10/3/23
ADELAIDE UNITED:
Local forward Chrissy Panagaris has signed for Adelaide United for the remainder of the season from NPLW South Australia side Adelaide Comets to bolster the club’s offensive stocks.
Panagaris has signed as an injury replacement for Emily Condon, who has been ruled out for the rest of the 2022/23 campaign but will not be available for tomorrow’s home game with Perth Glory, along with seven other players.
“Chrissy is a quality forward who definitely knows where the back of the net is, scoring 26 goals in 21 games across all competitions last year,” Adelaide United head coach Adrian Stenta said.
“Chrissy has had some experience with our professional set-up as a train-on player in the past and has continued to work hard to take the next step in her career. We’re very happy to be affording this opportunity to someone who has continued to improve and impress on the park.
“At the same time, it is disappointing to have Emily ruled out for the rest of this season. Her ongoing groin issues have hampered what was set to be another strong season from her, but we hope she will be able to rest and recover and get back to her best as soon as possible.”
Following last week’s departures of Chelsie Dawber and Xiao Yuyi, after the conclusions of their loans, Abby Middleton has also departed to seek further playing opportunities with Football South Australia’s NTC.
In unfortunate injury news, Hannah Holgersen, who signed a short-term contract ahead of Adelaide’s game against Canberra United last week, suffered a knee injury during her debut and will be sidelined for the foreseeable future.
“Hannah suffered a very unfortunate injury after coming on against Canberra last weekend and this will see her out for a number of weeks. We are hopeful, though, for both Ella Tonkin and Sasha Coorey to return to action in the next couple of weeks, which will be welcomed by the whole squad.
“Ella has been out since round three as a result of the fractured foot she sustained and Sasha has been sidelined for the last month and a half.
“Both players have worked very hard to get back to full fitness before the end of the season and we’re looking forward to having them back in a competitive capacity.”
Also absent tomorrow are Emilia Murray and Grace Wilson who are still on international duty with the Young Matildas.
MELBOURNE CITY:
by Ben Gilby
Melbourne City head coach Dario Vidosic is convinced that his side are in a good place going into Monday’s derby with Melbourne Victory.
After a period where his side were regularly losing players due to injury or international call-ups, Vidosic revealed that the return of further players joining Cote Rojas and Holly McNamara in contention for selection is not far away.
“Naomi (Chinnama) and ‘Bubs’ (Melissa Barbieri) are the most likely to be back. In the coming week or two Naomi could play. She is back in training with modifications. We’ve basically got the same squad available as last week.”
“Dani (Galic) is back on Sunday after Young Matildas duty after a very long flight. It’s hard having injuries, and KK being out for Victory, that’s hard too…the league needs all its best players on the pitch.
“We’ve got good quality and good young players that are ready if required. It is what it it. The way we work, everyone understands what is required in any specific moment. We’ve got people who are ready to come in, slot in, and play their part.”
Vidosic did identify that whilst it was a major boost to bring Rojas and McNamara back into the squad last week, it took a while for his side’s new-look attack to function to its full potential.
“We’ve reintroduced Cote after a couple of months, we’ve introduced Holly (McNamara) for the first time this season…we have goals in us, but just need to put chances away when they come. Sometimes we force it a bit too much, but we’re working on it.”
Rojas and McNamara joined New Zealand international Hannah Wilkinson up front against Newcastle Jets in a potent three-pronged attack. The City boss was coy about whether or not they will be deployed in the same way on Monday.
“All three have different qualities, and every opponent is different so we adapt to that. If we’re targeting a specific side, or how we want to defend, we look at how we want to approach the game, and then, with the quality of those players, we put them in the positions that will cause the opponents the most problems. It’s working out the runs, and the positions they need to take up.”
With Melbourne Victory needing to secure three points to hold off the challenge of Canberra United and Perth Glory for a Finals berth, Vidosic is expecting a tough test, but he feels his coaching staff have done more than enough homework to overcome anything the opposition can throw at City.
“It’s derby week, it’s a game that all of Australia looks forward to men’s or women’s. Both teams are in the hunt for finals, so it should be a great game.
“Last time, they were in a mid-block against us. They probably tried to play more on the counterattack. Whether or not it will be the same, I have reviewed their last few games and saw them at AAMI Park last time. We’ve seen a couple of things, they have had two weeks to prepare specifically for us having had the bye.”
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