Bulleen Lions 4-2 Heidelberg United
By Kieran Yap 8/1/25
Above: Erin Hudson lifts the Community Shield with the Bulleen Lions Photo: Bulleen Lions
Bulleen Lions have started off 2025 by lifting the Community shield. Caitlin Freind’s new look attack was in sparkling form as they defeated last season’s Grand Final winners 4-2 at The Home of The Matildas.
There were changes to both lineups. Heidelberg United are without Alana Jancevski and Sara O’Donoghue, both were stars of the 2024 campaign but are currently in the A-League. While talismanic captain Steph Galea was on the bench after recently recovering from an off-season injury.
Bulleen have undergone a significant mini rebuild in the off-season. With Maja Markovski and Alana Cortellino at Canberra United and Western United respectively, The Lions recruited strongly and named speedster Anais Josefski in attack with the craft duo of Rosie Rodger and Danella Butrus. Former Gold Medal winner Sarah Cain also started for Caitlin Freind’s enviable looking lineup.
The defending champions hit the scoreboard first, with Bronte Peel scoring in the 12th minute. Bulleen would answer emphatically with three goals in rapid succession before half time.
Butrus got off to the best possible start at her new club with a free kick in the 30th minute that curled beyond Mia Bailey in the ‘Bergers goal.
Grace Cagnina scored another from a scrambled effort after a corner kick seemingly seconds later, with Josefski finished her chance to make it 3-1. The game had turned and The Lions went into the break in a commanding position.
Bulleen seemed in control for much of the second half, but Heidelberg had their moments in attack. Keely Lockhart was a standout for The Bergers, as dangerous and persistent as ever, and proving a handful for the Bulleen defence whenever she was on the ball.
Bulleen extended their lead in the 80th minute. Rosie Rodger finished with precision from outside of the box and while the result looked assured, whenever Heidelberg are involved there is always more to come.
Asuka Miyata provided some hope, and the drama neutrals craved. She cleverly beat her defender and scored with a rocket from the top of the 18 yard box.
At 4-2 it looked impossible, but Bulleen fans still waited nervously for the final whistle. A repeat of Heidelberg’s Grand Final heroics was not out of the question, but the final whistle blew and in the end it was a deserved win by the 2024 NPLW premiers.
Bulleen lifted the first of a possible four pieces of silverware for this season, but they will have bigger fish to fry in 2025, and they have the players to launch another premiership challenge and make it three in a row. That three of their goals were scored by new faces is a hugely promising sign, and the idea of them getting stronger as a team throughout the year is an exciting one.
Heidelberg have retained their ability to score from almost nothing and fight out games until the end. They will improve as they settle, and perhaps some more new signings arrive. Once Galea can start they suddenly become a much more dangerous prospect in attack.
This was an early trophy decided, but this is also all prelude. If this game is anything to go by, the 2025 NPLW Victoria season is going to be another high quality and very entertaining one.
Teams: BULLEEN LIONS: Shields, Rodger, O’Bryan, Molloy, Massey, Josefski, Golden, Cain, Cagnina, Butrus, Bulic. Substitutes: Brown, Kozomara, McGorian, Salleh, Sallese.
Scorers: Butrus 30′, Cagnina 33′, Josefski 37′, Rodger 80′.
HEIDELBURG UNITED: Bailey, Barreiro, Burke, Curwood-Wagner, Heysen, Lockhart, Matsuda, Miyata, Peel, Tancin, Wild. Substitutes: Vlahopoulos, Kyriacou, Ingles, Galea, Draai, Bitzios.
Scorers: Peel 10′, Miyata 88′.
Referee: Angelique Mangion.
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