Premier winners Bulleen complete victory lap against relegation threatened Calder. Four goals from a sensational Maja Markovski alongside a double from Nia Salleh and goals from Lourdes Gonazalez and Yuka Sato completed the rout.
Gonzalez opened the scoring for the champions, after a well worked short corner ended up at the feet of Gonzalez. She used her body well to turn her marker and curled the ball home from inside the box.
Markovski was next on the score sheet only four minutes later. Bulleen were able to win the ball back deep in Calder’s half. Rosie Rodger slipped an excellent ball into Markovski who poked the ball underneath an onrushing Natalie Picak to double the home side’s advantage.
The goal scoring floodgates were well and truly opened in the second half, their third goal coming just after the resumption of the game. Alana Cortellino was able to whip the ball into the box from the byline towards Salleh. Salleh first attempt was saved but a kind rebound gave her a simple finish to make it three
Salleh bagged her second and Bullen’s fourth in spectacular fashion. An audacious effort straight from a corner kick that neither Picak or the Calder defence could deal with, the ball flew into the net.
For the remained of the game, it was the Markovski show. Sheturned provider for the fifth goal. Again, Calder did themselves no favours giving the ball away in dangerous areas. This time, Alana Burn won the ball back and found Markovski on the left-hand side. Markovski fashioned space in the box and cut the ball back to Sato to fire home.
Markovski added a sixth after good work from Salleh from the right. Her cross was pushed out by Picak to Cortellino on the opposing wing. Western United’s new signing had plenty of time at the back post to find Markovski to hammer the ball into the roof of the net.
Her hattrick goal and Bulleen’s seventh was soon to follow. Salleh’s corner was headed by an unmarked Markovski in the six-yard box. Her initial header was saved but tapped in the follow up to make it seven.
But she was not finished just yet. Markovski isolated Maia Heysen and drove at her with real intent. After escaping the defender, her first attempt was well saved by Picak. However,she capitalised on a dawdling defence to get to the ball first and get her fourth and Bullen’s eighth goal of the game.
This result concluded an excellent season for Bulleen. They next face Essendon who were the only team to beat Bulleen twice in the regular season.
Calder finish the season rock bottom of the league and now face relegation just two years after being winning the Grand Final.
by Freya Ward at The City Ground for Impetus(25/8/24).
Above: The city ground- new home of Forest women Photo: Aimee Reynolds- Impetus
Today saw Nottingham Forest Women play the first of all their Home League games in the 24/25 campaign at the City Ground. The Reds put on a show for the fans in a 7-0 win over Sporting Khalsa continuing their positive run, which they started in the opening week of the season in a 3-0 victory over Stoke City, with such a dominant performance.
Forest were the stronger side from the first kick of the ball, instantaneously putting pressure on the visitors, just five minutes into the game Khalsa’s defence was tested by an attacking run of play resulting in a goal-line scramble from the hosts- but ultimately Khalsa’s defence came out on top. The Reds continued to pile the pressure on-winning themselves the first corner of the game, but it was nothing that debutant Elise Stocking couldn’t handle from between the sticks.
This positive run of play continued into the 20th minute where Sophie Domingo broke the deadlock, slotting the ball straight past Stocking and into the back of the net. The visitor’s backline quickly turned things around though, dealing with an incredible attempt that came from linkup play between Freya Thomas and Mel Johnson just a couple of minutes later, which made doubling their lead seem almost certain for the home side. Fortunatley for the reds they did infact double their lead 10 minutes later with a Rocket of a ball plummeting straight into the back of the net from Thomas.
For the remainder of the first half the visitors managed to slow Forests momentum down keeping the scoreline at a managable 2-0 going into the second half.
Forest started the second half with serious momentum with a ball from Mel Johnson narrowly missing the post, unfortunately for Khalsa it wasn’t long before Forests tested their defence again, resulting in an own goal for Szymkowiak as she tried to cut the ball across the box, just five minutes into the half.
The home side continued to keep possession of the ball, and with plenty of opportunities being created, it took the Reds only 10 more minutes to find their next goal- centre-back Mollie Green Rocketed the ball from outside the box straight into the top right corner, almost certainly securing the three points for Forest. The home side made a triple substitution to keep their momentum – this worked wonders for the Reds with the next goal coming from Holly Manders fresh off the bench.
Above: Forest’s third goalscorer of the day Mollie Green. Photo: Aimee Reynolds for Impetus.
Charlie Wellings opened up her account for the day with Forests sixth of the afternoon, with just 10 minutes to go, although the scoreline was getting heavier for Khalsa they didn’t go down without a fight, Forest’s entire frontline all seemed to touch the ball in a scramble at an open goal but the visitors dealt with it incredibly and kept the scoreline as it was.
Capitalising on this defensive win, Khalsa managed to gain their first opportunity of the game, weaving the ball through forests defence – who were caught off guard. It seemed as though the scoreline could well and truly have a slightly more positive ending for Khalsa but the ball left Walker’s foot awkwardly and skied over the bar, the offside flag was quick to follow regardless.
Forest finished the game with one final press in the 88th minute, Bridget galloway provided an absolute masterclass on the ball, back-heeling it to Sophie Domingo who played it back to Galloway just inside the box where she was able to fire the ball into the back of the net for forests seventh and final goal of the afternoon.
Ben Gilbyprovides a full review of this weekend’s action, including a photography gallery from Rob Lizzi (26/8/24).
Above:Perth RedStar celebrate their third successive NPLW WA championship after their 3-3 draw with Balcatta Etna yesterday. Photo: Football West/Fotoenzo.
Perth RedStar 3-3 Balcatta Etna
Above: Abbey Meakins, scorer of Balcatta Etna’s equaliser at Perth RedStar captured in action earlier in the season. Photo: Denyse RM Photography.
Balcatta Etna continued their excellent run of form by coming from 3-1 down to earn a point at RedStar Arena against the newly crowned NPLW WA champions.
Pete Rakic’s side gave RedStar a real run for their money, particularly in the last 20 minutes of this encounter which once again bodes well for the most competitive Top Four Cup so far in the coming weeks.
RedStar took the lead with only 150 seconds on the clock as Momoko Sakairi played a long ball forward from the centre of the pitch towards Caitlin Doeglas on the left-hand side. Doeglas turned New Zealand international Liz Anton and turned a low ball into the six-yard box for July’s Impetus NPLW WA Player of the Month, Olivia Wood to sweep home.
It got better still for the home side as they doubled their advantage 10 minutes before the break with a sublime piece of individual skill from Doeglas. A free kick was pumped into the mix, and after a bout of head tennis in the area, Doeglas side-footed a sensational volley into the net.
GOAL! 34:58
Goal in the NPLWA – Women's competition for Perth Redstar W in the Perth Redstar W vs Balcatta Etna FC W match at Redstar Arena.
The second half opened with a bang as the visitors halved the deficit with only 48 seconds played. Kat Jukic found Nikayla Hughes with a well-judged ball between two red shirts. Hughes’ perfectly weighted side-footed pass forward for Carys Davis was stopped by the on-rushing RedStar keeper Gabby Dal Busco, but the ball fell perfectly for Monique Prinsloo to lift over her former Balcatta teammate and into the top left corner.
The champions restored their two-goal cushion with 25 minutes remaining as excellent work on the left between Sakairi, Jayna Ridley, and Wood saw the ball crossed in. Balcatta initially cleared, but only as far as Doeglas on the edge of the box who turned and lifted yet another sensational goal into the net.
GOAL! 65:21
Goal in the NPLWA – Women's competition for Perth Redstar W in the Perth Redstar W vs Balcatta Etna FC W match at Redstar Arena.
But Balcatta were not beaten. With six minutes to go they received renewed hope as Prinsloo pounced on a misplaced pass to take a touch, turn Mischa Anderson, and guide a side-footed finish into the left-hand corner from the edge of the box.
Then, with just over a minute of regular time remaining, Balcatta were awarded a free-kick in the ‘D’. Up-stepped Abbey Meakins to add to her collection of superb free-kick goals with a powerful finish flying into the right-hand side.
GOAL! 88:50
Goal in the NPLWA – Women's competition for Balcatta Etna FC W in the Perth Redstar W vs Balcatta Etna FC W match at Redstar Arena.
Photo gallery from the match supplied to Impetus by Rob Lizzi
Fremantle City 0-0 UWA-Nedlands
UWA-Nedlands gained a superb point at Fremantle City in their bid to avoid bottom spot on the ladder.
It was a game of few clear cut chances, but the ones that did come fell Freo’s way.
With less than eight minutes on the clock, Abbey Green broke through several attempted tackles but couldn’t beat Morgan Springer in the UWA-Nedlands goal.
With half an hour played, Green escaped again along the left flank and pulled a low ball across for Tanika Lala, but the striker saw her shot roll agonisingly wide of the right-hand post.
Much of the first half was channelled into the middle third of the park. Janice Kiama, Green, Tanika Lala, and Alex Poad were the key influencers for the home side, but they couldn’t find the breakthrough. UWA-Nedlands were exceptionally well disciplined and organised at the back. Their work ethic and desire on top of ability were reaping rewards.
In the second period, the home side dominated the territory, but chances remained few and far between. On the hour mark, from a corner on the right, Sophie Meaden saw a shot from the edge of the box go wide.
Green conjured up one final golden opportunity two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the game when she broke through to be one-on-one with Springer, but the American denied the Fremantle attacker with an excellent save.
There were several knocks sustained in the second half for players on both sides that saw them have to leave the field – and with hugely important games still had for these teams at either end of the ladder, it is to be hoped that these do not turn out to be serious. Lala was led off in the final 10 minutes for the home side, with the UWA-Nedlands pair of Franca Dobbin and Andrea Preiato also substituted off in pain.
Subiaco 3-7 Hyundai NTC
Above: Nelli Johnson (17) prepares to crash home the NTC’s seventh goal at Subiaco yesterday. Photo: Football West NTC.
Six second-half goals saw the NTC come from behind to gain a big win at Rosalie Park in an incredible game.
The visitors hit the front with 26 minutes played as Klaudia Houlis received the ball in a central position on the edge of the ‘D’ to turn and send a low shot into the right-hand corner of the net.
Subi levelled just three minutes later. Stella Zampogna pressured the NTC defence who had possession on the left flank and squared for Marianna Tabain in the middle of the park on the edge of the box to hit a superb finish into the left of the net.
The home side took the lead six minutes before the break as Zampogna again won possession from the visitors’ defence and squared to Cass Harvey who hit a first-time screamer from over 25 yards into the left-hand side of the goal.
GOAL! 38:58
Goal in the NPLWA – Women's competition for Subiaco AFC W in the Hyundai NTC W vs Subiaco AFC W match at Rosalie Park.
Ben Anderton’s side soon levelled after the re-start after the break thanks to Ischia Brooking netting with 50 minutes played.
Back came Subiaco, and with 25 minutes to play, took the lead once more with Tabain chasing down a backpass that didn’t have enough weight on it to get in first before the onrushing NTC keeper Jess Skinner, take it past her and direct the ball into the net.
That was as good as it got for the home side, within four minutes the NTC were on level terms at 3-3. Hannah Collins took up possession in the centre of the park and lifted a perfectly weighted pass out to Emily Garnett on the left flank. Garnett controlled the ball, turned, and lifted a sensational shot into the net from the left-hand edge of the box.
GOAL! 69:54
Goal in the NPLWA – Women's competition for Hyundai NTC W in the Hyundai NTC W vs Subiaco AFC W match at Rosalie Park.
It was the final 20 minutes that saw the NTC put their foot on the pedal hard to take control with four goals. They hit the front when Brooking’s corner from the left came in high and was met with a thumping header on the edge of the box from Violet Longmore.
Just five minutes later Brooking was involved again and secured her brace after Garnett popped up on the left and squared a ball to the A-League Women’s youngest-ever player who rocketed in a first-time shot from just outside of the area that flew into the left-hand corner.
Above: Theodora Mouthiys, scorer of the NTC’s sixth goal, in action at Subiaco yesterday. Photo: Football West NTC.
Into the final six minutes, the teenage visitors added their sixth as Theodora Mouthiys was played through and used a combination of her pace and upper body strength to hold off two players and direct a classy finish into the right-hand side.
The tenth of the afternoon came moments later with Violet Longmore’s throw-in on the left just outside of the area finding Nelli Johnson on the edge of the box. Johnson won the ball under heavy traffic, brought it under control, and fired a shot into the right-hand corner.
NPLW WA Ladder Round 20
Table From: Squadi.
Midweek catch-up Fixtures: Perth SC v Hyundai NTC (Tuesday 7:30pm).
Round 21 Fixtures:
FRIDAY: Murdoch University Melville v Fremantle City (8pm). SATURDAY: UWA-Nedlands v Balcatta Etna (1pm), Perth RedStar v Hyundai NTC (3pm), Perth SC v Subiaco (7pm).
Hyundai Women’s League Division One:
Round 18 of 21: Fremantle City W-L Sorrento, Murdoch University Melville 0-4 Perth AFC, Hamersley Rovers 1-1 UWA-Nedlands, Subiaco 2-1 Mandurah City.
Report by Ben Gilby, photographyfrom Rob Lizzi (25/8/24)
Above: Perth SC celebrate after scoring at Murdoch University Melville today. Photosupplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.
Perth SC produced an extremely impressive performance, with Georgia Cassidy having a hand in four of their five goals at Murdoch University Melville this afternoon.
The Azzurri were on the front foot from the start. Attacks were being focused along the left-hand side, and it took just six minutes for the opening goal to come from this channel.
From a throw-in midway into the MUM FC half, Ella Lincoln picked up possession as Ana Denona lost her footing and advanced towards the edge of the box. Looking up, the league’s top scorer saw Georgia Cassidy in space 12 yards out and fed the Young Matilda who finished with aplomb.
Above: Georgia Cassidy, who opened the scoring for Perth SC and had a hugely influential afternoon at Murdoch University Melville. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.
Lincoln was dropping out towards the left in order to make the most offensively of the opportunities being generated. It was allowing her to link up with Sam Mathers with the pair being a constant thorn in the hosts’ side in these early exchanges. This partnership not only allowed the pair spread the play, but to advance into the box to get shots away.
The first half chance for the hosts came 12 minutes in as Taylor Reid was found with a long ball, but Perth keeper Stacey Cavill came out to gather.
Moments later the visitors pushed forward again. Cassidy’s high ball into the box from the right found Charli Wainwright who was brought down by Danielle Brown on the left-hand edge of the box. The referee did not hesitate to award the penalty. Up stepped Lincoln to dispatch the spot kick to the left of centre.
Above: Ella Lincoln dispatches the penalty that put Perth SC 2-0 up at Murdoch University Melville today. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.
Perth SC were maximising possession. Quick offloads were forcing MUM FC to clock up the yards in fruitless chasing of the ball. The Azzurri were calm in possession, not forcing it, and confident to spread the play gradually across the pitch before upping the speed and intensity to get the ball into the box. All things added together, it was fiendishly hard for the hosts to gain any consistent possession, and the longer that went on, and the longer they were being pulled around the pitch, the less fuel would be in the MUM FC tank.
With 26 minutes played, the visitors extended their lead further with another move of quality. Baxter Thew fed Wainwright ahead of her in the centre of midfield. The young star beat Reid to find Cassidy outside on the right. The Perth Glory youngster pulled another quality ball into the box. Epril Nossent couldn’t make contact with her header at the near post, but Sam Mathers was coming in at the back stick to guide the ball home.
The Azzurri continued to push forward and with seven minutes remaining of the half, a long sweeping move ended with Daisy McAllister slamming a shot from the left-hand side from 20 yards that was well gathered by Annabel Cook in the home goal.
Just four minutes later the visitors had better luck with another excellent move. Lincoln turned and advanced towards goal before laying off to McAllister centrally positioned outside her who in turn found Cassidy on the right wing. Cassidy pumped another dangerous ball in which rebounded back off the angle of bar and post. The home defence could only clear as far as Mathers on the edge of the box to the left, and she sent a low shot in that bounced in front of Cook and into the net to send Perth SC in at the break 4-0 in front.
Danielle Brogan’s side continued their offensive dominance in the second period. Lincoln was brought down on the edge of the box on the left. Cassidy’s high curling free-kick came back off the bar for Murdoch University Melville to clear.
Within six minutes Cassidy was at it again with a set-piece that Cook failed to gather at the cost of a corner.
Above: Charli Wainwright (azure shirt far right) looks to close down Murdoch University Melville this afternoon. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.
Whilst the chances, more intermittent than in the opening 45, were still going Perth’s way, the home side had slightly more of the ball but were hampered by turning over that possession regularly under pressure from the Azzurri. They did carve out an opportunity on the hour mark when Ellis Glanfield broke through, but couldn’t get enough power in her shot to beat Cavill.
With 23 minutes remaining, McAllister was brought down around 25 yards from goal to the left of centre. Up stepped Kim McCartney to rifle a sensational free-kick high over the wall and into the left-hand corner of the net.
There were two further chances for the Azzurri to extend their lead further. First, Cassidy let fly with a long-range power drive that was blocked by Cook and cleared by her defence. Then, just before the final whistle, McKenna broke through and fed Nossent outside her on the flank. Play was then gradually transferred to the opposite wing via Cassidy to Wainwright who delivered a perfectly weighted ball for substitute Hannah Insch to break through and lift the ball over Cook, but the home defence managed to scramble the danger away.
Perth SC were relentless in their approach to this game, and there were signs in the first half in particular that an excellent partnership is beginning to bear fruit between Lincoln and Mathers which can only bode well for the Azzurri in the continued absence of Jess Flannery with the State Cup Final and Top Four Cup ahead.
This was a tough outcome for Murdoch University Melville, and with UWA-Nedlands picking up an excellent point at Fremantle City today as well, the gap between the bottom two is down to three points, with UWA-Nedlands having a game in hand.
Above: Tijan McKenna plays a ball in midfield for Perth SC this afternoon. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.
Photo: AFC Invitational winners in 2024. Photo via FIFPRO report.
Amid the excitement surrounding the launch of the Women’s Asian Champions League lies a harsh reality. As things stand now, it may not be the best thing for the players.
On the surface, it feels like the right step. A Women’s Champions League provides an opportunity for clubs to aim for more than just domestic silverware, and it means that players who may not be in a national team can still play at a higher level. However, a report commissioned by FIFPRO Asia/Oceania assessed the experiences of 88 players who took part in last year’s invitational tournament. The results are cause for concern.
What it reveals is that based on that pilot tournament, international club competition poses challenges for the players on an individual and collective level
-Less than two thirds (62%) identified as professional players.
-Less than half earned over $10,000 USD annually from football
-25% of players indicated that football was not their primary source of income
-Over half reported that the AWCC disrupted their domestic league seasons, with some players facing financial losses due to conflicts with non-football employment.
-Despite satisfactory accommodation, concerns were raised regarding local transport, high performance facilities and overall tournament readiness. 27% rated the local transport as poor, and 23% reported excessive strain from the tournament format.
Most concerning is that 39% of players who participated in the pilot tournament earn less than $5000 USD from football. While there is prize money available in The Champions League, it does feel like those players all of whom are dedicating at least 10 hours a week to football are at a disadvantage when it comes to winning it.
While women’s football is booming in interest throughout the world, and the AFC is correct in it’s aim to grow the sport in Asia, it is not sustainable or fair to do this to the detriment of the players.
In the case of an Australian team, (last year it was Sydney FC, this year it will be Melbourne City), the relatively higher wages guaranteed in the A-League Women do not make them immune.
More than half of the A-League Women players work a second job outside of football. Midweek fixtures are not only disruptive for the tournament, but cause a ripple effect of rescheduling later in the season.
Combined with the potential of international call-ups, the rescheduling has the ability to compound the workload and injury risk to players.
Only 39% of players felt physically prepared for the tournament, and 23% rated the condensed group format as one that neared “excessive strain.”
To make matters worse, all of this effort, travel and financial sacrifice was for a tournament that almost had no winner. The AFC called off the final due to domestic scheduling issues between the two finalists.
Eventually, the final between Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels and Uruwa Red Diamonds was held at the insistence of the clubs. But the feeling that the tournament was not taken seriously by the AFC organizers could not really be shaken.
If the AFC is to take heed of the issues raised by player remains to be seen, and things could improve when the 2024/25 edition of the tournament begins, but for that to happen things need to change urgently. Not everything can be fixed, but everything that can be fixed should be.
The report highlights communication between the AFC and the clubs as a key issue. Scheduling challenges and confusion around the final could gave been avoided with improved communication between the federation, clubs and players.
Collaboration is crucial rather than a top down decision making process. This will ensure that the competition provides the maximum benefit to all stakeholders and results in a better product.
81% of players that participated in the pilot tournament said that players should have more say in AFC decisions such as the structure, scheduling and financial elements.
Greater consultation would identify areas where the competition regulations imported from the men’s version are not appropriate or realistic to impose on part time athletes in a still developing game. In future additions, the tournament format or timing may need to change, and only ongoing consultation with the players will provide the best answers to this.
If done correctly, there is every chance that the Women’s Asian Champions League will be a great success and help grow the game in new ways. However, if the future editions of the tournament press ahead without acknowledging the ways it must be improved upon, the players will suffer, and the competition could become increasingly difficult, dangerous or even unsustainable for clubs and individuals.
While the Olympics wrapped up a week ago, a lot of us are still basking in the lovely memories it gave us. From Emma Hayes first medal with the USA team to Marta’s legendary departure from football, there are lot to reminisce about this magnificenttournament.
In this article, I will be taking a stab at the team of the tournament. To give a fair chance to all the performers, I will also be adding a section for substitutes.
Let’s see if you’d agree with my team.
Formation: 4-2-3-1:
Goalkeeper
Alyssa Naeher
This was a tough call between Ann-Katrin Berger whose heroic penalty saves was crucial to the Germans getting Bronze, and the USA legendary goal-keeper who put up a player of the tournament performance in the final with four crucial saves to ensure her team won their first Olympics gold in 12 years. If the trio of Smith, Swanson and Rodman got USA to the finals, then Naeher won them the gold.
Defenders
Centre Backs
Naomi Girma: USA.
A lot of people have credited Naomi Girma for her sturdy defensive traits, in fact, Emma Hayes called her the best defender she has ever coached, however another major trait that Girma adds to the US team is her ability to start the ball-play from the back.
This help soak in pressure, draw out opponents and create space for runners like Rodman and Dunn to exploit.
Tarciane: Brazil.
Again, this was another difficult decision between German’s Marina Hegerin and Brazil’s Tarciane. In fact, Canada’s Vanessa Giles’ caught my attention with her determined resilience and her crucial goals against France and Colombia but Tarciane gets the nod.
Despite the fact that Brazil conceded a couple goals, the youngster’s leadership at the back was pivotal when Brazil was under-pressure. She made some crucial blocks against Nigeria and France ensuring they maintained their narrow lead that put them on the path to the final.
Guess what? Two years ago, she was one of the stars of the U-20 tournament that I spotlighted and predicted an amazing career trajectory for; present-day, she is an Olympics silver-winning player at 21.
Full-Backs
Guilia Gwinn: Germany.
Two goals, two assists and a lot of dangerous set-pieces, Gwinn was reliable for Germany both as a defender and attacker. The multi-dimensional player was a key reason why the German team looked so revitalized after a disappointing outing last year.
Gwinn was everywhere for the Germans, thwarting the opponent’s attack while creating opportunities for her team-mates.
Emily Fox:USA
Another tough choice between Emily Fox and Crystal Dunnbut the formal gets the slot. From playing with so much grace and gait to nullifying attacks and almost bodying wingers with her physicality, Fox was a great compliment to Girma’sdefensive sturdiness and also created a perfect link-up with Trinity Rodman on the Left-wing.
Midfielders
In a tournament where people expected the winners of the last three Ballon D’or winners- Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellasto shine, it was the regular players like Ludmila, Brand, Abiodun, Buhl and others that took the stage.
Ludmila Da Silva: Brazil
Although she played as a midfielder, Ludmila’s energy spread through the whole team. She was a thorn in the flesh of every team she played against and was pivotal to the second half dominance Brazil had over Spain. Let’s not forget how dangerous she was against the United States and how she threatened for 60 minutes until she was substituted.
Jule Brand: Germany.
For Germany, Brand reminded the world how talented she was and showed her team what made her special. Her third goal against Australia secured their win, and sleeky passes, timely interceptions, and quick feet was a delicious spice to the German’s talent-laden midfield.
Attackers
This was the most difficult to select as it was the tournament where all the attackers showed up for the country. USA’s ‘trident’ came up clutch while Antoinette Katoto and Barbra Banda performed above their xG despite their countries’ disappointing outing. Below is my final four selection.
Sophia Smith: USA.
After a disappointing World Cup Performance, three goals and one assist in the Olympics was a great way to make a comeback. Forming a crucial partnership with the Swanson and Rodman, her crucial goal against Germany ensured that Emma Hayes team had the chance to fight for Gold.
Barbara Banda:Zambia
Now, before you begin to wonder, scoring four goals in two games against Germany and Australia is no easy feat, and scoring three hat-tricks in five Olympic matches, is a record people will be fighting to break. Despite the extremely disappointing performance, especially the loss to Australia, Banda will walk into the attack of any team at the Olympics, and surely deserved a slot in my team of the tournament.
Trinity Rodman:USA
Megan Rapinoe’s mood below was our mood when Rodman scored that sumptuous goal against Japan. Three goals and one assist, a lot of defensive work, and some delicious dribbling on the right flank made Rodman a delight to watch throughout the tournament. At 22, the sky is just the beginning for what the Californian-born youngster can achieve in the world of football.
Mallory Swanson:USA
This was a really difficult choice till the last second. Even as I type, I am wondering if I should replace ‘Mallory’ with ‘Marie’. Marie-Antoinette Katoto had a awe-inspiring tournament, scoring two braces in four matches against Colombia and New-Zealand, but Swanson’s performance at the Olympics reminded us of what the US was missing at the FIFA World Cup last year.
Her perfectly timed run and beautiful goal against Brazil won’t be forgotten by the Americans, and the world anytime soon.
For this week’s WA on Wednesday NPLW WA interview, Balcatta Etna attacker Lucy Jerram speaks to Ben Gilby abouther footballing journey that has taken her from WA to NSW and back twice, and how she feels Balcatta are building into the 2024 season(21/8/24).
Above: Lucy Jerram lets fly for Balcatta Etna against Perth RedStar in this year’s Night Series. Photo: JASP Photography
After several years playing on the East coast in both Sydney’s NPLW and the Northern NSW NPLW, explosive attacker Lucy Jerram is back tormenting defences in her home state, and she is thrilled about it.
Jerram’s status as an eye-catching attacker at Home Group Stadium this season is the culmination of many years of hard work, dating back to her early years in Rockingham.
“I started at Port Kennedy Soccer Club. I then moved when I was probably 12 years old to Rockingham City Football Club where I played until under-17s when there wasn’t too much women’s football set up down there at all. When I got selected in a state team when I was 16, I made the move to Melville with a few of the girls I played with in the state team for three years.
“Then when that team folded was around the same time I graduated school and was due to go on an Australian schoolgirls tour of England and I met quite a few girls in that team, and the coach of the team was Sydney-based and really wanted me to try over East, so that was what drove me to move to New South Wales initially. It helped that the team that I was once a part of had split up – that made it easier.
Above: Lucy Jerram (front row, number two shirt) in the Australian Schoolgirls’ squad for their tour to England. Photo: Women’s Soccer.
“From there I played at the Emerging Jets Academy which is pretty much the equivalent to the NTC program for New South Wales. It was pretty full-on. I’d never really played academy-level football or trained like that before and it was quite hard not only adjusting to the load but also the fact that I had literally just moved there (almost 4,000 km) was pretty rough to start.
“The second season I was in Sydney and played NPL1 for North Shore Mariners which was good, but the travel definitely got the better of me after not too long, and midway through the season, I moved to Blacktown Spartans and played reserve grade for the remainder of that year.
“I then moved back to Western Australia and had a pretty nasty surgery done on both of my feet which saw me out of the game for two years, but it was nice just to press ‘reset.’ Through word of mouth, I got involved at Broadmeadow Magic in the Northern NSW NPL, and that absolutely flourished and I played my best football in a Magic jersey.”
Jerram sees herself as “one of the most passionate players on the team. I’ve got to wear my heart on my sleeve. People get the wrong idea about it sometimes, they think I’m aggressive, but I just have so much love for the game and so much desire to win and do well for my team.”
That desire for success has also been tinged by the frustration at not yet being given an opportunity to play A-League Women football. Jerram has a number of weapons in her armoury that would make her a potentially dangerous player in the league – the pace, the ability to beat players for fun, and explosive finishing. The attacker reflected on those disappointments saying “(it’s possibly) not tooting my horn as much as I probably should to be able to put myself in the right place and gain opportunities.
“I’ve always thought too highly of people when it comes to putting all my eggs in one basket year after year when I’m trying to find an opportunity with A-League, which is my doing, and also taking people too literally.
Above: Lucy Jerram celebrating a goal for Broadmeadow Magic in the Northern NSW NPLW. Photo: Newcastle Herald.
“To be told there’s no contract on the table for me one year is OK, but after two or three years it gets a bit…you wonder whether that opportunity is ever going to come. You just have to wait for the right person to come who believes in you to give you an opportunity. I’ve always found it quite hard to be expected to have a certain level of experience when the level of experience I had was not being picked in the first place.”
Jerram has twice moved to the other side of the country in a bid to challenge herself in different standards of competition – and enthused about her spell at Broadmeadow Magic in the Northern NSW NPLW.
“I was pretty lucky being over in New South Wales, I was exposed to the NPL1 competition in Sydney metro itself and then played four years in the Northern New South Wales NPLW and they are quite different in terms of standard. You’ve got more people to choose from and the standard is quite a bit higher in the NPL1.
“The Northern League was still really good. We had four or five A-League Women players coming back to play, so I felt I had a bit more competition across the league rather than just a couple of teams which is good. I’d say that the NPLW WA sits pretty well between the two.”
After honours and great success with Broadmeadow Magic, Jerram returned to Perth for the 2024 season. The attacker revealed that the decision was based solely on family and maturing as a person.
“The main reasons for coming back were quite family-based decisions. Playing in Newcastle (160km north of Sydney), and living over there, it was quite a university sort of town, so it was super fun and there was always stuff going on. There was quite a nice vibe there, but I felt like I had to put my adult pants on and decide what I wanted to achieve in life.
Above: Lucy Jerram fires in a shot for Broadmeadow Magic. Photo: Newcastle Herald.
“It’s all well and good to be running around having a great time, but then you have to consider family, and the amount of lost time I’m now trying to make up for – my parents are getting a little bit older – and I have a little niece now too.”
A player with such a reputation was always going to receive a number of offers from clubs in the NPLW WA once it was clear she was returning to Perth. In the end, Jerram opted to sign up to the new-look Balcatta Etna squad. She admits it was a risk, but one she is now thrilled about taking.
“In choosing Balcatta, I noticed a friend of mine had reposted on Instagram that Pete (Rakic) had been appointed head coach for the season-upcoming. Ideally, the location is probably the most inconvenient for me living where I do. I sort of knew a few of the girls there, and I had a bit of a blank canvas having been away for so long, so I really could have gone anywhere and enjoyed it, but I think I’ve really made the right decision.
“The team vibe is really good. I kept on saying to my Mum: ‘I’m not going to know I’ve made the right decision until I make the wrong one,’ so I’m super fortunate I made the right one straight away.
“Everyone seems to be on the same page whether it’s what we want to achieve as a team, or basic visions or values of us as people, which makes a massive difference. It’s really harmonious. Sometimes that goes so much further than the actual quality on the pitch you have.
Above: Lucy Jerram (3) with teammates after a goal against Fremantle City earlier this season. Image: Streamer.
“Then we have the likes of Jamie-Lee (Gale), Kat (Jukic), Abbey (Meakins), Alyssa (van Heurck) – it’s such a solid spine, and we’re only going to get better with time.”
The squad that has been assembled at Home Group Stadium this season is one that looks will achieve Top Four Cup football – something that the club has been capable of on paper for a number of seasons, but never quite managed to achieve.
Jerram though cautions that in order to bring trophies back to Balcatta, they are going to have to overcome a powerful Perth RedStar side and strong Perth SC and Fremantle City outfits.
“Obviously, every team wants silverware, and that’s something we are very, very capable of – we just have to find a bit more consistency. People are quite demanding of what they are expecting of us so far. They are comparing us to the likes of RedStar who have played together – half a team have played together since before I left (WA), so like, eight, nine years. It’s a bit unrealistic to compare us, but at the same time, I know we are capable.”
However, the attacker believes she knows some of the important facets about RedStar that she believes can help her own team to focus on becoming their equals or betters, this season.
“I think the main thing I’ve picked up about RedStar is something that’s quite similar to the team I played in last year (Broadmeadow Magic in the Northern NSW WNPL) – we were able to play good football, but we were able to identify the things that we were good at, whether it was pretty or ugly. That was what we focussed on, that’s what got us goals, and we won the minor and major (Premierships) last season, and RedStar have been able to do the same thing year in and year out.
“It’s going to be a matter of us at Balcatta perfecting the art of what we are good at and be good at it. We can try and play football around them as much as we like and be possession-based…but at the end of the day, they have a team that are able to get forward and know how to execute. We have to just be better at it than what they are.”
Above: Australia’s Steph Catley battles against Germany in the Olympic Games last month. The Matildas will get a chance in October to set the record straight. Photo: Luisa Gonzalez/The Guardian.
The Matildas will face Olympic Games Bronze Medallist, Germany, away in Duisburg during the October international window.
Australia will spend this window in Europe, where they will play two friendly matches, the second being against the world-ranked number four side at the 31,500 capacity Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena in Duisburg on Monday 28th October (6.10pm CET).
This match will be the seventh ‘A’ International meeting between the two senior women’s national teams, with the most recent occurring in the group stage of the Paris Olympics which Germany won 3-0.
Above: The Schauinsland-Reisen Arena in Duisburg, where the Matildas will face Germany in October. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
Football Australia CEO James Johnson said: “With a home AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2026 and with an eye on the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, it’s important we continue to test ourselves against nations who will best prepare the team for these marquee tournaments.” .
“With many of our Matildas now based in the Northern Hemisphere and having only just commenced their new domestic seasons, we were keen to play this window away, with Germany fitting the bill and providing a great opportunity to commence the next four-year cycle,” concluded Johnson.
Following the Paris Olympics, Football Australia commenced the recruitment process for a new Head Coach of the Matildas. There is no news as yet about whether or not a permanent replacement for Tony Gustavsson will be in place in time for this match.
Details for the second match in the October international window will be announced in the coming weeks.
Title rivals Preston and Essendon battle out to a 2-2 draw that puts Bulleen in pole position to secure a first-place finish. A goal from Ava Groba and an own goal from Ellie La Monte were cancelled out by Georgia Henderson and Haley Johnson
A frenetic start to the game saw both teams find the back of the net in the first ten minutes. The visitors struck first. Serbian international Tyla-Jay Vlajnic’s corner was inadvertently headed home by Ellie La Monte to give Essendon an early advantage
Essendon only led for two minutes. Mebae Tanaka was allowed too much space to deliver a cross into the box. On the end of the cross was captain Georgia Henderson. Her header was too much for Bethany Mason-Jones to handle, spilling the ball into the net.
Preston really began to take control and apply serious pressureafter their equaliser but Essendon was resolute in defence for the remainder of the first half. The visitors did have sparing attacks but were not clinical enough in those positions to make them count. Any kind of attacking threat came from Vlajnic.
The beginning of the second half saw little action with La Monte’s long range attempt the closest either side got to scoring during this period. However, this lack of action was soon to be concluded with a sensational goal.
After winning the ball back in midfield, Reona Omiya spotted Ava Groba in space down the left-hand side. Slipping the ball through the defence, Omiya found Groba. With a first-time effort, Groba was able to lift the ball over Preston keeper Charlotte Hrehorsein to restore the lead for Essendon.
Mirroring the first half, their lead did not last long at all. Straight from kick-off, the ball was worked wide to La Monte. Her first time cross found Haley Johnson unmarked to rise high and head home to level up the game once again, her 18thgoal in 21 appearances.
For the remainder of the game, both teams pushed for that all important winning goal, yet it wasn’t to be.
The only team this result benefited was Bulleen at the top of the table. If they win away to Alamein, then they are Premiers. Bulleen will need to drop points against Alamein if either Preston or Essendon want to claim the league title. They conclude their regular seasons away to Heidelburg and at home to Alamein
Alamein 1-4 Bulleen Lions
By Kieran Yap
The result at Preston put the title in Bulleen’s control. Although the league leaders lost on the previous Monday, Bulleen did not look like fumbling the premiership against Alamein.
Melbourne Victory star Alana Murphy lined up in a deep playmaking role, while new Western United signing Alana Cortellino lined up on the right at Dorothy Laver reserve.
On their renovated home turf, Alamein did not take a backwards step. Sidney Allen was busy in attack, and tried to test the visitors defence with some determined runs. At half time the scores remained 1-0 and it felt like Bulleen needed at least one more to secure the three points.
That cushion arrived through the right foot of Maja Markoviski. Alamein’s defence had done well to push the striker deep, but that only afforded her the space to unleash a long range rocket that flew into the net, leaving everybody in attendance stunned.
Bulleen extended their lead to three when second half substitute Lourdes Gonzales curled home her effort from the edge of the penalty area.
Rebecca Saber pulled back a well deserved goal for Alamein to make it 3-1, but a Tiffany Eliadis free kick found a way past Tayla Murphy in goal to make it 4-1 and crown Bulleen the minor premiers for the second season running.
The top place finish grants Caitlin Friend her second trophy of the season after defeating Preston in the Nike FC Cup, and puts Bulleen on course for a treble should they go one step further in the finals than the last two years.
While last season’s premiership had a feeling of relief about it, this felt more emphatic. Bulleen have won again in an increasingly competitive and unforgiving league. They have overcome significant injuries and the departure or absence of some stars of 2023 such as Beattie Goad and Alana Jancevski.
Despite their obvious attacking abilities, this premiership was once again built on a strong defensive foundation. They conceded the fewest goals of the season and only second placed Preston fared better in attack.
Bulleen are worthy premiers, having never really suffered a dip in form, despite needing to restructure the squad and tactics throughout the season. The finals cannot come soon enough for this team, especially as they have contested the previous two Grand Finals and will be hungry to win that last elusive trophy.
Congratulations Bulleen Lions FC on another tremendous home and away season.
In this week’s ‘WA On Wednesday’ feature, Ben Gilby speaks to UWA-Nedlands’ Michaela Thawley who has brought experience from playing in America and Spain to the NPLW WA’s newest club (14/8/24)
Above:Michaela Thawley (green shirt in possession) in action during UWA-Nedlands’ first NPLW WA match against Hyundai NTC – a game in which she scored. Photo supplied to Impetus by: UWA-Nedlands.
Michaela Thawley is a player who will go down in UWA-Nedlands history. The scorer of their first-ever NPLW WA goal.
“Mackenzie Rastatter took a beautiful touch and struck the ball right into the pocket for me to run on too. From there I saw the NTC keeper had been pretty far off her line with two defenders coming on my back, so I decided to chip/ lob it over and it ended up working out.”
It ended up working out in some style – it was quite a goal, and Thawley is quite a player – one who has caught the eye across the 2024 season. The UWA-Nedlands star sees herself as a player who is fully focussed on the attack with the team ethic central to all she does.
“I am a highly competitive and determined athlete. I love to be challenged in my game and am always looking for ways to improve on my weaknesses. On the field, a lot of my play is very technical and quick. I love the ball at my feet and taking players on one v one. I am constantly looking for space on the field and how I can make use of the area. I also love to get my whole team involved in plays. I look to work off my teammates and offer support whether it’s a one-two pass or a through ball. My brain is always thinking and scanning what plays I can do to help my teammates succeed.
Her current status as an NPLW WA player is a long way away from where her footballing journey started back in the USA – something she reflected on with me.
“My parents introduced me to football at the age of three. In America, typically children play recreational football until they are 10 and then move to the higher leagues, which is exactly what I did. My dad coached my recreational team from five to 10 years old until he realised it was time for me to take the step up.
From there I played with three different traveling club teams Breakers FC, Marin FC, and North-Bay Timbers FC. The most successful being North-Bay Timbers. We were ranked number one nationally and got to attend a regional tournament in Hawaii. While club football is typically played throughout the majority of the year, the team breaks during winter to play high school ball.
Above: Michaela Thawley (green kit) taking on Hyundai NTC. Photo supplied to Impetus by: UWA-Nedlands.
“I got to play for Marin Catholic High School from grades nine-12, where we placed second in the league for two out of four of those years. During this time I also had the opportunity to play on the Olympic Development team for the United States at both the state and regional level.
“Out of club and high school, I got recruited to play in college, which had been a dream of mine since I started playing. I committed to Knox College, a Division Three school, during my senior year of high school. I started and played all games throughout my four years at Knox. Here, my team won the league, the Midwest Conference Tournament, and got the opportunity to compete in the NCAA tournament, which is one of the biggest accomplishments an athlete in America can get.
“The other two years we came first in league play but unfortunately didn’t make it to the NCAA tournament. After my senior year at Knox, I knew I wasn’t finished with football so I took an extra year due to Covid and committed to Dominican University in Chicago. Here I was able to receive all-conference honours as well as help my team get first in the league. A bonus at Dominican was being able to play a year with one of my younger sisters, which was special for my family and me. Again, I knew I wanted more time with football so I started to seek more opportunities.
“I got recruited to play in Spain directly out of college but, before heading to Spain, I got the opportunity to play semi-professional football with the SF Nighthawks. They are one of the oldest established clubs in the WPSL who play all around California. After a season in San Francisco, I headed to FC Malaga City Femenino. This is a club in Spain that competes in the 3a RFEF, the fifth tier of the women’s game.
“Playing in Spain was an absolute dream, not only did I get to travel around Europe but I also got to compete and train with some of the best teams and players around the world. I had the opportunity to play against Real Betis and got trained a few times by the Tottenham Hotspur coaching staff.
“Spain’s style of play is very possession-based while keeping a quick tempo. They love playing out of the back with the ball at their feet. The coaches instill patience into their players by waiting for the right time to attack once the other team has been deconstructed by the movement of the ball. This team challenged me both mentally and physically in the best way possible and ultimately made me a better player.
“Our practice schedule was very intense, our team practiced five days a week with one or two games weekly. With this practice schedule, I improved my football IQ and my first touch. Accurate passing is a huge aspect of the Spanish game, which I improved on during my time in Spain as well.
“After competing with the team for five months, I met my agent Ryan with Playsport Agency and he connected me with UWA Nedlands and my coach, Lawrence Lewis, which has been an amazing experience thus far.”
Thawley’s successes in both America and Spain before joining UWA-Nedlands have come after having to prove the doubters among her previous coaches wrong.
Above: Michaela Thawley (22) getting away from her marker. Photo supplied to Impetus by: UWA-Nedlands.
“Growing up I was never the strongest or the tallest athlete, which a lot of athletes are in America. This made a lot of coaches sceptical about choosing me to be on teams because they thought I would get pushed around. This ended up being a blessing in disguise because it pushed me to prove people wrong and work hard for something that I loved.
“I would have the ball at my feet for hours during the day. Whether it be by myself against a wall, going to the gym to get stronger, or playing pick-up with local men’s players, I was so determined to prove those coaches wrong and prove that I was worth taking a chance on. What I lacked in height I made up for by practicing my technical and speed ability.
Thawley’s arrival in Western Australia initially came about after discussions with one of her teammates in Spain, Nikolina Musto – and little did she know initially that that chat would take her to the other side of the world.
“I expressed to her that I wanted to keep going with football. She and I had extensive conversations about playing in higher leagues in different countries. She would always tell me her stories of playing in Iceland and Greece and I knew that I wanted something similar to her experience with the game. My agent Ryan and I worked together to find the best team for me both as an athlete and a person, which is how I ended up at UWA-Nedlands.
“Australia is an up-and-coming area for women’s football, which I think is what attracted me to the area. One of my goals in my football career has always been to promote the women’s game. I just think a lot of the time women’s programs are underappreciated and overlooked. With the recent success of the Matildas and the rapidly growing women’s programs, I thought Australia would be the perfect place to promote the women’s game and pave the way to inspire female athletes at home to play internationally.
“On top of this Australia is a beautiful country to be in and it has always been a place that I have wanted to at least visit, if not live in. Being from California, I enjoy the sunshine and beach. Perth is very similar to where I live which makes me feel at home.”
Moving so far away from home always comes with its challenges, but Thawley feels her club went above and beyond to make her settling-in period as seamless as possible.
“Moving to a new place, let alone a new country is always challenging. But lucky for me everyone at UWANFC has gone above and beyond to make the Americans on the team feel welcomed and at home. I am so grateful to have the support of UWANFC families such as the Watkins and Quantrills, who have brought us in as their own and helped us get on our feet as we figure out everything in Perth. The club has gone above and beyond to make us feel welcome.
“Lawrence and Salv (Todaro) are both amazing coaches. Their knowledge of the game is amazing and they are the kind of coaches who support their players on and off the field. Lawrence encourages the team to make mistakes in practice and to learn from them. Within my few months here I already feel like I have improved as a player under their coaching.
Above: Michaela Thawley working hard to get better each day. Photo supplied to Impetus by: UWA-Nedlands.
In terms of our team, the UWANFC girls are some of the most supportive and positive girls I have ever had the privilege of working with. Our team is a little family. High standards are set for our team and upheld throughout our team and club. We care about each other on and off the field and will do anything to see each other succeed.”
A debut season in the NPLW for UWA-Nedlands has been one that has been challenging, but the side has been competitive and are more than capable of retaining their status for another season at least.
Their inaugural NPLW campaign began with a home game with Hyundai NTC – where Thawley went down in history as the scorer of the club’s first-ever goal in the league. It’s something that is a source of huge pride for the attacker.
“It is an absolute honour to score the club’s first-ever goal in the NPLW. Talking with the team, I know how special it is from a club standpoint to finally be in the NPLW after a lot of hard work. The game was a big day for everyone and with the number of supporters, the team wanted to show everyone what we have been working on since pre-season.
“I made it an individual goal to score during that game the night before. At the end of the first half, we were down 2-0 and I knew we needed something to keep us in that game before the half ended. Mackenzie Rastatter and I come from the same area in California and both played for the same semi-professional team in the US. We have an amazing chemistry on and off the field.
“I won the ball back from NTC in the midfield area. I scanned and saw everyone was pretty much marked moving forward, so decided to play it back to Mackenzie who had a lot of time in space in the back line. As I turned I saw a pocket of space between the two NTC centre defenders and decided to make a run-through as our striker had dropped during transition.
“Mackenzie took a beautiful touch and struck the ball right into the pocket for me to run on too. From there I saw the NTC keeper had been pretty far off her line with two defenders coming on my back, so I decided to chip/ lob it over and it ended up working out. The feeling after scoring is always amazing. You feel so accomplished as a player and feel as if you’re making an impact on your team. It was really special to celebrate with my team afterwards with hugs and high fives. We had been working so hard for that moment all game.”
Thawley is not one to rest on her laurels and is determined that the club to be a competitive force in the division.
“As a team, our goal is to show that we belong in the NPLW and can hang with the best teams in the league. Being the first team to be promoted to the NPLW, we came in as the underdogs of the league and have a lot to prove. We are one determined team and our team goal is to stay in this league.”
impetusfootball.org 