Vic WPL Round One Verdict

It was a great weekend to watch football and the Victorian Womens Premier League's first round gala certainly drew a crowd.

Of course not as big as the crowd watching South Melbourne and the Melbourne Knights at John Cain stadium right next to the DISC pitches...but hey.

Never the less if you want to read all about the round visit the FFV website and read my match report. And the ladder and results are here.

Five matches were played, but I was only able to watch one full game - the grand final rematch between reigning champs Box Hill and Heidelberg.

It was a salivating prospect as these two have met in the final for the past five years with Box Hill taking the spoils four times.

But it was Heidelberg's day yesterday and their star striker Melanie Camilleri had a cracker opening game.

Camilleri fired a hat trick for Heidelberg United’s to defeat of reigning champions Box Hill Inter 3-1.

The Bergers emphatic victory over Box Hill was their best ever result over the eight-time champions and see them top the table at the end of the first round.

Camilleri’s quick and aggressive style suited astroturf surface at Darebin and Heidelberg’s coach John Liopas believes the striker is in her best form since she joined the club in 2007.

That’s quite a rap given Camilleri has topped the WPL goal scoring for the past two years and took out the top player award in 2009.

“You never know what you will get with Box Hill so to come away with three goals is a bonus,” Camilleri said after the match.

“This is the perfect way to see how where we are as a group, and it can only get better.”

“I always aim to capitalise on the opportunities I get and this year (the goal is) to get the girls to a grand final and lift the trophy,” she said of her ambitions this season.

Box Hill looked sluggish yesterday, but probably against any other team they may have had a win.

Their usual performers in Louisa Bisby and Lousia Farrugia were solid, but the Bergers looked more hungary for the ball and they had some young blood with enthusiasm to burn.

I suspect Box Hill may have had a poor pre-season and probably some injuries, but will they be able to maintain their impressive reputation as the league's long-time champion this year?

It will be fascinating to watch it all unravel in 2011.