Each week during the home and away season, Impetus’ team of writers and photographers covering the competition 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 Finals, will announce our winners for 2022/23 (27/3/23).
Player of the Week:
BEN GILBY: Whilst she may have played not much more than half an hour for Perth Glory against Melbourne City, Cyera Hintzen‘s influence was such that she takes my vote this week. Alex Epakis has been calling her the “competition’s benchmark number nine” for a while now, and the American is on fire right now for Perth.
KIERAN YAP: Michelle Heyman. On the day that she broke the appearance record for the A-League Women, Heyman put in another vintage performance. There was one assist to her name, but there is a real fear factor about her when she’s on the ball. It was a must win game for Canberra United and she stood tall.
JONATHAN TAY: Though Cyera Hintzen only played 30 minutes for Perth Glory on Sunday against Melbourne City, she absolutely stole the show, notching two assists and a goal in a second half thriller at Macedonia Park. Glory initially struggled to gain a foothold in the match, before Hintzen changed the game, flicking on a corner for Sadie Lawrence to nod home and bring Perth level. The American later found Hana Lowry at the top of the box to fire Glory’s third goal, before scything through a backpedalling City defence to slot home a goal of her own.
BEN CAREY: Cyera Hintzen. She came off the bench at the one hour mark when Perth Glory were down 1-0 and completely turned the game around with two assists and a goal. Absolutely insane perfomance.
Coach of the Week:
BEN GILBY: Alex Epakis. His Perth Glory team were doing it tough against Melbourne City. Yet, the belief and desire he has instilled in this squad to produce incredible achievements when their backs are against the wall continues.
KIERAN YAP: Garrath McPherson. Brisbane Roar have not lost to Victory in over a year. McPherson seems to know how to beat the reigning champions or at least stifle them better than most.
JONATHAN TAY: Njegosh Popovich. Canberra United’s inexorable rise continued, knocking off second-placed Western United on Saturday. It’s been a huge turnaround in form from the two 5-0 losses (one of them to Western) they suffered in January, picking up points in every match since. On the weekend they consistently stretched their Victorian opponents and created regular chances throughout the game. They now sit level on points with Melbourne Victory in fourth place and go into next weekend knowing a win books their spot in the Finals.
BEN CAREY: Njegosh Popovich. He guided his team to an emphatic 3-0 win over league leaders Western United and kept their finals hopes very much alive.
Event of the Week:
BEN GILBY: Michelle Heyman breaking the competition’s all-time appearance record. Another outstanding achievement from a total legend of the sport.
KIERAN YAP: Hana Lowry’s goal. She has steadily taken more responsibility for the team this season and her goal against City was an encapsulation of her recent form. A wonderful goal when her team needed it most.
JONATHAN TAY: Perth Glory’s 4-3 win over Melbourne City. Not a lot of games will top Perth Glory’s chaotic 4-3 win over Melbourne City on Sunday. The sides combined for six goals in an end-to-end second half, in a match which saw five lead changes and had it all. Glory scored two goals in the space of a minute to overturn a 1-0 deficit, before City equalised just three minutes later. Glory then retook the lead, scoring another two goals within the space of seven minutes, withstanding a barrage of 32 City shot attempts in total to come away victorious. The result dragged both sides into a dogfight for the top four, with just four points separating third to sixth. The fact this was veteran Kim Carroll’s last home game before retiring made it all the more special.
BEN CAREY: Perth Glory v Melbourne City. This match was absolutely wild. For the majority of the match it looked for all the world like it was going to be a straightforward 1-0 victory for City. And then Hintzen came on and the rollercoaster ride began. Two Glory goals in a minute. An equaliser from City. A total of six goals after the 70 minute mark. Absolute chaos, and enthralling to watch.
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