W-League Melbourne Victory squad announced...a new keeper and lots of local talent

Coach of the Melbourne Victory W-League squad has been announced by coach Vicki Linton, pictured right.

We already know Matilda captain and number one goal keeper Melissa Barbieri was controversially dropped from the squad by Linton a few weeks ago to make way for 16-year-old Brianna Davey.

It's a big call to axe the national team's captain and probably the most well known female player in Australia for a year 11 school student, but the writing was on the wall last year when Linton 'rested' Barbieri to give Davey a chance in round seven against Perth.

Linton in her second year at the helm after replacing Matt Shepard is obviously going down the development path in naming Davey.

She also selected youngsters Georgie Koutrouvelis and Jackie Vogt from Victoria's talent development program the national training centre, which she also heads.

Eight new players join the core squad, quite a shake up for the team which made the finals series for the first time last year.

This includes three outstanding players from the local Women's Premier League including South Melbourne's Laura Spiranovic (yes she is Socceroo centre-back Matthew Spiranovic's sister) who won the competitions top player and golden boot award last season.

Stephanie Tanti from Sandringham SC and Box Hill United's Cassandra Dimovski also made the squad in a tentative endorsement of the local league, which in the past had some issues with the W-League who refused to let local players participate in the WPL.

The new signings will join other local players such as Louisa Bisby of Box Hill and Amy Jackson of Altona City.

I think its about time coaches look to the local league for players, as the A-League has proved its essential training ground for players who might later play for Australia or be recruited to an overseas club.

Its also a reward to the WPL clubs ans coaches to have players who can reach the high standard of the W-League competition.

International talent is also in the mix defender Danielle Johnson who is the headline recruit from from Sky Blue FC in the USA, Kendall Fletcher and Jodie Taylor also return for 2011.

English Taylor was a bit of a disappointment up front last year, but Linton has retained the faith in her.

One more disappointing thing about the Melbourne Victory womens team this year is thier new ground at the Veneto Club in Bulleen plus they will play no curtain raisers to the mens A-League games this season.

In a conversation with ABC sports commentator Steve Robilliard after the inaugural season of the W-league he said playing on quality grounds was essential for raising the level of the competition.

I confess I have not seen the quality of the Veneto ground, but its a long way from Edihad or AMMI stadium and frankly these are the grounds the women should be playing on.