3/3/25
Above: Impetus’ A-League Women player of the month for February, Chelsie Dawber. Photo: Adelaide United.
Each month, Impetus‘ team of writers and photographers who cover the competition will vote to decide their best player, head coach, and young player in the A-League Women. Here are the winners from February.
Player of the month
Chelsie Dawber (Adelaide United)
Chelsie Dawber is playing the best football of her career. The Adelaide United forward has been excellent this season, but in February she played in a way that should put her into Matildas contention.
Dawber scored twice, once against Canberra United and another against Perth Glory, but her movement and combinations with Erin Healy and Fiona Worts have helped Adelaide into the top three on the ladder.
Her one-touch finish against Canberra United was the standout moment in a terrific month. Dawber helped start the move when she received the ball on the right and swept it wide to Healy. She then ran out to the left side of the pitch as Worts moved in the opposite direction to draw defenders and open up the space. The finish was so precise and well struck that it looked like a free kick, starting on one side of the goalkeeper but curling to the other.
It was a goal of class, work rate and chemistry, it was Chelsie Dawber at her best.
At the end of February, Dawber sits on seven goals, just a few shy of her previous best tally of 10. But while in the 2021/22 season, she played predominantly on the right, in this campaign Dawber has been a much more mobile, dangerous and creative forward. She creates chances for others and finishes ones herself.
Chelsie Dawber is Impetus’ February Player of the Month.
Young Player of the month
Jessika Nash (Central Coast Mariners)
Jessika Nash may be only 20, but for most of February has been the most experienced player in the Central Coast Mariners defence. They are not short of quality, but Taylor Ray is a star midfielder, and Sarah Rowe is a dangerous winger. Along with Annabel Martin, Nash is one of only two actual defenders in that lineup, and has been a key reason why Emily Husband’s team continues to push for finals and be hard to beat.
Nash is one of the very best central defenders in the league, her passing and composure allowed Central Coast to build from the back, and her positioning and leadership has been on full display over the last month.
She has been one of the recruits of the season, and showed exactly why in February.
Head Coach of the month
Adrian Stenta
What a 2025 it has been for Adelaide United. Unbeaten in ten matches with seven wins in the process, Adrian Stenta has moulded an excellent system and a group of talented players to stand on the brink of only the club’s second spot in the Finals.
An impressive close season recruitment campaign, which included the return of deadly strike duo Chelsie Dawber and Fiona Worts gave warning of what was possible in South Australia after a disappointing few campaigns.
Stenta has played a huge part in creating an environment that players want to play in, and one that brings out the best of them. Several of Adelaide’s best players have departed to clubs perceived to be bigger and better, but never quite reached the heights of performance that they did under Stenta’s stewardship. That isn’t coincidence.
Speaking to Impetus at the end of January, Worts highlighted the huge influence that the Reds’ head coach has on his players, when she said: “It’s…about creating a supportive environment where everyone could enjoy themselves. When that’s the case, you can just see what happens. I think that’s where we’ve thrived in the past—when the environment is great, everyone enjoys being around each other and playing football together.
“The coach creates that environment and drives the idea that we’re a team. We’re going to do it together, go out there, do the best we can, and see what happens.”
Adelaide United are on a red hot record form. With Stenta leading the way and his players running through walls for him, anything is possible.
Impetus‘ A-League Award Winners 2024/25:
November 2024:
Player: Tameka Yallop (Brisbane Roar).
Young Player: Sarah O’Donoghue (Perth Glory).
Head Coach: Alex Smith (Brisbane Roar).
December 2024:
Player: Laini Freier (Brisbane Roar).
Young Player: Tiana Fuller (Central Coast Mariners).
Head Coach: Michael Matricciani (Melbourne City).
January 2025:
Player: Leticia McKenna (Melbourne City).
Young Player: Alyssa Whinham (Wellington Phoenix).
Head Coach: Jeff Hopkins (Melbourne Victory).
February 2025:
Player: Chelsie Dawber (Adelaide United).
Young Player: Jessika Nash (Central Coast Mariners).
Head Coach: Adrian Stenta (Adelaide United).
Follow Impetus on social media –
Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball
Instagram: @impetusfootball
impetusfootball.org 