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 (30/1/23).
Player of the Week
BEN GILBY: Madison Haley pulled the strings in imperious style for Sydney FC in their superb 6-3 win at Melbourne Victory as they completed the double over the side who beat them in the last two Grand Finals.
DENISE DUFFY: Shea Connors. The Brisbane Roar star used her speed, dribbling ability, and general positioning to deconstruct the Wellington Phoenix back line. She flew by Mackenzie Barry in the 15th minute and put it in the back of the net. Then in the just before the half hour, she drew a foul and a red card against Wellington Phoenix’s Kate Taylor. The resulting penalty kick was completed by teammate Katrina Gorry. Overall, an outstanding day for the American.
JONATHAN TAY: Princess Ibini got the plaudits for her hat trick, but Madison Haley was player of the match for me in Sydney FC’s 6-3 thrashing of Melbourne Victory in the Big Blue. Though she had a penalty saved, Haley picked up a goal and an assist, and was an unstoppable force for all of Victory’s backline. The American’s strength allayed with an ability to quickly process the play in front of her makes for a powerful combination, as she continues to impress in her debut A-League season.
RYAN MILLER-WOODS: Hannah Keane. With two great goals scored, especially her second goal of the match which all but decided the result against Canberra United for Western United, Keane showed yet again why she has been one of the best players this season in the A-League Women. As well as that, she extended her lead even more for the Golden Boot in the A-League Women to now nine goals and three ahead of Sydney FC’s Madison Haley.
BEN CAREY: Cortnee Vine. Her impact in the Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory match was immense. Her explosive speed and dynamic movement was sensational and allowed her to score a goal and provide two assists! A true team player. Massive shout out to Princess Ibini as well for achieving her first hat trick of the season, she was in truly imperious form.
Coach of the Week:
BEN GILBY: Natalie Lawrence. Her team took almost 24 hours to get to Brisbane, spending hours stranded in an airport. They then went 2-0 down and had a key player sent off. Yet they came back to lead 3-2 and took a draw. That’s sensational motivation in anyone’s book. The Phoenix are starting to show what many expected from them before the season started.
DENISE DUFFY: Natalie Lawrence. Her team had to shift into a back three and stay motivated down two goals to zero with just 10 players. Through the brutal heat at an away venue, they pushed back hard and made a momentous comeback. When Grace Wisnewski hit a banger from just outside the box in the 77th minute, she shared her goal celebration with coach Lawrence, a sign that the Wellington Phoenix are still motivated as a unit despite being at the bottom of the table.
JONATHAN TAY: Sydney FC and Ante Juric completed the double against reigning champions Melbourne Victory with Thursday’s dominant 6-3 win at AAMI Park. It won’t take away the sting of the last two Grand Final losses, but the emphatic nature of both of the Sky Blues’ wins over Victory showed the levels of performance Juric has taken his side to. Their relentless attack, particularly on the counter, continues to mark them out as a favourite for the title this season.
RYAN MILLER-WOODS: Mark Torcaso. What Torcaso has done in his very first season as a head coach in the A-League Women has been truly great with Western currently on the top of the ladder in the league with 10 matches played and have been arguably the best team so far this season. The performance that his side showed against Canberra United, especially in the first half showed exactly why they are in the position they are in, with their passages of play, the way that they took their chances at goal, and how they played as a collective whole all being paramount towards the final result in the match.
BEN CAREY: Natalie Lawrence. I still have no idea how on earth she pulled her team, Wellington Phoenix, out of the hole they were in against Brisbane Roar. Down a player and two goals in the first 30 minutes, her team staged the comeback of the season so far to force a draw (and very nearly steal all three points). Incredible effort.
Event of the Week:
BEN GILBY: Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix. One word – “wow”.
DENISE DUFFY: Lack of cameras. In the closing minutes of a 3-3 tie in one of the most riveting matches of the season, Mickey Roberston scored. Or did she? There were no good camera angles of it. Fans were left scratching their heads. There were consultations between the referee and the assistant. She was deemed offside. Not enough cameras and deficient production quality remains at the top of my list for improvements for this league.
JONATHAN TAY: Wellington Phoenix overcame a red card, a two-goal deficit, and the hot Brisbane weather to earn a remarkable comeback 3-3 draw against the Roar. The Phoenix showed tremendous resilience to battle back from a 2-0 hole and Kate Taylor’s 27th-minute dismissal, in stark contrast to a dangerously complacent Brisbane side. Wellington almost emerged victorious late in the chaotic contest with Michaela Robertson’s 93rd minute effort ruled offside. Post-match, Phoenix head coach Nat Lawrence said, “The heart, determination and fight of this group was shown. When you look at the character, I can’t be anything but proud of the whole group.”
RYAN MILLER-WOODS: Wellington Phoenix’s comeback against Brisbane Roar. To come back from 2-0 down is impressive enough in itself but to do that whilst having just 10 players for the majority of the match and very nearly winning is another thing altogether.
BEN CAREY: Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix. Six goals. A red card. A goal-line clearance. Three shots hitting the woodwork in the last 20 minutes. A defender scoring from more than 30 yards. This match had everything. It was a chaotic and absolutely engrossing rollercoaster ride.
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