Round Nine of the Liberty A-League Women saw four games and 17 goals. Our writing team that covers the competition Ben Gilby, Kieran Yap, and Kris Goman announce who impressed them most this week (1/2/22).
PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Kris: Adelaide United’s Chelsie Dawber. She scored two goals and nearly got an assist as well during a dominating performance by her team against Western Sydney Wanderers.
Kieran: It’s Chelsie Dawber, she’s in the best form of her career right now, she’s quickly become a very reliable, very consistent goal scorer.
Ben: There were several players who had impressive matches and those who had moments of influence with Rhianna Pollicina and Cyera Hintzen being two notables. However, I think there was only one player this week who not only was impressive but completely influenced the whole 90 minutes, and that was Chelsie Dawber. A fantastic SA NPLW campaign in a faltering Adelaide City team where she scored goals for fun has given her the confidence to carry that form into the A-League Women season.
COACH OF THE WEEK:
Kris: Another Adelaide United award – Adrian Stenta. He orchestrated a thorough routing of the Wanderers in their biggest defeat of the season taking United to third place on the table.
Kieran: Gemma Lewis. Wellington Phoenix lost but they aren’t far away from winning. They’re becoming compulsory viewing.
Ben: A tough one this week. Gemma Lewis deserves plaudits for another superb effort from her team, but she admits there are still major issues to address when her team are leading. Alex Epakis’ influence needs recognition as the character he instilled into Perth shone through again, but the first half showing was well below par. I go for Adrian Stenta whose Adelaide United team’s clinical taking apart of Western Sydney Wanderers was impressive.
EVENT OF THE WEEK:
Kris: Combination of Glory’s comeback goal to clinch the win and Gemma Craine after the match. A terrible injury but great to see her in such high spirits and more or less OK.
Kieran: Rhianna Pollicina’s free-kick for Melbourne City. It was perfect and spectacular. Not many players in the league can score those.
Ben: Consistent drama at the end of A-League Women matches this season. Yet again Brisbane Roar threw away points at the death. Conversely, for the third time this season, Perth Glory won a match in the closing stages. It speaks volumes for the contrasting fortunes of those two teams.
We’re keeping a tally of all the votes for our player and coach of the week awards with the respective winners being announced after this year’s A-League Women Grand Final.
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