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)