxham to my Milligan. Emily Thomas is that player that can scrap to win a ball, distribute and be involved.

CM: Natalie Martineau (South Melbourne)
A technically polished, crisp player with clean passing and a good attacking sense. Also a big occasion player, as shown in the WPL Grand Final.

CAM: Tiffany Eliadis (South Melbourne)
I don’t think any more needs to be said about the runaway Golden Boot winner.

LW: Beattie Goad (FFV U17 Girls)
This sure may ruffle a few feathers but I’ll have Goad on the left, giving her the freedom to cut back in. She’s versatile across the front third, good with the ball at her feet and shows a maturity beyond her age.

ST: Laura Spiranovic (South Melbourne)
A top striker, overshadowed a bit by Eliadis, but quality nonetheless. A real presence up front.

RW: Padiki Dade (Bundoora United)
Fast, direct and efficient. Dade can run at defences, trouble opposition players and bring teammates into the game with her link up play.

***

Sean Ellicott @SeanEllicott

It was no easy task but I’ve done my very best to sit down and fill 11 spots with players that have impressed me the most throughout 2014. Unfortunately we aren’t dealing with 23 man (or woman) squads here so a few unlucky names miss out, which include the likes of Christine Pfeiffer, Beattie Goad and Laura Spiranovic. I saw a few side’s more than others this year so it’ll probably come as no surprise as you scroll down, but selections were made on performances I had physically seen rather than letting some stats and reputations get the better of me. It took a while to piece together but here it is in all its glory!

GK: Kelsey Quinn (Heidelberg United)
An enormous presence in the penalty area for John Kyrgios’s side this year. One of the best ‘keepers when it comes to her work in the air, plus she does a fantastic job of keeping the ball out of the back of the net.

LB: Olivia Ellis (Bulleen Lions)
“She’s the next Steph Catley,” according to Bulleen coach Bobby McGuinness – and rightly so. Superb talent at the ripe old age of 15.

CB: Alex Gummer (Boroondara Eagles)
Constantly marauds forward at any given opportunity but is rarely beaten at the same time. Exceptional and experienced talent to have holding down the defence.

CB: Leah Barrett (Boroondara Eagles)
It’s no secret why Boroondara has performed exceptionally well this season with its central defensive pairing. Ever reliable with the ability to dictate a game. Quality defender.

RB: Bella Scott (Bulleen Lions)
Fits the team to a tee much like her fellow full-back on the opposing flank. Does most things right in both defense and attack.

CM: Enza Barilla (Bundoora United)
The superstar out of Bundoora pieced together an exceptional year which saw her bag 16 goals from the heart of midfield. An exceptional talent, the 23-year-old is rated just as highly by her peers, claiming the WPL Players’ Player of the Year award.

CM: Natalie Martineau (South Melbourne)
Delivers time and time again for her side, epitomised by her player-of-the-match performance in this year’s grand final. An all round accomplished midfielder, the Canadian is an absolute shoe in for all of us here at The Corner Flag.

LW: Kendra Jones (Heidelberg United)
The perfect winger. Pace, strength, skills and a wicked ball, the American is an out and out superstar of the WPL.

CAM: Tiffany Eliadis (South Melbourne)
What more do we need to say about the two-time Gold Medal winner? The 19-year-old held the WPL in the palm of her hand all season, wreaking havoc as a class above the competition.

RW: Lia Privitelli (Bulleen Lions)
It’s a shame her season was cut short through injury because this girl is simply a gun. Dazzles defences on the flank more often than not and has shown her worth to be one of the most dangerous players in the competition – and she knows how to score.

ST: Emily Coppock (FC Bulleen Lions)
A revelation up front for Bobby McGuinness’s side, the striker found the back of the net 15 times this year, returning the most goals out of any out-and-out striker in the competition.

***

Jordan Lim @JordanLim24

It was such a hard task fitting a league of talented individuals into 11 spots. I guess the thing I’ve tried is to make a team that could play together on the park, and would complement each other well. Work rate was very important in my selection on that basis too. Finally, I’ve tried to squeeze in a few of the more unheralded players into the team just for that recognition. Couldn’t quite find room for Nikki Ceeney, Tiff Eliadis, Em Coppock, Christine Pfeiffer, Emma Robers, any of the Bulleen backline, Lia Privitelli, Tayla Vlaeminck, Melina Ayres, Emma Hubbard and even WPL Player’s player of the season Enza Barilla. And a hell of a lot more for that matter. *deep breath* So yes, as you can tell, it was a REAL task to get a team of 11 given the talent pool in season 2014.

GK: Frances Land (Bulleen Lions)
Been superb every time I’ve had the pleasure of seeing her go about her business this year. Ever consistent and arguably the safest set of hands in the league, her season culminated in a simply sublime performance against South Melbourne in the Knockout Cup.

CB: Alex Cheal (South Melbourne)
The captain of a title winning side has to be in my team, without a shadow of a doubt. An expert reader of the play, she combines her football smarts with the graft you want in a defender.

CB: Jackie Vogt (Bundoora United)
Love the way she approaches the game, especially in the circumstances she’s found herself this year marshalling a young Bundy defence. Played along side a number of different teammates this year, Vogt has lead by example with her fine aerial ability and surprising technical ability. Loves to push up the field and I’ve seen her hit a wicked free-kick or two.

CB: Alex Gummer (Boroondara Eagles)
A star of the league in my opinion and her great form has seen her rewarded with a contract with the Melbourne Victory. Covers so much of the pitch and really imposes herself on the contest. I like her work in midfield but she has to settle with a spot in defence.

LM: Kendra Jones (Heidelberg United)
Devastating when at her best. The American has all the attributes of a star winger at this level but for me, her best attribute is the way she works her way into a contest. Even if she’s having a poor start, she’ll swap wings, work against a different defender and impact the game in one way or another.

CM: Natalie Martineau (South Melbourne)
A steely, yet ever silky midfielder who’s attacking game has come on leaps and bounds this year. The Canadian added four regular season goals as well as that all-important one in the Grand Final to swing the tie South’s way. An absolute lock in any WPL side.

CM: Ash Callaghan (Boroondara Eagles)
Plucked out of relative obscurity was Aisling Callaghan, the Irishwoman languishing in the lower tiers of the Victorian State League. Fil Simao and co. saw something they liked and what a decision it turned out to be. She always seems to have space on the ball and she just dictates the tempo with her incisive passing. Assist queen.

CM: Sienna Fogarty (Sandringham SC)
For me, she’s been one of the best – if not the most underrated – midfielder in the league this season. Fogarty’s work – especially in the absence of the injured Hannah Stuart – has been tireless in the Sandringham engine room and along with Annabelle Gibney and Steph Tanti, has formed a formidable trio in the latter stages of the year. She’s box-to-box, good on the ball, a tidy passer and isn’t afraid to shoot from distance. Got it all.

RM: Padiki Dade (Bundoora United)
Just your old fashion winger, runs the flank all day, never surrenders and just loves getting good delivery into the box. With the signing of Elly Curo, Dade’s output increased with the target to hit in the middle (No disrespect to the shorter statured Rachel Alonso and Enza Barilla).

ST: Laura Spiranovic (South Melbourne)
She works so hard up front for her teammates it’s insane as she’s contributed a large amount of assists to go with her 11 season goals. Has so much composure and balance on the ball, and her combination of pace and strength is brutal. Hard to fathom how she missed out of Melbourne Victory honours.

ST: Emma Runnalls (Sandringham SC)
Arguably the best striker aerially in the league there is. Her work-rate has improved remarkable from previous years and it’s shown with her best haul of goals in the WPL. A brute to get off the ball for defenders.

Special thanks again goes out to Aaron Vanston (http://aaronvanston.com/) for our Team of the Season graphic!