Each week during the home and away season, Impetus’ writing and photography team covering the A-League Women will nominate a player, coach, and event of the week. We’ll keep a tally of the player and coach votes as the weeks go by, and just before the Finals, will announce our winners for 2022/23 (19/12/22)
Player of the Week:
BEN GILBY: I found this really hard. How can I have overlooked Kayla Morrison, a centre back scoring a hat trick?! Yet I have. How can I ignore Cyera Hintzen, a player who played a major role in ensuring her team came from 2-0 down to win 3-2? Yet I have. Why? On Saturday, Cote Rojas unleashed her magic wand and absolutely bossed it for Melbourne City in defeat to Western United. When she is in form like that, there is no more enjoyable player on the planet to watch. Rojas epitomises the expression “plays with a smile on her face.” She’s an outrageous talent and the A-League Women is so much better for having her back again.
KIERAN YAP: A hattrick for the Victory skipper and star centre-back Kayla Morrison was terrific to see. She also made a goal-saving tackle and helped set up her team’s second goal with an amazing 40-yard pass.
RYAN MILLER-WOODS: Annalee Grove of Adelaide United. She was absolutely incredible to watch in between the sticks against Wellington Phoenix with her heroics when needed. Her form really proved to be the difference towards ensuring the result went Adelaide’s way.
BEN CAREY: This is so tough this week! So many great individual performances. Chloe Logarzo was a halftime injury substitute and came on and flipped the game on its head with an amazing goal from range and stepping up to convert a penalty as well. Rylee Baisden scored two goals and contributed an assist to essentially carry Perth Glory to their comeback against Canberra United. But, Kayla Morrison, a centreback, scoring a hat-trick probably tops them both. That’s just insane. After much careful thought, she has my vote this week.
Coach of the Week:
BEN GILBY: Alex Epakis. His team has huge potential but has been unable to click into gear. Whilst he is renowned as a supportive coach who will always back his players, this week we saw a different side to the Perth head coach. He spoke in midweek to the Western Australian media about the extreme focus and non-negotiables that he laid down to his players in training. Speak to any Perth player and they will tell you how much they respect their head coach. When he speaks, they listen. Regardless of the scoreline on Sunday, they showed immense character. Yes, the team produced and did it for themselves, but this is an exceptionally tight group – they did it for Epakis too. His influence and standing among his team make him a deserving winner of this accolade.
KIERAN YAP: Alex Epakis. It was a tight decision between the Perth Glory coach and Mark Torcaso of Western United. In the end, Epakis has won out because the pressure was higher and the comeback was incredible. Glory changed their setup and line-up. They had more control of the midfield and were able to wrestle back control from a very tough opponent. It’s early, but Perth’s season was on the line. They delivered when it mattered most.
RYAN MILLER-WOODS: Alex Epakis of Perth Glory. The way that he got Perth going to another level against Canberra United during the second half despite having gone two goals down to not only win the match, but getting a crucial victory for Glory’s season in the process but when it was all said and done, being deserving winners against Canberra. So, whatever was said by Epakis at halftime to his side, really must have worked.
BEN CAREY: Mark Torcaso. Leading Western United to victory over yet another strong team in Melbourne City. His team is still undefeated in the A-League Women. Four wins from four. The only powerhouse team they haven’t beaten yet is Sydney FC.
Event of the Week:
BEN GILBY: Chloe Logarzo’s first goal for Western United at Melbourne City. There was no better way for the Matildas star to announce “I’m back!”
KIERAN YAP: Chloe Logarzo’s brace. She has looked good since returning to the Dub. But this was the first time she dominated while on the field in familiar style. She was everywhere, but her goal was something special.
RYAN MILLER-WOODS: Canberra United’s first goal against Perth Glory. The sequence of the build-up to the goal was fantastic from Grace Maher’s through ball to Michelle Heyman who was able to successfully dispossess Kim Carroll before beating Sadie Lawrence, then finishing her part by going into the box where her pass met the feet of Nikki Flannery who slotted the ball beautifully into the back of the net to complete both a great sequence of play and a great goal in every sense.
BEN CAREY: Perth Glory v Canberra United. Such an exciting and entertaining match with so many twists and turns. Canberra’s strong start and Perth Glory’s dramatic comeback. What a match!
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