By Kieran Yap 3/2/26
Above: New South Melbourne signing Bella Wallhead. Photo: Kou Media
The new Victorian NPLW season is only weeks away, and as usual there has been plenty of player movement. Impetus looks at some of the most exciting club-to club transfers of the 2026 pre-season.
Anais Josefski: Bulleen Lions to Alamein FC.
The rapid wide forward arrives after a season at Bulleen Lions. The talented former Melbourne Victory train-on player has pace to burn and is a good finisher, but found game time limited while sharing a position with Danella Butrus and Alana Cortellino at The Lions but still managed a solid return of three goals in 13 appearances.
Josefski’s best form in the NPLW Vic has come at Boroondara Eagles FC, where she started 21 out of a possible 22 games and scored an impressive 10 goals for the club, this followed her 2023 season at Box Hill where she enjoyed a similar ratio with six goals from 12 appearances.
Josefski should be a good fit for Alamein. Her pace makes her a threat and prevents defences from sitting too high when in possession. If she gets loose on a counter attack or in space on the wing, all the opposition can do is hope.
Asuka Miyata: Heidelberg Utd to Avondale FC.
You could kick a ball at a team photo of Avondale’s squad and any player you hit would qualify as a major player in this league. The newly promoted side clearly means business and have recruited strongly to support the big names already there like former Gold Medal winner Kurea Okino and Elise Kellond-Knight.
Avondale have coaxed Beattie Goad and World Cup goalscorer Hannah Wilkinson back onto the pitch, but have also added Isabel Accardo and Sidney Allen to the squad, along with Heidelberg’s set piece genius Cameron Barriero. This is essentially and all-star team on paper.
Included in that glittering roster is one of the most deadly midfielders of 2025. Japanese playmaker Asuka Miyata. After lifting two trophies at Heidelberg, Miyata has been snared by the ambitious newcomers.
After two highly impactful season’s Miyata should hit the ground running and can be the chief creative force to supply Avondale’s enviable attack.
She is a crafty, tricky midfielder who can move from box to box and drive the play forward. Miyata is the type of midfielder who is brilliantly skilled as an individual but also improves those around her. Expect her to play another key role in 2026.
Alyssa Dall ‘Oste: Perth Glory to Bulleen Lions.
One of the states finest goalkeepers has arrived at the Veneto Club as Bulleen look to go at least one step further this season.
Bulleen have made strong signings around the park. Olivia Bomford has joined from South Melbourne and Maja Markovski has returned to the club where she won a Gold Medal and earned an A-League Women move, Dall Oste brings top level experience between the sticks and gives Bulleen some serious depth in the goalkeeping department.
Bulleen now have Emily Shields, Erin Hudson and Dalle ‘Oste to choose from and the injury crisis that challenged them last season should be avoided. Dall ‘Oste joins after a short spell at Perth Glory and two seasons with Western United in the A-League Women. She has lifted NPLW trophies with Calder United and has the talent and experience to lift another at Bulleen.
Bella Sewards: South Melbourne to Essendon Royals
Unlike some clubs, Essendon have not had to deal with huge upheaval in their playing ranks. Key players like Sasha Coorey and Alessia Bresciano have remained, and fans will hope that Ava Groba is fully fit and back to her best.
The Royals have come close to success in the last two seasons with consecutive semi final appearances, and in signing Bella Sewards they clearly aim to maintain that run or improve on it.
Sewards arrives from South Melbourne and will effectively replace Grace Maher in the lineup. A long time star of this competition, Sewards provides an experienced presence in the middle of the park, who can also spark her team in the attacking third.
A creative and technical midfielder with the ability to score spectacular goals, Bella Sewards can improve this Essendon team. She is a quality signing for a club that is becoming accustomed to competing for honours.
Hayley Geurts: Boroondara Eagles to Heidelberg United.
The 2025 premiers have lost some players this season, but in Hayley Geurts thy have signed a versatile, experienced match winner. The former Boroondara star will likely be one of the most impactful arrivals at the Olympic Village, in a year that looks transitional on first appearance.
Geurts is an ambidextrous full back or midfielder who can take set pieces with either foot. Her ability to score from free kicks should offset the departure of Barreiro and she can provide the Warriors with valuable leadership following the retirement of icon Steph Galea.
It sounds like a lot to ask of a new arrival, but Geurts has the ability and on field temperament to do it. On top of that, she is a terrifically consistent and entertaining player. A genuine star of this league and one that will add to Heidelberg’s NPLW highlight reel.
Georgia Karaparidis: Box Hill United Melbourne City
Melbourne City’s first NPLW side is stacked with talent. Former South Melbourne goalkeeper and Junior Matilda Dali Gorr-Burchmore, Heidelberg premiership winner Caitlin Karic and Bulleen prodigy Mary Brown have all been snared by the potential new powerhouse.
They can also boast the likes of Kaya Jugovic, Danella Butrus and Bryleeh Henry, although the A-League season may impact their availability in the NPLW.
They have also signed one of the stars in Box Hill’s grand final winning campaign. Georgia Karaparidis is a tricky, entertaining and dynamic forward who can twist defenders into knots and finish off chances. While the eventual surge to silverware was largely propelled by their experienced players, Karaparidis was one of those keeping the club in contention before the big names arrived mid season in 2025 and she firmly established herself as a star.
A player good enough to change games, and one with the maturity to handle that responsibility, Karaparidis is still very much at the beginning of her career and has plenty of improvement left in her game, but was one to watch last season and is likely to star again in 2026.
Yuka Sato: Bulleen Lions to Bentleigh Greens
Bentleigh Greens have a strong squad coming into this season. Julia Budiongo will provde a target and goal threat and Candela Ferreyra-Bas can be a creative spark. In recruiting Yuka Sato from Bulleen Lions, they have player who can control a game.
The Japanese midfielder is fast, technical and can move the ball between the lines. She is capable of chipping in with a goal, but her real strengths are in creating chances for her teammates.
There are players who can score at Bentleigh, Sato is the perfect signing to provide them with chances.
Emily Rutkowski: FV Academy to Melbourne Victory.
Rutkowski was one of the standout players in the second half of the 2025 season, the versatile fullback arrived back at FV Academy after a time with Victory as a train-on player and it was a surprise to some that she did not return to the A-League setup immediately for the current season.
She’s back now, and one of the stand out signings for the club’s inaugural Under 23 program.
Rutkowski can play on either flank at either fullback or on the wing and can score spectacular goals. Victory have a side stacked with the competition’s best young talent and will likely be one of the leagues most entertaining teams, Rutkowski is likely to play a big part in that style. Reunited with her FV Acamedy coach Santi Escudero, she is likely to enjoy the same trust and freedom to play her natural game.
Looking at Victory as a development squad, Rutkowski’s season should be followed keenly by fans of the A-League. The senior team has struggled to consistently fill the right back position, and Rutkowski could be a long term solution.
For now though, just enjoy the show.
Dragana Kljajic: South Melbourne to Preston Lions
Dragana Kljajic has swapped Lakside for B.T Connor Reserve in a huge coup for The Lions.
The former South Melbourne winger is a crucial addition to a side still boasting Ellie La Monte in attack and help create or convert chances at her new home
Kljajic is an entertaining and direct forward, who started last season strongly at South. She is an excellent cross of the ball, but Preston might want to get her into the box more and use her movement and ability to get on the end of the chances La Monte routinely creates.
This is a smart piece of business by a club looking to return to trophy contention, Kljajic is a proven player in the NPLW, should adjust quickly to her new team and is sure to make an impact.
Isabella Wallhead: South Melbourne
South Melbourne secured on of the biggest moves of this off season when they signed Western Australian talent Bella Wallhead from rivals Heidelberg United.
Wallhead is one of the league’s finest central defenders, was a standout performer for Heidelberg last season and most observers were in shock that she was not signed to an A-League Women club in 2026.
This is all to South Melbourne’s gain. Wallhead will make South much harder to score against, and can help them build from the back. She will also be reunited with former Bergers teammates Danielle Micalleff, although the two play at opposite ends of the pitch.
This is a huge signing. Wallhead is a highly consistent, prodigiously talented, modern defender who dominates games from the back.
South have simply signed one of the best players in the NPLW.
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