Women to shine as W-League kicks off

Below is my assessment of the 2010-11 W-League Season but if you want more update to date info go to www.w-league.com.au for all details about the competition.

Download the official guide to the 2010-11 season courtesy of The Womens Game (awesome website on womens soccer)

Wed 3 November 2010: Season Three of the Westfield W-League kicks off this weekend and with 2011 FIFA Womens World Cup less than eight months away, the competition will be the battleground for a coveted Matildas jersey.

While the local players will be playing for a spot in Tom Sermani’s World Cup squad the competition is gaining an international reputation attracting a number of players from Europe and the Womens Professional Soccer (WPS) league in the United States to strengthen the competition.

Despite the total number of teams being reduced to seven with the demise of Central Coast Mariners, the 2010-11 season will feature 35 matches over the 12 week season from the November 6 kick-off and culminating with the Grand Final on February 12.

The opening clash will see reigning champions Sydney FC will take on Brisbane Roar in a grand final rematch on Saturday 6 November at Ballymore Stadium.

While most squads are finalised ahead of this weekends kick-off a player still looking for a home is Matilda goal sneak Lisa De Vanna, who is in the States playing for her WPS team and was not re-signed by Perth Glory.

De Vanna was suspended for two W-League matches in 2009 for an abusive rant at her own club officials and also suffered a broken leg in this years Asian Cup. There are rumours she may be heading to Melbourne Victory, but to date nothing has been confirmed.

Sydney FC
The Sky Blues will start their defence of their premiership with a strong line up spear headed by their captain, Matilda Heather Garriock, and fellow national team mates Kyah Simon, Servet Uzunlar and Leena Khamis.

Matilda striker Sarah Walsh is likely to miss the entire season due to a knee injury from the Asian Cup back in May.

It was during this tournament that Australia qualified for the 2011 World Cup by reaching the final of the tournament, but the team lost both Walsh and other key striker De Vanna before the final.

The Matildas went on to defeat China to win the title and Sydney’s 18-year-old Kyah Simon held her nerve to kick the winning penalty.

“Being the title holders there will be a lot of pressure on us to keep it," Simon said speaking before Sydney’s first game against Brisbane.

"I am sure every other team is going to be out to beat us but we are ready to take it on and really show them that we deserve to hold the title.”

Sydney FC coach Alen Stajcic has brought in two new keepers Dimi Polos and Erin Herd plus picked up Central Coast Mariners players Young Matilda Teresa Polias, Renee Rollason and Lydia Vandenbergh. Reliable defender Danielle Brogan returns for season three with the Sky Blues along with former Matilda Kylie Ledbrook.

Brisbane Roar
Despite all the recruiting by other W-league teams Roar’s line up stills looks the most impressive and will be lead by FFA’s 2010 female player of the year, Claire Polkinghorn.

After finishing losing a thrilling grand final to Sydney last year Roar coach Jeff Hopkins has boosted his squad following the departure of defensive powerhouse Kate McShea and striker Courtney Beutel.

Back for the Roar in season three is W-leagues 2009 Young Player of the Year, Elise Kellond-Knight and Young Matilda, Casey Dumont will be between the uprights. At 18 years old it’s hard to believe Dumont is already a veteran of two W-League seasons.

Hopkins has also included foundation players Brooke Spence and Kim Carroll returning from long-term injuries to boost Brisbane’s defensive stocks, alongside Westfield Matilda Karla Reuter and Laura Alleway from Melbourne Victory.

Another recruit, Aivi Luik, who has spent years playing in the US and Europe will join the Roar’s impressive midfield of Polkinghorne, Tameka Butt, Lauren Colthorpe and Joanne Burgess.

19-year-old Butt, despite nursing a troublesome hamstring for the majority of last season, finished Brisbane Roar Women’s top scorer with five goals.

“I think we are a more balanced team than we ever have been, so it’s an exciting time for Brisbane Roar,” Polkinghorn said.

“Tameka Butt and Elise Kellond-Knight, they’ve got some skill and got some pace so they’re exciting players to watch.

“We’ve also got a young striker called Emily Gielnik who will hopefully play an important role for us.”

Brisbane will again be the team to beat in 2010-11 with the new additions boosting an already strong squad.

Newcastle Jets
The Jets took the wooden spoon last season following an exodus of experienced players in 2009 like former Matildas captain Cheryl Salisbury, but for season three coach Wayne O’Sullivan has recruited strongly.

Matilda defender and vice-captain Thea Slatyer joins the Jets from Canberra United along with goalkeeper Allison Lipsher from the Boston Breakers in the US which will put pressure on Alison Logue to retain her place as the number one keeper.

Other additions to the squad include utility player Niki Cross from the WPS in the States, plus Brisbane Roar's Sasha McDonnell and striker Kara Mowbray from Melbourne Victory.

"There is a healthy amount of interest in the W-League from America," O'Sullivan said.

"We looked around and researched a number of girls in the WPS and its supporting league.

"Niki Cross can play anywhere through the middle and she's moved around a lot because of that, starting at St Louis Athletica and then the Boston Breakers. She's very valuable."

If O’Sullivan can get all the players to gel on the pitch the Jets may well be back in business but much will depend on his young players stepping up and being competitive against their more experienced opposition.

Melbourne Victory
Following two years finishing just out of the top four Melbourne Victory has a new coach, Vicki Linton and a new look squad after significant departures from the club.

Victory’s backbone will be made up of Westfield Matildas captain Melissa Barbieri, and experienced campaigners Louisa Bisby, New Zealand international Marlies Oostdam and Maika Ruyter-Hooley.

New recruits include American Sky Blue midfielder Kendall Fletcher, English import Jodie Taylor, Snez Valjanovska from Canberra United and former Young Matilda Amy Jackson.

Young local talent also feature in Victory’s squad including Under 17 Young Matildas’ Stephanie Catley, Caitlin Friend, Ashley Brown and Brianna Davey. Fifteen-year-old Davey replaces Nicole Paul as second goal keeper and is the youngest player in the squad.

Victory’s captain from the first two season midfielder, Tal Karp, is not returning in 2010 and Victorian Womens Premier League players Jess Humble and Sarah Groenwald have also been left off the list.

“We identified a number of areas where we were lacking in the squad from last season, and I’m pleased that we have been able to bring together a squad that we believe has a strong chance of making the finals this season,” Linton said.

“Victoria has some very talented female footballers coming through the talented player pathway.

I’m looking forward to watching them develop as the season goes on, and I am confident they will be able to step up to the challenge of competing in national league football.”


Victory has come agonisingly close to the finals in the first two season and would be disappointed if it can’t make the top four this year. It remain to be seen if Linton can bring together the young and experienced player into a team which can threaten the likes of the Roar and Sydney.

Perth Glory
The Glory have signed two new international players to add to their impressive line up of Matilda regulars Sam Kerr, Collette McCallum and Katie Gill, but it remains to be seen if the exclusion of De Vanna will have a big impact on the clubs results.

Kate Gill’s LdB Malmo teammate Tine Cederkvist Viskær has been recruited as the club’s number one goalkeeper.

Cederkvist is a Danish international with 47 caps for her country.

Another international joining the Glory will be Sweden’s Alexandra Nilsson, who captains her Swedish team Sunnana SK and is a much needed addition to Perth’s defence.

Gill says the acquisition of the international players will boost the side and she is hoping for a finals appearance in 2011.

“We’ve got quite a good squad and then obviously the West Australian girls that play in the league are more than capable,” she said.

“I’m definitely thinking top four and then we’ll see what happens.

“This year is probably going to be its most competitive year which I think is a great thing, obviously for the general public watching it and for the game itself within Australia.”

Other new faces are locals Lara Filocamo, Jaymee Gibbons and Emily Dunn, while Bunbury’s Kathleen Waycott will be the Perth Glory Women reserve goalkeeper.

US import Alex Singer will be back for her second year at the club.

Glory W-League coach John Gibson is also aiming for a top four finish but was cagey about his decision to drop De Vanna.

"Unfortunately we've had to make some hard decisions on the squad for upcoming season and Lisa didn't fit into the plans of the future direction of the team over the next few years,” he said.

"We've have seen some good improvements with the group in the last 12 months and Season three will be very intense and standard of the competition will be very high.

“Our goal will be to improve on last year and push for finals.”

The Glory will miss Lisa Devanna’s pace and experience but with youngster Sam Kerr, fresh from great Peace Queen Cup campaign and a goal in the Germany friendly, gaining in confidence along side the talent of Gill and McCallum the Glory still have a pretty formidable line up.

The question will still be in defence but with two experienced international players at the back the Glory may be in the hunt for their first finals appearance.

Canberra United
The loss of Thea Slatyer is a blow to Canberra but the squad still boasts a string of experienced players along with youngsters willing to prove themselves.

Goalkeeper Lydia Williams has been named co captain of Canberra United along with defender Ellie Brush.

Williams has just returned from a successful overseas tour with the Westfield Matildas. Having been selected for the squad that travelled to South Korea for the Peace Queen Cup and the subsequent European friendly with Germany.

Other Matilda players in the squad include Sally Shipard and Caitlin Munoz in addition to the Sykes twins, Ashleigh and Nicole plus Chinese Taipei player Tseng Shu-O.

Canberra also picked up 2009 Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player, Michelle Heyman, offering her a life line when Central Coast collapsed.

Local Woden Valley youngsters Grace Field and Sally Rojahn have also joined the squad.

Canberra is the dark horse of the competition, which was acknowledged by players from all clubs attending the Westfield W-League season three launch last Monday.

Canberra's Sally Shipard welcomed the increased expectation on her squad.

"We are looking quite strong," she said.

"We want to equal – if not better – our performances of the last two seasons so breaking through to the semi-finals (is the goal)."

Adelaide United
The Lady Reds 2010/11 squad has quite a different look from last year featuring eight new names, while ten players have been dropped from the list.

Their most significant signing is American striker Ashleigh Gunning who plays for the Charlotte Eagles in the USL W-League.

“We’ve seen video footage of her in action and are very much looking forward to her having an impact not only for our team but doing well in the W-League this season,” Adelaide coach Mike Barnett said of his new recruit.

“I think having her here will definitely highlight the standard of overseas players, and if she makes an impact it might help us to attract more players from overseas to further lift the profile of the game.”

After undergoing a knee reconstruction that kept her out of last season, Victoria Balomenos returns to the squad in 2010 as will Matilda Christina Papageorgiou. Other new signings include Katrina Gorry, Vedrana Popovic and Selin Kuralay all from Melbourne Victory.

Katherine Ebbs and Georgia Macri frin the South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) also made the list along with former Newcastle Jets duo Stacey Day and Loren Mahoney..

Racheal Quigley, who led United’s scoring and was named the club’s Most Valuable Player last season will return for the Reds. As will defender Ruth Blackburn after a broken foot finished her 2009 season before it began.

“There has been quite a large turnover of players this year. Injuries, work commitments and a number of other reasons have seen some girls unable to play this season, but that has given some opportunities to some new young local players,” Barnett said.

“We’ve also got some good interstate players with W-League experience that have joined us and will hopefully improve the squad.”

The first W-League match between Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar on Saturday 6 November and will be shown live on ABC1 at 3pm EST. ABC TV will again cover the ‘match of the week’ live and exclusive on ABC1 and ABCHD throughout the 12 week competition and the Westfield W-League 2011 Finals Series.

Check www.w-league.com.au for all details about the competition.

Download the official guide to the 2010-11 season courtesy of The Womens Game (awesome website on womens soccer)

Victoria WPL Round 11: Inter smash Ashburton

Box Hill Inter recorded a huge 5-0 victory over Asburton to launch them back into contention for the top spot in the league in round 11 of the Womens Premier League (WPL) on the weekend.

Bendigo Vipers drew with South Melbourne halting South’s return to form and Altona City notched up their second win of the year over Casey Comets.

The final game of the round, which will determine the top of the league, will be played Monday night between Heidelberg United and Sandringham. The Bergers have a game in hand, but a loss will see Inter reclaim the top position in the league on their impressive goal difference.

Box Hill Inter bounced back after a shock draw to South Melbourne last week and a loss to Casey in round nine to thrash the fourth placed Ashburton.

Aleksandra Sinclair and Natalie Exon both scored a brace for Inter and Deanna Niceski was the other goal scorer for the reigning WPL Premiers.

The win by Inter, their biggest since round 16 last year, has finally shown the potential of the team which has captured the WPL premiership sixth time in eight years.

This year Inter has the bonus of returning W-League players, such as Louisa Bisby, Tal Karp and Jessica Humble following the shift in policy of the National Training Centre program which, in 2009, prevented players from Melbourne Victory from playing in the WPL.

Box Hill also recruited several new W-League players including New Zealand national player, Marlies Oostdam and young talent Ursula Hughson. They also have the biggest weapon in the womens game between the uprights in Matilda captain Melissa Barbieri.

Inters victory is all the more impressive given it was against Ashburton, which have showed form this year notching up five wins to sit in fourth place. But this is Ashburton’s third loss on the trot marking a mid-season slump for the Chis Michaile’s team.

Altona City, the new team to the league in 2010, grabbed their second win of the season, coming from behind to defeat Casey Comets 3-2 at HC Kim Reserve on Sunday afternoon.

The defeat ended the Comets run of wins over the past three weeks and is a lost opportunity for them to break into the top four following Ashburton’s loss.

Altona held good possession in the first half but it was the Comets which scored from their first decent shot of the game when Talia Silivestros found the back of the net.

The home team responded in emphatic fashion blasting two goals in the first four minutes of the second half – a lead they held onto for the remainder of the match.

Christine Fonua got the equaliser two minutes after the major break to put the teams on equal terms and Alex Miller scored Altona’s second goal minutes later to grab the lead.

Altona held that momentum when Kerri Little found the net for the home team to give them a 3-1 buffer.

The Comets showed they were not done with Altona and snatched a consolation goal four minutes from full time, but Altona held on for their second win of the season.

Altona coach Paul Kilpatrick was understandably pleased with the effort of his young team against a quality opposition, especially since the team is missing five of their regular starters due to injury.

“Casey are a good side, but I felt we dominated the game,” Kilpatrick said after the match.

“The girls competed for 90 minutes and we had a few players that were pretty much down on form in the first half but after half time everyone lifted as a team.”

“To go 3-1 up to a team…that will go close to playing finals this year (Casey Comets), it was good. I felt we deserved the three points and it was just a good team effort,” he said.

Despite the win Altona remain in second last position, but they are equal on points with South Melbourne, on goal difference. Casey remain in fifth position, level on points with fourth placed Ashburton, but below on goal difference.

In the other game of the round South Melbourne and Bendigo Vipers fought out a one-all draw at McIvor Reserve on Sunday afternoon.

Both teams have similar records over the past three weeks notching up a win and two draws and hitting some form half way through the season.

The Vipers came into this game following a huge moral boosting win over third placed Sandringham last week and they took a 1-0 lead in the first half when midfielder Paige Conder was on target, and they took this advantage into the break.

In the second half South hit back through Penny Bakopoulos to level the match 1-1 and neither team was able to break the deadlock before the final whistle.

South Melbourne have shown marked improvement over the past three games after a disaster start to season, which saw them unable to win a game until round five.

The return of Laura Spiranovic and the appointment of new coach Alan Davidson seems to have improved the fortunes of South Melbourne, which had their best season ever in 2009 finishing third.

Next week the Vipers face the formidable task of playing Box Hill at home on Friday night while South Melbourne will have their work cut out for them when they take on Heidelberg. Ashburton will be hoping to get their season back on track when they play Altona at home and Preston will be back in action after a week off to play Sandringham.

Victoria WPL Catch Up Round: Bergers top table with catch up win

As I enjoyed a weekend off from the soccer pitch with a 'catch-up' round for most teams (read: rest round) two WPL teams were in action. I actually enjoyed watching the Heidelberg V Bendigo game and meeting some of Jamara Maza's family who were there to watch her play her 200th senior game. Wow what an achievement!

Heidelberg United has rocketed to the top of the Womens Premier League (WPL) following a convincing 5-0 win over the Bendigo Vipers, in one of two catch up games played on the weekend.

South Melbourne, which only got their first win of the year last week, dragged them selves out of last position in the WPL with a 3-2 victory over Casey Comets in the only other WPL game.

Heidelberg notched up three wins in a row to becomes third team to occupy the number one position in the top womens league in the past month.

The Bergers started slowly in the first half managing their first goal from the boot of striker Melanie Camileri in the 21st minute.

Camilleri’s tenth goal for 2010 keeps her as the leading goal scorer in the WPL and at the mid stage of the season is an early favourite to reclaim her Golden Boot crown from 2009.

Heidelberg mounted a sustained attack late in the half which saw four shots on goal in the last five minutes but couldn’t convert and went to the break with a one goal advantage.

The second half was all one-way traffic and Heidelberg doubled their lead three minutes in when Melbourne Victory midfielder Sarah Groenewald broke through the Bendigo defensive line and found the net.

Groenewald relished the move to striker in the second half and was instrumental in a number of Heidelberg chances.

In the 70th minute she shrugged off her player deep in the Bergers attacking zone and found un un-marked Michelle Verzi at the top of the box. Verzi nailed it into the top right hand corner and the Bergers to a 3-0 lead.

Heidelberg’s were far from their best but the Vipers offered little resistance and rarely managed to move into their offensive zone.

The Vipers defence, which held off the Heidelberg attack well in the first half, began to crumble last in the game and Verzi claimed her second goal 13 minutes later with a long range bomb from outside the box.

Heidelberg substitute, Janelle Hopman, with the last kick of day, clinched the home teams final goal following a lovely passage of play by Jamara Maza and Belinda Pannella.

Heidelbergs victory was a double celebration for Jamara Maza playing her 200th game and becoming only the second female Berger to achieve this milestone.

“Five-nil, top of the table, it’s a great result and it’s a good way to celebrate Jamara’s 200th game,” Heidelberg coach John Lioupas said after the match.

“Bendigo’s always difficult to play against and I think today, we were undermanned, we had a few players out, and we just had to make sure we stayed focussed and got the result.

I would have been happy with a one-nil result…three points is what its all about,” Lioupas said.

South Melbourne took the three points in the other WPL game with a high scoring 3-2 win over Casey Comets at Comets, backing up last weeks break-through win to move off the bottom of the table.

After a scoreless first half both teams found form and piled on five goals between them in the last half.

Luctrece Laverdure fired off a hatrick for South Melbourne to seal the win while Laura Croft and Rebecca Sherry scored for the Comets.

Despite the loss Casey remains at fifth spot in the league while South Melbourne have been elevated to seventh, just one point ahead of Altona and Preston, languishing at the bottom.

At the half way point of season 2010 the WPL is showing signs it will be another tight race for that elusive finals berth for the top four womens teams.

Heidelberg are leading the pack on 18 points but Box Hill and Sandringham, which is the most improved team this year, are in second and third respectively on 17 points and Ashburton round out the top four.

Round Nine WPL: Casey take down Box Hill at Wembley

Round nine produced a weekend of upsets in the Victorian Womens Premier League (WPL) with Casey Comets slaying Box Hill Inter at Wembley Park on Friday night then South Melbourne grabbing their first win of the season defeating the in-form Ashburton.

Heidelberg’s good form continues with a 4-1 victory over Preston with goal sneak Melanie Camilleri contributing two goals while, Bendigo and Altona shared the spoils with a one-all draw.

The Comets 2-1 win at Wembley Park on Friday night was almost a year to the day when they defeated Box Hill in 2009 to end the reigning premiers four-year unbeaten run at home.

The Comets have form at Wembley Park, having not lost there in five years.

The first half had all the action as both teams found the target. Inter’s goal coming courtesy of the powerful Kat Smith while Caroline McEvoy and Nicola Prins both contributed for Casey.

Despite suffering its first loss for 2010 Box Hill retain top position in the WPL, however its a worrying sign for Inter, which is stacked with Melbourne Victory players, which only managed draws against Bendigo and Sandringham in recent weeks.

The young Casey team on the other hand will take confidence from the big win, their fourth of the year, which see them knocking on the door of the top four.

Ashburton missed out on the chance to regain top position in the WPL when South Melbourne managed their first win of the year with a sweet 2-0 victory on Sunday afternoon at McIvor Reserve.

Two former Asburton players did the damage for South Melbourne after a scoreless first half.

Jade Barden was on target from long range to get South on the board 15 minutes in the second half. Lucrece Lavrdue did a lovely left foot finish from outside the box to seal South’s second 20 minutes later.

After finishing third in the league in 2009, South Melbourne has suffered a spectacular fall from grace in 2010, remaining at the bottom of the table despite the weekends win.

Assistance coach of South Melbourne, Matt Shaw, said it was a relief to finally be ‘off the mark’ and get the clubs first win of the season.

“We’ve been working hard on the game plan and working hard to get the results,” he said.

Shaw attributed his teams win to commitment to the ball and quality defending, and praised the contribution of Laura Spiranovic. who didn’t score but put significant pressure on Ashburton’s defence.

“The challenge now is to improve the aspects of the game we have been working on, hopefully it’s the start of some thing,” said Shaw.

Last years runner-up Heidelberg United put their stamp on the game early against the Preston Lions when 2009 Golden Boot, Camilleri found range in the third minute to put the Bergers in front.

Preston responded in the 11^th minute when Jacinta Mazza curled a sublime free kick into the top left from 25 yards out to even up the match.

Two minutes later Heidelberg’s Sarah Groenewald’s cross found Belinda Pannella and she passed to team mate Julia Nicolaci ,who found the back of the net to give the Bergers a 2-1 advantage.

Substitute Meghan Archer added to Heidelberg’s score when she headed in a Camilleri cross in the seven minutes into the second half then Camilleri got her second ten minutes later to seal the 4-1 win.

Altona’s first trip to Bendigo resulted in a one-all draw with the Vipers, but gave them a valuable point to keep them out of the bottom two for the first time this season.

Talented youngster Sarah Richardson scored for the Vipers and Alexandra Miller was Altona’s single goal scorer.

Altona are the new team in the WPL and despite only winning one match they have been competitive at the top level.

Half way through the 2010 WPL season its no surprise to see Box Hill again topping the league but Sandringham, who had a bye this week, are equal on points and in second place on goal difference. Ashburton and Heidelberg are in second and third with Casey just outside in fifth position.

Next week South Melbourne will be tested when they take on Box Hill, Sandringham are back in action against Bendigo, Heidelberg make their inaugural trip to HC Kim Reserve to play Altona while the Comets will play Preston.

South Melbourne - Most successful club in Victoria at ignoring its womens teams?

South Melbourne FC are big on promoting themselves and the 'most successful team in Victoria' but the club seems to have forgotten they have a womens team!

After scouring their very nice, new website I couldn't find a scrap of information about their Womens Premier League (WPL) team, who were the rising start of last years competition.

SMFC's new website has videos, radio stories, slide shows etc etc they also Twitter and Facebook but all they have about the WPL team on their own website is this pathetic line...

SOUTH MELBOURNE WOMENS FOOTBALL CLUB

More information coming soon...

Hmm fascinating. Nothing about them kicking off this weekend?

After a quick google I found this link to the SMFC womens teams, which is on a separate website.

South Melbourne's womens team made their first WPL finals appearance in 2009 losing to Heidelberg in the Preliminary Final.

They were also the WPL's most improved team coming back from almost relegation in 2008 to be in the top three.

Come on SMFC show a little bit of support for womens football and start promoting your ladies - the mens team is not the only game around!

FFV's Preview of the Womens Premier League - which is kicking off today

Round one of the 2010 Women's Premier League (WPL) season kicks off at the Events Worldwide State Football Centre at Darebin International Sports Centre this Sunday 11th April.

WPL Senior matches will begin from 1pm on Sunday with Heidelberg United taking on the newly promoted Altona City. Heidelberg United are coming off a successful 2009 where they finished second behind Box Hill Inter, and conceded only 17 goals for the season. Heidelberg's Melanie Camilleri won the WPL Best and Fairest award in 2009, and is back for another run at the championship, and Heidelberg United are hoping to improve their overall game this season. Altona City are coming off an excellent year in State League One where they finished top of the ladder with an amazing goal difference of 65. This is sure to be an exciting match to open the WPL Gala Day.

Spectators will be in for a treat on Pitch 3 from 1pm, with South Melbourne playing against the 2009 Premiers Box Hill Inter. Box Hill Inter's aspirations for premiership glory in 2010 are shaping up, with some good preseason form, but South Melbourne will certainly give them a run for their money in Round 1. With South Melbourne Captain Lisa Hodgkin directing traffic out of defence, South Melbourne will be hoping to stem the flow of goals that have come from Box Hill Inter in the past.

Kicking off at 3pm on Pitch 2 will be Sandringham and Bendigo Vipers. The Vipers are hoping for improvements across the board after a disappointing 2009 where they only managed two wins, however with a young and enthusiastic team, they are hoping for finals and to take some points off the top teams in the league. Sandringham are confident of success in 2010, having made finals in Season 2009. With a focus on developing younger players and retaining players for the future, Sandringham will be a force to be reckoned with in Season 2010.

The final WPL game for Round One will see Casey Comets facing off against Preston Lions from 5pm. In what looks to be a close match between last year's fifth and seventh placed teams, both squads will be aiming for maximum points in Round 1. Preston have acquired the services of Spiro Thalassinos as Head Coach, and the "Lionesses" have had a successful pre-season winning the Macedonian Cup against a gallant Noble Park. With Coach Deborah Nichols at the helm once again, Casey Comets will be keen to make finals in a more convincing fashion in Season 2010, after scraping in by one point in 2009.

Ashburton will start Season 2010 with a bye, and will be ready and raring to go in Round 2 when they take on Altona City. Ashburton are hoping for a strong 2010 after missing out on finals for the first time in their history by just one point. While most would be concerned with missing Round One, Coach Chris Mekhail is positive, as the squad will have an uninterrupted start to the season where they will get into a good rhythm and the squad hopes this will grant them a position in the finals for 2010.

For full Women's Premier League fixture information, please see the Competitions section of the FFV website.

WPL 2010 Pre-season Update: Will a new coach help the Lionesses?

I am always excited by a new season...and 2010 is turning out to be no exception when looking at Victoria's top womens league, the WPL. I interviewed the new Preston Lions coach Spiro Thalassinos - can he turn the Lionesses fortunes around or will he go the way of he last two coaches?? Can't wait to find out

Prestons Lions have appointed Spiro Thalassinos as the new coach of their premier league women’s team in an attempt to reverse the fortunes of the side which finished third last in 2009.

Thalassinos’ appointment makes him the third coach in just over six months for the Preston’s top female team, who managed just two wins last season.

He replaces Robert Spasevski who was appointed in June 2009 after the departure of Andy Fry.

Fry left the club mid-season last year after successfully coaching the Lionesses to a top three finish in 2008, the same year in which he was named coach of the year for the league.

Thalassinos has a history coaching top women’s teams, having lead the South Melbourne State League One women to a top two finish in 2007 and a promotion to Premier League.

Most recently Thalassinos coached Port Melbourne’s women and is also well known as president and cofounder of the high achieving football club, Essendon United.

In 2009 Essendon’s senior men’s team became the first club in 60 years to be promoted four times in as many years, and in 2010 the team will play in division three of Men’s State League.

According to Thalassinos the club’s instruction for season 2010 is to keep the women in the top league, which is not surprising given Preston’s Victorian Premier League mens teams was relegated and will play in State League One this year.

“For any team that hasn’t had a lot of recent success, to stay in the Premier League is paramount,” Thalassinos said.

“Everyone starts the season, especially in the Premier League, looking to play finals and that would have to be the aim…but there is definitely no pressure for the club, they just want us to consolidate and do the best we can for the year ahead.”

Thalassinos says he is aiming for the team to have a counter attacking style but his immediate priority is ensure the players can last the entire 90 minutes match.

“We are looking to be a pretty zippy team and counter attack as much as we can, but…what I have been preaching to the girls is we have to be good over the 90 minutes.”

“We are trying to get the girls trained up so when teams come and play Preston Lions they know that they are going to be at it for 90 minutes,” he said.

The Lionesses started their pre-season on a high winning the Macedonian Cup in February which featured five teams including former Premier League team Geelong and State League two team, Nobel Park.

Thalassinos would not confirm any new players to the club only to say there were a few new faces at pre-season training who are currently being assessed.

“Recruitment hasn’t been that high on the agenda, we have…tried to work with what we’ve got because we believe that the group (Preston’s squad) …are fairly well skilled with a lot of potential,” said Thalassinos.

Preston will be hoping Thalassinos will harness this potential and bring some of the magic touch he has demonstrated at his club Essendon United.

Warming up for Womens Premier League in Vic...yes already!

Altona City prepare for debut season in WPL

By Emma Field

Altona City will look to continue their extraordinary five year winning streak when they kick off their first Womens Premier League (WPL) season in 2010.

The Western suburb team have been the rising stars of the womens league, losing only five times in the past five seasons, topping their league consecutively plus averaging a goal difference of 83 and amassing an incredible 276 goals over the past three years.

Since 2005 the team has won girls under 15 and 16 leagues then at senior level topped Metro League, State League Division 2 and in 2009 were the minor and major premiers in Division 1, earning them a crack at the big time in Premier League this year.

Paul Kilpatrick is the Altona coach and has been with the team since under 15’s when he was asked to coach the girls. Despite never coaching a female team before, and has taken the them to unimaginable heights.

The club has a young team, with around 80 per cent under the age of 18, mixed with some recruits from the Keilor Park WPL team, which folded early in the 2009 season, adding valuable experience.

Kilpatrick said he is still looking to add at least five more players to his squad and while simply remaining in premier league is a major goal but he is confident Altona will be competitive in the top league.

“We are certainly good enough to compete with most of the teams there (in the WPL),” Kilpatrick said.

“If you look at the Premier League last year it was fairly open, both Box Hill and Heidelberg…lost three-one to a couple of sides, which is quite a big defeat for those two power houses.

“A lot of people are saying that to play in the top five is out of our reach, but I think that’s something we’ve got to go into the season to do, to play finals.

“First and foremost to remain in the premier league is what every club wants to do each year, so survival is the first thing,” he said.

He admits that lack of depth may cause problems during the season and the young team has a number of year 12 VCE students, which may see some players to put study before football.

Kilpatrick has played an important role in the development of the Altona womens team urging the club to take the womens game seriously several years ago. From one female team five years ago the club is likely to field five girls and womens teams, including the WPL team, in 2010.

City has hardly taken a breath since learning of their promotion and commenced training last year. After a short Christmas break they will start three sessions a week on 6 January and have a number of practice matches lined up from late February.

The gap between Division One and Premier League is vast, and one that Geelong failed to bridge last season winning only one game at the top level before being relegated, but Altona have a formidable record and a young team with nothing to lose.

It would certainly do nothing but strengthen womens football in the western suburbs if Altona can hold their own in the top womens league, and hopefully draw some state selectors to have a second look at the talent in the club.

Altona will be joined in the WPL in 2010 by South Springvale, who finished second in Division One and have accepted the offer of promotion.