by Ben Gilby (29/5/24)
Above: Abbey Meakins (dark blue shirt) battling away for Balcatta Etna against her former side Perth SC earlier this season. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.
To further complement Impetus‘ coverage of the NPLW WA competition in 2024, we’ve assembled a group of people who are watching the competition’s matches especially closely to identify the competition’s most consistent players each month. For the second month of the season, Ben Gilby, Kelechi Osunwa, Tommy Dolman, and Ava-Marianne Elliott produced a five-player long list from which May’s winner was selected.
The Shortlist – May 2024
Emily Dinsdale (UWA-Nedlands):
A player taking part in her first season on NPLW WA football for the league’s newest team, Emily Dinsdale is emerging as an increasingly influential player who has taken to this higher level of football like a duck to water. Her vision, tracking, and runs have been apparent from the very earliest period of the campaign, and she has also found the net as her team looks to consolidate their spot in the competition.
Matilda Bohm (Perth SC):
It’s been an excellent May for The Azzurri and whilst their 15 goals scored may have taken the headlines, they only conceded three times. One of the key reasons for that stat is the outstanding form of Bohm. Her strong presence and excellent reading of the game see her get deserved recognition as one of the best players around the league this month. Just when you think Bohm cannot get better or more influential to her team, she steps it up ever further.
Jess Flannery (Perth SC)
It’s been a joy to watch Flannery in these early rounds of the season. The attacker has formed a lethally telepathic relationship with Ella Lincoln as her side are racking up the wins and the goals. Flannery has hit the back of the net four times during the month and, as both her and her new look team gel further grow, all eyes fall on the Azzurri‘s huge game with Perth RedStar the weekend after next. If Flannery plays to her full potential in that match, it’s going to be a heck of a watch. She’s had an outstanding May.
Sarah Carroll (Perth RedStar):
Sarah Carroll is an integral part of the Perth RedStar team. When she becomes influential in a match, it’s a sure sign that the champions are on their way to gaining and holding onto the upper hand in the match. Carroll has the enviable ability to attack along the flanks as well as having the nous to make runs into the channels, find colleagues with perfectly weighted passes and chip in with more than her fair share of goals. On top of those attributes, she has an excellent defensive brain as well. The former Perth Glory player has the experience and ability to guide her less experienced teammates – and she has been in outstanding form this month.
Impetus NPLW WA Player of the Month for May 2024:
Abbey Meakins (Balcatta Etna):
Eleven goals in eight games this season – seven of which came this month alone. It’s fair to say that Abbey Meakins is back to her best after a frustrating wrist injury that occurred in a freak training incident last season. It’s not just about the goals though, she is reaping the rewards of the creativity around her of Jamie-Lee Gale and Lucy Jerram as Balcatta look to take the step up to silverware contenders across all competitions this season. If Meakins can keep her form at this level, then there could be exciting times ahead at Grindleford Reserve this season – she is the deserved winner of this month’s award.
Impetus NPLW WA Player of the Month Award Winners 2024
April: Ella Lincoln (Perth SC).
May: Abbey Meakins (Balcatta Etna).
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