Two Matildas sign up for new A-League Women season amidst signing bonanza

Over the past few days, a total of 17 players have been announced by seven clubs in the A-League Women, and there have been coaching developments at a further two sides. Here’s Impetus’ in-depth guide of who is going where (24/8/23).

Above: Cortnee Vine talking earlier this week about her decision to stay at Sydney FC for another season. Image: Sydney FC.

Matildas World Cup stars Cortnee Vine and Tameka Yallop will be playing A-League Women football for 2023/24 after being announced as signing contracts with Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar respectively.

Vine was The Matildas Women’s World Cup penalty shootout hero in their dramatic Quarter-Final win over France, and has signed a new deal at the harbour-city club,

The attacker has played a key role in helping the Sky Blues win the last three Liberty A-League Premierships and last season’s Championship, as well as reach the Grand Final in each of her three years at the club.

“I’m excited and thrilled to be staying with Sydney FC and playing in the Liberty A-League for this season,” she said. “I can feel the Women’s World Cup has ignited a real passion for the women’s game in this country and given it real momentum.

“We are heading into an exciting new era for Australian football and I’m incredibly happy to be a part of it.”

Sydney FC Head Coach Ante Juric is extremely pleased to have retained Vine’s signature.

“Cortnee is a tremendous player and a great advocate for the game in Australia,” he said. “She lives and breathes football and showed at the World Cup that she is one of the best players in the world.

“To have her playing for Sydney FC next season and helping to defend our Championship and Premiership is a real coup for Sydney FC and women’s football in Australia.”

Vine has scored 20 goals in 44 appearances for the Sky Blues and been named the Professional Footballers Australia Team Of The Year Captain for the past two seasons.

Above: Tameka Yallop, speaking after Australia’s stunning World Cup win over France, is back at Brisbane Roar. Image: Brisbane Roar.

Meanwhile. Brisbane Roar have revealed that Tameka Yallop will be returning to the on a multi-year deal ahead of the 2023/24 season.  

The Australian star comes back to the Roar after previously spending ten years 2008-2018 at the club and being a part of the 2008/09 Championship winning campaign. 

Yallop has a wealth of experience under her belt, with her career including international stints at the Boston Breakers, FFC Frankfurt, Iga F.C. Kunoichi, Mallbackens, and Klepp IL. 

She moved to Melbourne City for the 2018-2019 season but came back to Brisbane in 2019. When departing the Roar in 2021, she went to English WSL side West Ham United for a season before joining Brann for a year. 

The 32-year-old has scored 116 goals in her career, and will look to bring this experience to the squad to inspire younger players and contribute to the overall success of the team this coming season. 

Yallop spoke of her excitement at returning home. “I’m excited to be home. Having a World Cup at home just brings the nostalgia back to returning to Brisbane Roar as well, where I did a fair chunk of my youth football. The timing couldn’t be better,” Yallop said. 

“Not only how far we went in the tournament, but it’s great knowing there’s going to be more opportunities for younger players coming through, better training facilities, more coaches available to them, and the fact that it’s going to keep growing and going up from here is exciting,” she said.

With a wealth of experience under her belt, Yallop believes she can offer guidance to younger players in the squad to achieve great results this season.

“I have a lot to offer for younger players coming through and balancing out the team. Having a range in the age group really shapes the team so I’m looking forward to providing that experience,” the midfielder said. 

“The very first inaugural season, winning the Championship is a very fond memory of mine, I am always chasing that feeling again. That will be our team’s aspirations this season and mine as well.”

Brisbane Roar head coach Garrath McPherson was delighted about the return of Yallop. “Tameka is a role model for the next generation of Brisbane Roar footballers. Having her return home to her family, friends and football club is something that is sure to excite the whole city.”

“She has been overseas competing in the world’s best competitions for a number of years and we are proud that she has returned to us to continue her career.”

“She played an important role for the Matildas across their World Cup campaign and no doubt loved being back home during this time. I am happy that she gets to continue her career with her loved ones nearby.” 

McPherson describes Yallop as “the ultimate professional”, after achieving great things in her career so far as a world-class player. He looks forward to seeing what she will bring to the squad this season.

“She has a real opportunity to share this mindset within the locker room. As a central midfielder, creating and scoring goals have been trademarks of her career, and having her back in orange provides us another attacking weapon for the seasons ahead.” 

Club by club signing news

Adelaide United
Above: Hannah Blake, who has joined Adelaide United after an eye-catching spell at Perth Glory last season. Photo: NZ Football.

New Zealand forward, Hannah Blake, has joined Adelaide United ahead of the Liberty A-League 2023/24 season.

Blake, 23, won her first professional contract with Perth Glory in March, signing as an injury replacement for Rylee Baisden until the end of the 2022/23 A-League Women season.

The striker scored on debut in a 3-1 win against Western United in February, and she totalled three goals in six starts for the Glory. Her long-range strike against Melbourne City in a frantic 4-3 win was voted the Club’s goal of the season.

Blake was a member of the New Zealand side at the 2016 U-17 Women’s World Cup, the U-20 Women’s World Cup 2016, and again at the U-20 Women’s World Cup 2018.

Blake can’t wait to get started with her new Club in what will be her first full season on a professional list after finishing her college studies.

“I’m really pumped to be joining Adelaide which is a team you hear a lot about and there are some players also with similar previous experience here which will only help me settle in,” Blake said.

“I got a bit of a feel for the A-League last year which has only made me hungrier to properly launch my professional Club career,” Blake said.

“I’ve seen what Adelaide bring to the table and I’m extremely excited to hit the ground running in pre-season and with my new team.”

The dynamic and hard-working forward has been based in the USA since 2019 where she has starred for the University of Michigan Wolverines in NCAA Division 1, the highest level of US college football.

Head Coach, Adrian Stenta, hailed the signing as another great coup for the Club.

“We are thrilled to welcome Hannah to the Club after watching her perform in the US against some top players, and in her brief stint last season here in Australia,” Stenta said.

“To her credit she has shown commitment to her studies which is something we also value at Adelaide United, and now that Hannah can fully focus on football, the sky’s the limit.

“We really think she can flourish here in Adelaide and provide another passage to goal for us.”

Brisbane Roar

Above: Jenna McCormick in action for Adelaide United last season. Photo: Adelaide United.

As well as the return of Tameka Yallop, Brisbane Roar have been busy this week in tying up two other deals.

First announced was former Matilda and defender Jenna McCormick who made her first appearance in the then W-League with Adelaide United in 2012 and later went to Canberra United where she spent two seasons. 

The 28-year-old also declared her interest in the newly formed AFL Women’s competition in 2016, playing for Adelaide Crows when her A-League commitments did not overlap but ultimately chose to pursue football as a career. 

The defender had stints at Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City, Adelaide United last season, and even spent a season at the Roar in 2018/19.  In 2019, McCormick made her Matildas debut against Chile and currently has four caps for her country.

McCormick comes equipped with international experience after stints at Norwegian top football league Toppserien, Spanish club Real Betis, and the Danish Women’s League Elitedivisionen.  

She looks forward to returning to the Roar, a club she has some great memories at and one where she played in one of her best seasons. 

“I’m very excited to come up and play with Brisbane Roar again, I had such a great time the last time I was playing there in 2018. Really thrilled to have another opportunity to pull the orange on and personally, had one of my best seasons here so looking to replicate that,” McCormick said. 

“Team success first and foremost, is definitely my mentality coming into this campaign. I’m due for some success and silverware so I’m feeling really inspired and confident to have a really good season with the group.”

Off the back of the World Cup, McCormick acknowledges the positive impact it had on Australia and hopes to see continued support for women’s football as the season approaches. 

“I think this is a fantastic opportunity that the A-League has to take advantage of the traction that the Matilda’s have created in the World Cup. We established a love of football in so many people around the country that may have not ever watched football before, it’s hopefully going to filter through to the A-League and get more people to the games,” she said. 

Head Coach Garrath McPherson looks forward to bringing a ‘fan favourite’ back to the club, with McCormick’s leadership skills and winning mentality.

“I’m super excited to bring a player of Jenna’s experience back to the football club. She was a fan favourite during her time in Brisbane and has spent the time between then and now in some of Europe’s biggest leagues,” McPherson said. 

“She is a team player first and foremost. This quality is something that I have always admired in her. She has a very high football IQ and together with her organisational skills and winning mentality, she returns as a leader of our backline,” he added.

Above: Hannah Holgersen – newly announced by Brisbane Roar. Photo: Brisbane Roar.

Also announced on Tuesday this week in Queensland was the arrival of Danish forward Hannah Holgersen.

Holgersen played football locally in Denmark before joining Brøndby Idræts Forening (BIF) after guidance from the U15 Youth National Team coaches to play more competitively, where she remained and played with their U18 team. 

After spending time at a boarding school, she returned to football in 2017 and started playing in Copenhagen with B93 which saw them work their way up to the best league in Denmark, 3F Kvindeligaen. 

In 2020, Holgersen joined AGF in the same league, before making the trip to Australia for something new. She made 25 appearances in the top-flight Danish League, scoring three goals during her time in the competition. 

Holgersen made her Liberty A-League debut last year with Adelaide United, where she played for three minutes and then injured her MCL which saw her out of the game for the remainder of the season. 

The Danish forward is eager to give the Liberty A-League another shot, now with the Brisbane Roar.

“I can’t wait to get started in Brisbane, so thankful for the opportunity and I just want to show myself and everyone else what I’m capable of,” Holgersen said. “I’m excited for a new and exciting environment and come out on the pitch full time again. I’m more inspired than ever, after watching [the] World Cup games,” she added. 

“I really hope that Australia is ready to keep riding the women’s soccer wave and come out to the A-league games. I want to show this club what I can do, and help bringing some good results in.” 

Head Coach Garrath McPherson is pleased to welcome a player with such strength in the forward line after Holgersen showcased this talent in the top-flight league in Denmark. 

“Speed, power, and an attacking mindset are three key qualities needed for success in our competition. Hannah has shown all three across her career in the top-flight in Denmark,” McPherson said. 

“Hannah provides us with an attacking weapon who can be deployed in a number of positions to create and score goals,” he added.

“She is so excited at an opportunity to transition from Denmark to the A-League, this eagerness to take her opportunity is something that really excites me and the coaching team.”

Central Coast Mariners

Above: Paige Hayward pictured during her time at Adelaide United. Photo: Adelaide United.

Central Coast Mariners have revealed the signing of forward Paige Hayward.

The 28-year-old joins the club from Adelaide United, having previously also spent time playing football in the United States and Austria. Born in Sydney, Hayward spent time in the US College System, playing with the University of Texas, before transferring to Texas Southern University. Spells with Houston Aces, Houston Dash, and Austrian side FFC Vorderland followed before a move to Adelaide United.

Head Coach Emily Husband is thrilled to have Hayward signed for the Central Coast this season, seeing her as an extremely valuable asset. “I am extremely excited to have someone like Paige joining up with the Mariners. She has a lot of experience both in the A-League and abroad and is a quality player to have on the team.

“Among many things she will bring versatility to the squad. There are a few different areas where you can utilise Paige which I think will help us to be an adaptable squad in how we want to play.”

Hayward is eager to get started ahead of the upcoming A-League Women’s season as the club return to the competition.

“I am thrilled to be a Central Coast Mariner. To be joining a program that I can see making so much progress in the women’s space, I wanted to be a part of it. Emily’s style and wanting the team to have a togetherness is exactly what I want from a group.

“The Central Coast is such a close-knit community and club which we want to keep building on. That has impressed me the most so far, we aren’t just individuals, we are a team. The club isn’t just a business from what I can see, it is a family.”

Melbourne Victory

Above: Emma Checker has moved back across Melbourne from City to Victory in a major deal for Jeff Hopkins’ side. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.

Melbourne Victory have announced nine players this week including some big names re-signing and a major new arrival from rivals Melbourne City.

With Kayla Morrison’s return and the arrival of Rachel Lowe from Sydney FC previously headlined, a plethora of further announcements then followed from the club.

The capture of Melbourne City defender Emma Checker is a major coup for the club. The 27-year-old joins the Club from Melbourne City, returning to Melbourne Victory for her second stint with the Club after making 133 A-League Women’s appearances and winning two Championships throughout her career.

Checker has represented her country at senior international seven times, making her Matildas debut in 2012 against Hong Kong, and has played domestically in France, Korea, and Iceland before returning to Australia.

Melbourne Victory Head Coach, Jeff Hopkins said he was looking forward to welcoming Checker to the squad.

“We’re thrilled to have Emma join the squad for the upcoming season. We know her capability as a defender and believe she will be a perfect fit for the squad. She’s a leader on and off the park and her experience at A-League Women’s level is invaluable.

“We’re continuing to build a squad for the upcoming season that strikes the balance between experience and up-and-coming talent but more importantly, a squad that will challenge for the Championship and we feel Emma will be an important part of this.”

Checker was also looking forward to returning to Victory. “I’m excited to be returning to Victory, the club that I first moved to Melbourne for back in 2013.

“I am looking forward to the move and being part of the new generation of Melbourne Victory, it is a project that really excites me. Jeff and the squad have built a dominant force over the last couple of seasons and for me coming into that, I hope to contribute to the team getting back to the top this season.”

Above: Lia Privitelli celebrates a goal for Melbourne Victory during the 2021/22 season. Photo: Melbourne Victory.

Next to be announced was the retention on Lia Privitelli. The 29-year-old returns for her eighth season at Melbourne Victory after making 84 appearances and winning two Championships during her time at the Club.

An integral part of the leadership team, Privitelli played a major role in leading the side to the 2021/22 Championship and has continued to be an important contributor to the A-League Women’s side.

Melbourne Victory Director of Football, John Didulica said he was thrilled to have Privitelli extend her time at Victory. “Lia is an incredible professional who leads by example and we’re pleased to have her return to the Club for another season.

“She has been a mainstay in the side since 2016 and has personified the squad’s development into the team that it is today. Lia will continue to be a leader in this side and help develop our next generation of A-League Women’s players while delivering on the pitch at the same time.”

Privitelli was also excited for another season with Victory. “It’s great to be back with the Club and the team for another season and I can’t wait to get started,” Privitelli said.

“Victory is home for me and this group is like my family. We’ve built a team that is one of the most formidable in the league and there’s no doubt the goal is to win trophies this season.”

Above: Key youngster Alana Murphy returns to the club for another season. Photo: Melbourne Victory.

Young star Alana Murphy has re-signed at the club for another year.

The 18-year-old returns for her third season with the senior A-League Women’s side, first signing in 2021 as the Club’s first graduate from Melbourne Victory’s Elite Girls Program.

Murphy has made 31 appearances over her two seasons at Victory, being involved in the Club’s 2021/22 Championship run, and made 18 appearances during the 2022/23 season which saw her play a major role in the side’s finals push.

Melbourne Victory Director of Football, John Didulica said Murphy has continued to impress during her time at Victory.

“We’re proud to have our first Elite Girls Program graduate move into her third season with the A-League Women’s squad. Each season, she has continued to develop and progress as a footballer and has become a vital cog in the team’s midfield. We’re looking forward to seeing one of the country’s best midfield prospects continue to progress and help our squad achieve the ultimate success this season.”

Murphy was also glad to be returning to the squad for the upcoming season. “I’m thrilled to be able to put on the Victory shirt and represent the Club once again this season,” Murphy said.

“Victory is home to me and the last couple of seasons working with Jeff and the whole squad has given me the drive to continue to improve and succeed with this team.”

Above: Former Brisbane Roar star Jamilla Rankin has moved to Melbourne Victory. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.

Another key new arrival at Melbourne Victory is that of former Brisbane Roar star Jamilla Rankin.

The 20-year-old made 45 appearances for Brisbane Roar over three seasons. The fullback has represented her country at senior international level, making her Matildas debut against Spain in 2022, and has been a regular in the youth international setup, impressing across her young career.

Melbourne Victory Head Coach, Jeff Hopkins said he was looking forward to seeing what Rankin can produce in the Victory environment.

“We’re thrilled to have Jamilla join us here at Melbourne Victory and we believe she will be an important asset for the upcoming season. Jamilla is a tenacious, versatile defender who will complement our defensive group. She can play multiple positions across the back four and can be lethal going forward as well.

“With Jessika Nash on the other side of the field, we believe this young and up-and-coming group of fullbacks will be able to prosper here at Melbourne Victory.”

Rankin is also looking forward to her new challenge in Victoria. “I’m excited to be joining the team in Melbourne and can’t wait to get started. Talking to Jeff and the players, they are building an exciting team to challenge for the Championship and I feel this will be a great environment for me to continue my career.

“I’m looking forward to joining a new environment in Melbourne and delivering week-in, week-out for the team.”

Above: Paige Zois celebrates Melbourne Victory’s 2021/22 Grand Final triumph. Photo: Melbourne Victory.

Jeff Hopkins’ side rounded off their announcements with the news that two other exciting young stars will be back at the club for the new season.

Talented teenager and fan favourite Paige Zois has returned for a third season at the club. Zois has made 18 appearances with the Club, playing a role in the 2021/22 Championship and is a youth international representative.

Melbourne Victory Director of Football, John Didulica said he was pleased to see the 19-year-old extend her time with Melbourne Victory.

“As another graduate of our Elite Girls Program, we’re thrilled to have a young prospect like Paige continue to be part of our system. Each season, Paige has made important steps in establishing herself in the squad and we can not wait to see more from her this season,”

Zois was also excited to be returning to the squad. “I’m thrilled to be extending my time at Melbourne Victory and I can’t wait to return to work with this group ahead of the upcoming season.

“This group means so much to me. They have been an important part of my development on and off the field and I want to achieve more goals with them this season.”

Above: Ava Biredid – a star of the future with Melbourne Victory will return to the club for another season. Photo: APS Sport.

Following hot on the heels was the news that Ava Briedis has been retained. The 17-year-old heads into her second season with Melbourne Victory’s A-League Women’s side after making 11 appearances in her first senior campaign.

A graduate of the Club’s Elite Girls Program, Briedis made her first start for the senior team in the season opener against Western United and started in the side’s semi-final against Sydney FC in April.

Melbourne Victory Director of Football, John Didulica said he was excited to continue to see Briedis’ development at Victory. “We’re thrilled to have Ava continue her journey at Melbourne Victory. She stepped up to the senior squad last season and made great progress as she continues to grow as a footballer.

“Seeing players graduate from our Elite Girls Program to our A-League Women’s squad is incredibly rewarding for everyone at Melbourne Victory and we look forward to Ava and many more female players coming through our program and into the senior women’s side.”

Briedis was also excited to be back for another season.

“Last season was an incredible experience for me and I’m looking forward to continuing to develop at Melbourne Victory. Working with Jeff and the team every day was a big learning experience for me and to play a role in a side that has achieved so much over the past couple of seasons was amazing.”

Above: Boroondara-Carey Eagles’ super striker Kurea Okino has just been announced by Melbourne Victory. Photo: Bayside United.

Melbourne Victory’s final capture so far this week is Japanese forward, Kurea Okino who has been in outstanding form for Boroondara-Carey Eagles in the NPLW Victoria this season.

The 24-year-old has previously played professionally in Japan for Vegalta Sendai and Tokiwagi Gakuen. Okino has taken the NPLW Victoria by storm this season, scoring an incredible 31 goals in 21 games.

Melbourne Victory Head Coach Jeff Hopkins said he was looking forward to seeing what Okino can produce at A-League Women’s level.

“We’re incredibly pleased to be able to secure Kurea’s services for the upcoming season. What she has produced in the NPLW Victoria has been incredible to watch and we have no doubt that the transition to A-League Women’s will be seamless for her. She’s a striker’s striker. Her nose for goal is obvious in the numbers she’s produced and we believe she has the quality to reproduce that for our squad this season.”

Okino was also thrilled to be joining her first professional Club in Australia. “I’m excited to be joining Melbourne Victory and testing myself in the A-League Women’s competition,” the striker said.

“I had a great season in the NPLW and the next challenge for me is to continue this form with Melbourne Victory in the A-League Women’s. Speaking to Jeff, the team is hungry for more and to achieve success this season and I’m excited to be part of the squad and the A-League Women’s competition.”

Newcastle Jets
Above: Melina Ayres in action for Melbourne Victory last season. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.

Newcastle Jets have announced the major signing of striker Melina Ayres for the 2023/24 A-League Women’s season from Melbourne Victory.

Ayres has scored 30 goals in 84 appearances across all competitions with both Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory and has previously represented the Junior and Young Matildas.

Originally from Murrumbeena in Melbourne’s east, Ayres started her footballing career by playing with Glen Eira Phoenix and then Eastern Lions. She made her debut in the W-League for Melbourne City in 2015, coming on as a substitute and scoring in a 6-0 win against Sydney FC.

Ayres went on to win the 2017 W-League Grand Final. Coming on as a substitute against Perth Glory which was resulted in a 2-0 win.

Melina has also had huge success at NPL level in Victoria, claiming back to back Women’s golden boot awards for 2016 (24 goals) and again in 2017 (40 goals).

From 2017 onwards, the star striker has played with Melbourne Victory where she has claimed a Premiership for the 2018/19 season. Ayres would then go on to win a Championship twice with the Victory in 2020/21 and again for the 2021/22 season. In 2022, Ayres tested herself abroad by playing with Breiðablik in Iceland’s first division.

Ayres is excited for the challenge ahead with the Newcastle Jets and is eager to get underway in Newcastle.

“I’m excited to join Newcastle Jets and link up with Gary van Egmond for a new phase of my career. This is a new challenge for me and I’m looking forward to contributing to the growth and success of the Jets A-League Women’s program.

I’m also anticipating enjoying life in Newcastle, finding the best surfing spots and embracing the football community in the Hunter region.”

Perth Glory

Above: Alex Epakis has signed a new deal as head coach of Perth Glory. Image: Perth Glory.

Perth Glory have confirmed that Head Coach Alex Epakis has signed a new, two-season deal with the club.

Epakis joined Glory ahead of the 2020/21 campaign and has led the team to fifth and sixth-place finishes in the last two years.

The 32-year-old also gained further invaluable experience by taking up a temporary position with the Philippines national team which saw him provide scouting and analysis expertise for Head Coach Alen Stajcic ahead of and during this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

He is now relishing the prospect of building upon the significant progress that has been made over the last three years and propelling the club into the Finals for the first time since 2019.

“I am very excited to re-sign with the club,” he said. “During my time at Glory to date, I have really enjoyed and valued the opportunity to be the Head Coach of a proud team and a great group of people. My focus continues to be set on achieving a level of success that the club, team, staff, and supporters can be really proud of.

“I am really looking forward to the responsibility of leading and working with the group now and into the future. The playing group continues to evolve and I am excited by the great hunger they have to improve and push the boundaries to build a distinct identity that competes to win football matches.

“The club is putting the right pieces in place to support our team goals and I have no doubt that this will continue into the foreseeable future. I am looking forward to the responsibility and challenges ahead.”

Club CEO Anthony Radich, meanwhile, is confident that Epakis will continue to move the club’s women’s program in a positive trajectory over the next two seasons.

“Alex has done a fantastic job since he joined the club in 2020, often under trying circumstances and we are extremely pleased to have retained his services,” he said.

“He is one of the brightest young coaches in Australian football and the progress our women’s squad has made under him is clear to see. Since first taking up the role, he has been very clear on his vision to develop young players and provide them with a clear pathway and opportunity to play senior football with Perth Glory.”

Western United

Above: Western United head coach Mark Torcaso has an exciting new opportunity. Photo: Western United.

Western United have announced that head coach Mark Torcaso has agreed a deal to become the next head coach of the Philippines Women’s National Team – a job he will be doing in conjunction with his existing role at the A-League Women club.

On the back of the Philippines’ stunning debut in the FIFA Women’s World Cup – where Western United stars Angie Beard and Jaclyn Sawicki featured prominently – Torcaso will hope to continue building the nation’s growing reputation in women’s football.

Torcaso said the chance to manage on the international stage was impossible to give up, admitting his anticipation to get started.

“It is truly an honour to take up this position with the Philippines. It is a dream come true to be taking on an international coaching opportunity. This opportunity is one that we couldn’t pass up and we are incredibly grateful for the support of everyone at Western United in making this work.

“The Philippines team has been a great football story over the last year and it is really exciting to be able to work with this group. I can’t wait to get started and bring more success to this nation.”

Torcaso will bring Isuzu UTE A-League Men legend and Western United Under 23’s Assistant Coach Andrew Durante along with him as an assistant coach, with both men remaining in their respective roles at Western United.

Western United General Manager of Football Mal Impiombato hailed this as a monumental moment for the Club to have Torcaso and Durante on the world stage.

“We are immensely proud as a football club that Mark and Andrew have been given this opportunity on the back of their hard work and excellence in their positions,” he said.

“Mark showed his talent as a coach with us last season in getting the girls to the Grand Final in the inaugural season and he is richly deserving of this opportunity.We are delighted to allow them both to take this opportunity while remaining committed to Western United and we look forward to watching their progress with the Philippines in the future.”

This appointment is another indication of the growing reputation of the A-Leagues. With a number of young players moving overseas over the last 12 months, Torcaso and Durante’s export as coaches is reflective of the heights that the A-Leagues continue to reach and aspire to.

Torcaso and Durante will enter camp next week to familiarise themselves with the squad ahead of a first round of matches in September and 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers in October.

That will see Torcaso go toe-to-toe with Tony Gustavsson and the Matildas in Perth, providing him and Durante with a special moment in their careers.

Torcaso has been one of the leading managers in Victorian women’s football since taking over Calder United’s inaugural side in 2016.

After winning a remarkable 11 trophies at Calder, Torcaso stepped into the role at Western United and carried the team all the way to the Liberty A-League Women Grand Final, winning the Coach of the Year award.

Above: Keiwa Hieda – who Western United boss Mark Torcaso is excited to see in the A-League Women next season. Photo: Western United.

Western United has added Keiwa Hieda to its roster for the 2023/24 season, with the Japanese winger set to become one of the most exciting players in the competition.

Joining on a scholarship contract, Hieda has shown her supreme quality after breaking out in Japan, moving to Calder United in NPLW Victoria having top-scored in VPLW last season at Preston Lions.

The 23-year-old has carried that form into the top division with Calder, scoring nine goals heading in the regular season to help guide the team into the finals. Her dominance also continued in the NIKE F.C. Cup where she won the Teresa Deas Medal for the player of the match as Calder defeated FC Bulleen Lions in the final.

Making her first venture into professional football, Hieda is set to bring an abundance of enthusiasm and positivity into the squad.

“I’m really excited to play for Western United. Speed and dribbling is my strong points and I will take advantage of my strengths. I can’t wait to play for Western United,” she said.

“I learned a lot of tactics from the coaches at Calder, and it’s really reassuring to be able to play with them again. I know a lot of teammates and understand their playing style, so I want to communicate with them more and win the title together.”

Western United Head Coach Mark Torcaso hailed the continued impact of the Western-Calder United partnership and said Hieda will be like no other player in the competition.

“Keiwa is in that rare breed of player that plays every game like it’s her first while playing every game like it’s her last at the same time,” he said.

“She has such an appetite and joy for the game, always playing with a smile on her face and that is represented in the way she plays on the pitch. Daring, cheeky, brilliant skill, and an outstanding desire to work for the team off the ball.

“We identified her as a big talent to bring into the Calder system and see if we could bring her in at Western, and she has shown she is more than at the level. Our fans are in for a treat with Keiwa, she is so unique and will be a joy to watch for us this season.”

Above: Silver Bell Morris, who will be part of the Western United A-League Women squad next season. Photo: SBS.

Also at Western United this week, it was revealed that young stars Natasha Dakic, Silver Bell Morris, and Alyssa Dall’Oste will remain part of the club for the new season.

Dakic made 11 appearances for United in her first season as a professional, starting twice while also appearing in the Semi-Final win over Sydney FC.

The talented centre-back has returned to Calder United in NPLW and has quickly resumed her form in that competition as she aims for a heightened role with Western United this season.

Dakic said she is looking forward to being part of United’s follow-up attempt after a brilliant debut campaign in the Liberty A-League.

“I am excited to be a part of Western for a second season. Although we had a lot of success last season, there’s still continued work to do. I am motivated to continue working hard and to achieve more with the team this A-League season.”

Dall’Oste came on for her maiden appearance in professional football in February, playing the closing stages of United’s 6-0 win over Newcastle Jets.

After shining in NPLW with Calder United over a number of seasons, Dall’Oste made her first leap into a professional environment and pushed Hillary Beall in training throughout the campaign.

Remaining one of the state’s top young shot-stoppers, Dall’Oste is eager to continue learning and putting herself forward for minutes in the Liberty A-League. “I’m thrilled to be back at Western this season. It’s exciting to stay and be a part of the continuing growth of the Club,” she said.

“Last season was a great learning experience as my first professional season, so I’m eager to hopefully earn my way into a more regular role this season.”

Morris was the youngest player in Western United’s inaugural Liberty A-League squad, signing as an 18-year-old after impressing in NPLW Victoria with FV Emerging.

Niggling injuries throughout the campaign prevented Morris from making her professional bow, but her ability shone through in training and she will be eager to step out onto the pitch next season.

“With the success the Club had last year, just being in that environment was very cool. I’m really looking forward to the coming season and working towards my debut for the Club,” Morris said.

Western United General Manager of Football Mal Impiombato spoke of the importance of keeping hold of the Club’s talented young players as the side develops beyond its inaugural season.

“We are dedicated to ensuring that our first season in the Liberty A-League is only the beginning of our story and that we continue to improve each season,” he said.

“As a result, it is vital that we are able to retain top young talents like Natasha, Alyssa and Silver Bell and we are pleased to have them continue their professional football journey with us.”

Dakic, Dall’Oste, and Morris continue United’s squad building for next season with 12 players now confirmed for next season and plenty more to come before pre-season starts next month. Other players already confirmed on their squad include Chloe Logarzo, Angie Beard, Hannah Keane, and Catherine Zimmerman.

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Bulleen are premiers. Caitlin Friend reflects on how the title was won: NPLW Victoria Round 22

By Kieran Yap (kieran84@live.com.au) 23/8/23

Above: Bulleen celebrates their premiership. Photo: Bulleen Lions Instagram

Caitlin Friend’s team have claimed the premier’s plate on the final day of the season, following Boroondara’s result against South Melbourne.

Every round 22 game kicked off simultaneously last Friday night, and when the teams took to the field at 8:30pm, the title was still in the balance.

Bulleen Lions 3-0 Southern Unitec and Boroondara-Carey 0-2 South Melbourne.

Coming into the final round, Boroondara-Carey could claim the premiership with a win against South Melbourne. Bulleen Lions hosted bottom placed Southern United and needed a win and for South to get at least a point. Bulleen were without an injured Claudia Mihocic, but looking to rebound from disappointment in last week’s Nike FC Cup Final.

The Lions came out in aggressive fashion and made the breakthrough in the 23rd minute. Alana Jancevski switched flanks to the right wing and cut inside to unleash an unsavable long range strike to give Bulleen a 1-0 lead.

Maja Markovki’s well taken finish in the 35th minute gave them a comfortable lead against the bottom placed Southern United, and those in the stands started to keep an eye on the score at Boroondara’s game.  Markovski was found unmarked in the penalty area after Rosie Rodger’s tricky footwork on the left opened up space for her. The finish was high into the net for the former Melbourne Victory striker’s fourth goal of the season.

Meanwhile, across town, Tayla Christensen’s strike had put South Melbourne 1-0 ahead against Boroondara. The Eagles turned the ball over in back half and the New Zealander showed no hesitation in making them pay. The title looked like it was headed to The Veneto club, but being a goal down was no impediment for much of Boroondara’s season, the team had been a goal machine in 2023, and nothing was certain with another half to play.

Danielle Wise scored for South Melbourne in the 75th minute to give Boroondara a mountain to climb. The captain cleverly made space for her shot and finished on her left from the edge of the penalty area.

Seven minutes later across town, Bulleen sealed their win with Rosie Rodger finishing a terrific move after more delicate and inventive footwork, this time close to goal.

The final results made it look like an easy night, but this was a thrilling end to the title race. Boroondara and Bulleen swapped top spot between them for many of the final rounds with neither able to get a defining result until the final game day of the home and away season.

Boroondara’s campaign is something that they should be immensely proud of. The Eagles return to the NPLW has been a huge success, and they may still claim a Grand Final appearance.

They have recruited well, played every game with attacking verve and approached every opponent with infectious confidence. They signed the eventual Golden Boot winner in Kurea Okino who has lit up the home and away season with 31 goals in 20 appearances.

They supported the Japanese goal machine by getting Margot Robbine back to the club and signing ex Geelong Galaxy midfielder Emily Sutcliff. 2023 will be a season to remember even if finals to not go to plan.

Bulleen are worthy premiers. They have been well organized and perfectly managed. The first half of the season saw them rely largely on reserve players before those with A-League experience arrived.

Although they sat mid table for the opening rounds, they were hard to beat, and deadly from set pieces. It was enough to keep in touch with the top four and build some momentum. When the likes of Jancevski, Paige Zois, Markovski and an incredible Beattie Goad took to the field, It meant that Bulleen had a star studded lineup that had also developed significant depth. The performance of Rodger on the final day of the season was evidence of that.

Caitlin Friend on building a team throughout the season.

“It feels really good to be honest” Bulleen coach Caitlin Friend told Impetus Football after securing the premiership.

“We’ve been working very hard, and I’ve been learning from a lot of mistakes, so to finally win something and to finally get some credit for all our hard work it is almost a bit of a relief, it takes the pressure off a bit. It’s been a really good weekend for sure.”

After having one season cut short by COVID, and coming close in 2022, Friend’s Bulleen Lions claimed the premier’s plate. The relatively comfortable win on the final day capped off what was a carefully managed campaign by the manager.

Bulleen had to build into the season. The first nine league games, they were dependant on academy and reserve players until the A-League stars such as Alana Jancevski, and Paige Zois were available.

This saw Bulleen win only twice in that period, but crucially they only lost once. Friend says it set the stage for the title run.

“It was a very interesting year with all the A-League players coming in at about round nine. I think that changed the whole league to be honest.

“We did really well to secure a good defence from the start of the season, because that hasn’t really changed all year.

“That basically won us the premiership, because in the first half of the season we were really hard to score against. Then it was all about transitioning in eight new players midway through the season which can be quite challenging as well because you don’t want to disrupt any of the team culture you’ve built so far. You don’t want the players that have worked hard all season to feel like they’ve been pushed to the side, and you want those A-League girls to feel like they have to work for a spot.

“That was probably the most challenging part, to make sure the team culture stayed strong.”

The culture was evident throughout the season, with club stalwarts like Alex Natoli reaching a milestone game, and Aroha Little continuing to push for a spot in the senior squad. Rosie Rodger’s match winning display in Round 22 was symbolic of the depth built in the early weeks.

The arrival of the sports big names did not yield immediate wins. It took some time for the team to click, but a dramatic 1-1 draw with South Melbourne featuring a late equaliser by Jancevski was a sign of things to come.

“That South Melbourne game was the best game of the season for me so far. I thought it was so competitive. It was such a great match. I thought we deserved a draw for sure and I thought yep it is going to be a really cool season ending.

“Calder has really lifted since then, now those Bulleen-Calder matches are really high tempo as well.”

Two new faces at The Lions, and one returning Matilda were all instrumental as the season progressed. Beattie Goad rejoined the club after playing stints in the Germany, Spain and with Melbourne Victory. Maja Markovski spearheaded the attack, and Claudia Mihocic joined an already strong defence to make things tougher for the opposition, and chip in with a volleyed goal herself.

“We worked really hard in terms of defensive recruitment,” says Friend of Mihocic’s arrival.

“We also got our visa player Katie Beck, Claudia and a couple of full backs from interstate. That was a huge focus.

“Claudia was a target of mine last season. She has unfortunately been plagued with a few injuries this year…. You can tell when she is available she makes a huge difference for us.

“She could be Australia’s best Centre back going forward.”

Markovski’s form has been vital. After being released by Melbourne Victory, the striker has shown new levels of versatility and consistency with Bulleen. She has scored some impressive goals, but has also worked hard around the ground, pressing and creating space for the like of Goad and Jancevski to exploit.

Her ability to link play from deep and finish chances she helped start have given Bulleen tactical options that few teams can boast. Friend’s faith in the mercurial forward has been repaid by a Markovski that looks rejuvenated.

“Obviously I have believed in her all season and put her in that starting lineup every game. she knows that I back her and she plays with freedom and confidence.

“Hopefully that continues to evolve, and she can really give us something in the semi final.”

The arrival of Goad was a surprise to many NPLW watchers. She has history at the club, but while still contracted to Victory and studying medicine, many fans assumed that she had a full schedule.

The playmaker has looked a class above at times. As a player who has performed against the likes of Barcelona and the German national team, she was always going to dominate on occasion.

“It was really important for her to keep ticking and to have some sort of team and competitive environment,” says Friend of her former teammate.

“She’s a really humble kid as well. She’s added a ton of experience and a ton of quality to our team but is extremely humble and chill about it as well, so all the young girls really look up to her.”

Bullen are the premiers, but life does not get easier. The face Calder United in the first semi-final. A team they have struggled to beat this season, and who claimed the Nike FC Cup a week ago.

Friend has hope that this time, Bulleen can reverse the trend.

“It is funny to be playing Calder three out of the last four games.

“I have put a lot of work into studying them, so I feel confident in how they’re going to come into the game and how we’re going to approach them.”

It will be a tough game. especially against a side that thrives on the big occasion. Is it a blessing in disguise to meet them now instead of the final?

“They always seem to get up in those big games,” says Friend.

“Maybe in the semi-final they won’t get up as much.”

Bayside United 0-1 Calder United

Calder United celebrated their Nike FC Cup win with a 1-0 defeat of Bayside United. Lucy Richards chased down a loose touch by the Bayside defence and tucked away the finish in 21st minute. It was the only goal of the game, and with Calder assured of fourth spot, this game was a formality and a chance for the defending champions to sharpen their game ahead of finals.

Bayside finish in eighth place. After knocking on the top four just over a month ago, results did not go their way in the final weeks, but they had a season that provided much for fans to celebrate. The goals of Kayla Deaver alone were worth tuning in for every week.

Preston Lions 1-4 Box Hill United

A Mindy Barbieri masterclass ensured that Box Hill ended their season on a high. The combination between Barbieri and Perth Glory playmaker Sofia Sakalis has been a feature of the league this season, with the pair being consistent highlight makers for the club.

It was that killer combination that opened the scoring. Sakalis drew multiple defenders and played the ball back to Barbieri who’s looping shot put Box Hill ahead in the first minute.

Kanna Moriya added a second in the 12th minute. Asuka Doi’s quick through ball put the midfielder into space behind the defence. She shot across goal to double the lead.

Emily Kos’s run and cross provided Barbieri with an easy tap in for goal number three before half time.

It took until the 78th minute for Preston to hit the score sheet. Melanie Camilleri tucked home Ella Mastrantonio’s whipped in ball to make it 3-1.

It was not enough to deliver a lifeline for the home side. Barbieri brought up her hatrick in the 82nd minute. Asuka Doi set up the chance with another well-times pass, but there was still plenty to do.

Unable to outpace her marker, Barbieri cut back and inside onto her right boot before curling the effort home from outside of the area. The final score was 5-1 after Doi finally scored one herself from close range. It capped off an entertaining if inconsistent season from Box Hill.

FV Emerging 3-2 Heidelberg United

FV Emerging ended their season on a high with an entertaining win over Heidelberg United. Alana Cortellino scored the opener in just the fourth minute. Danella Butrus’s through ball looked to have been cut off by the visitors defence, but the lightning quick forward snuck in to get to the ball first and finish calmly.

A second half double from Georgia Beaumont put Heidelberg into the lead. Katrina Nikpour and Rina Omiya to tee up Beaumont who lashed her shot home after cutting inside with her first touch.

Beaumont’s second effort was a wonderful goal. After exchanging passes with Nicole Blackett, she looked up and curled home her effort from ling range. The game had suddenly turned in The Berger’s favour. It was 2-1 in a matter of minutes.

Although both teams were on the attack, It was Emerging who took all three points. Anika Dovaston added her own wonder-strike to the evening’s highlights in the 73rd minute to level the scores and Kira Myers scored the winner in the 86th.

With her back to goal and the chance seemingly gone, Myers turned and shifted her weight to create some space. The shot beat Maizel’s through a crowded penalty area and was a stylish way to win a tough game.

The result meant that Emerging finished in 10th position but with plenty to be proud of. As usual they have unearthed some stars. Dovastron and Cortellino were regular contenders for team of the week, and Candice Kilderry earned a move to the US College system. She will play for Little Rock University and has already scored in her first appearance in the new setting.

Heidelberg United have had a tough season, marred by inconsistency off and on the field. Injuries to key players, absentees due to Young Matildas selections and a home ground refurbishment meant that they were unable to regain any momentum once it was lost in the second half of the season.

Expect them to rebound in 2024.

So the preliminary final approaches. Bulleen will face Calder United in a rematch of last season’s Grand Final and the recent Nike FC Cup. Boroondara will host South Melbourne who helped deny them the premiership on the final day of this season.

Picking a winner feels impossible at this point. It should be an enthralling end to 2023’s Victorian NPLW.

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Matilda McNamara: loving her surroundings and embracing the challenge

By Kieran Yap

Above: Matilda McNamara in action for AGF. Photo: AGF.dk official website


Matilda McNamara is feeling re-energised. The former Adelaide United defender has just come off one of the most envy inspiring off-seasons a player could wish for, and after helping Danish club AGF survive a relegation battle, it feels well earned.

Having three consecutive weeks off has been a rare thing for Australia’s female footballers. Historically, many have gone from A-League Women immediately into another league or to NPLW teams. A quick look through McNamara’s holiday snaps on her Instagram page make it look like she has travelled through a fairy tale.

“Me and a friend, we drove down south, got to Germany, Austria and went to a few of the nice lakes there,” she said to Impetus Football.  

“We did that for a about a week, and it was really lovely to get into the sunshine and out of Denmark.

“We went camping for a bit. A couple of places we went to have no phone service. It was really nice to have a disconnect from the world for a second.

“Adelaide is always going to be home for me, but I very much enjoy living here and enjoy coming back here.

“I had these three weeks, I could have gone back to Australia if I wanted to, but I felt staying in Europe was really nice, and I very much enjoy where I live, it’s a great spot in the world.”

Life off the pitch has been rewarding, but the move overseas has been a success in a football sense too. McNamara left Australia as one of the league’s best centre backs. She is able to defend or attack the ball in the air, but is blessed with rare pace for her position and was never hesitant to use it to drive the ball into attack.

The South Australian has represented the national team at every age level, and is seen by many as crucial to the Matildas defensive stocks in future.

Despite the impressive CV, a move to Europe always carries a risk. It seems to have paid off, with McNamara starting almost every match in the heart of AGF’s defence and excelling in a series of must-win games toward the end of the season.

Denmark and AGF was not a speculative move. McNamara was sought out by the manager at the time, and that along with her experience in the A-League Women put her in good stead to adjust to the new surroundings.

“The coach at the time here was somebody who used to play at Adelaide, Katrine Pederson. She actually just reached out to me. Denmark was a very good way to find my feet in Europe instead of going to a team and not playing.

“For me, being a little bit older, being in the starting XI was really important to me.

“That was really nice that she reached out to me, also not really having much of a language barrier was a big thing for me.

“To be able to connect with my teammates and make some really good friends here… it all kind of worked out nicely.

“Luckily while I was at Adelaide, I had a couple of different coaches. You kind of get used to different setups. The main difference is the playing style here. In Australia it is much more physical and high intensity. Here it is very much ball based and possession based.”

McNamara’s days during the season are busy. The football program is intense, and any other time is devoted to studying. She is completing a degree in Data Science which offers a nice change of focus, but also requires commitment.

The dual responsibilities offer a balance to her lifestyle, which help with the demands of high pressure sport.

“A couple of days are full on football days. We get up in the morning, go straight to training. Train for a few hours then get some food, do meeting, then go to the gym and usually more meetings.

“Usually I head to the library after that, or go to a friend’s for dinner on those days.

“Then on the days where we train in the evening, because I’m still studying online, I get myself somewhere like a café or the library and do my work for a few hours then get through to training.

“It’s kind of a hybrid setup with the club I’m at, which works out well for me having to do so much schoolwork.

“The professional days at the club, we’re there from about 7am  to 3pm, it’s a long days but it’s good to get a lot of time on the park, in the gym and with the team.”

It was a pressure filled season for McNamara and AGF in 2022/23. She played every minute of the campaign, and was faced with the unfamiliar proposition of a relegation playoff. It was not something she had faced in the A-League Women or with Adelaide City in the NPLW.

McNamara excelled for the club, scoring in the 2-2 draw with Aalborg to ensure AGF stayed up in Denmark’s top division. Although the experience of a relegation battle was tense, it was something that she relished.

“It was very strange experience,” she said

“If we didn’t survive it, I would be going somewhere else, which is a very weird feeling to have to move because your team doesn’t do well.

“I think it’s such an important part of football, and I would love to see it in Australia sometime.

It just puts higher stakes on games, even if you’re at the bottom of the table you’re still playing for something which I really like.

“If you’re not competing for the title, you’re still competing on some level.

“I was optimistic of what our team could achieve, we had a lot of narrow losses the first half of our season which looking into the season coming up we need to finish games a bit more professionally.

“It was a good experience to have, to know that we can’t let games slip away that easily. At the end of the day winning is more important than playing well when you’re at the bottom of the table.”

Her final season at Adelaide United saw the Reds make finals for the first time in their history. To achieve that, they had to grind out some results, and more importantly every point mattered. It put McNamara in good stead to handle the pressure of a relegation battle, even if the stakes were higher.

She maintains strong links with the club, and trained with United over the Christmas break. She follows their results closely from Denmark where she will remain for at least next season.

Nevertheless, Matilda McNamra remains a popular figure in Australian women’s football. On a NPLW themed podcast by fellow South Australian Nicole Blackett (nee Tilly) she was named in an all-time team by Adelaide United captain Isobel Hodgson.

On that same episode, a new nickname dropped for the star centre back. Fan’s have called her Tilly Mac, but the latest moniker was “Eminem.” This was news to her.

“I really don’t have a preferred nickname, I hadn’t heard of Eminem either that could be a nice one. Till or Macca, Eminem I guess is an option now, but I’m pretty easy as far as nicknames go.”

Whatever we want to call her, the reputation remains the same. She is of Australia’s finest centre backs and A-League Women exports.

AGF start their new season on August 26.

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Spain emerge victorious: World Cup Final analysis

In her debut article for Impetus, Aimee-Lou Caldecourt reflects on the World Cup Final, looking at how Spain won the day against an England side who grew into the tournament (21/8/23).

Above: Spain lift the World Cup at Stadium Australia last night. Photo: SEFutbolFem.

Joy for Spain, heartbreak for England, but how did Spain get it right and how did England get it wrong?

Starting with the starting XIs before the game, looking at them at face value, it emphasised how difficult the two sides would be to break down. England remained unchanged from their 3-1 semi-final win over Australia. Sarina Wiegman had the option of Lauren James to start as well following her suspension but opted to keep her on the bench until the start of the second half.

The one change for Spain, bringing in talented youngster Salma Paralluelo for the experienced two times Ballon D’Or winner Alexia Putellas. Not only for that drop of youth, but Paralluelo has had a huge impact on this Spain side all tournament, scoring a few goals in the process, Putellas having only just come back from an ACL injury a few months ago, the injury which saw her out of the 2022 Euro campaign. Paralluelo became the first teenager to start in a World Cup final since the 1999 tournament.

In the early stages of the game, the advanced wingback role which Wiegman’s England side took on with Lucy Bronze on the right and Rachel Daly on the left seemed to be working going forward, but when Spain attacked, they wouldn’t gather close enough to form what was akin to a back five with the three defenders to stop the progess forward onto goal. Spain seemed to be a much harder team to make the 3-4-1-2 formation work against, which explains why Wiegman opted for the back four instead for the second half.

From the start, it was obvious that Spain would capitalise on the fact that the wingbacks were more focused on the attacking side of their role, so they were able to float crosses into the box easily and were given enough space to do so. This was especially seen with the influence of Ona Battle on the left channel creating many of the first-half chances as Bonmati, who was outstanding, a difficult player to shut down in a high-stakes game.

Spain were able to exploit England. There was some hesitance to shoot and most of England’s forward momentum was then passed back to the defence which in the past had helped England create chances, but against Spain, this looked quite the opposite.

But it wasn’t all doom and gloom for England, Lauren Hemp was by far the most clinical of them all today, hitting the crossbar early on. She found herself in positions where she collected the ball, but couldn’t see past Catalina Coll.

Above: Spain’s young star Salma Paralluelo with the World Cup last night. Photo: SEFutbolFem.

Spain’s goal came from some high-quality football. Lucy Bronze lost the ball to Abelleira and found Caldentey in the space which Bronze would usually have been occupying. Caldentey drove it forward until Olga Carmona ran on and shot just past the gloves of Mary Earps into the bottom right corner.

After the goal, England started to crumble and their shape began to fall apart. Spain were constantly looking for a way to regain possession once lost, sometimes playing two-on-one to pressurise. The only thing saving this misshaped England side was misplaced passes in the final third.

Halftime couldn’t have come quick enough for Wiegman’s side and the Lionesses head coach made two changes, taking off Russo and Daly and replacing them with James and Kelly. This enabled the side to revert to the usual back four which was the go-to before this tournament.

It’s worth noting the penalty call as well. After protests, the decision went to VAR and after a hefty amount of time rewatching the event, referee Tori Penso announced the penalty. Hermoso stepped up, hesitated slightly, giving Earps the opportunity to see which way the ball was going and keep England in the game.

As soon as the Spanish found the way to break down this England side, the game was won. Going into the game, England fans were quietly confident, despite the less convincing wins throughout the tournament. England never really got going in the game, they never really tested Coll.

In addition, the tournament was also rocky for Spain who needed to find their feet again after the heavy defeat to Japan in the group and the unrest that proceeded the World Cup.

All credit goes to Spain as tactically and technically, they were the better side. This is only the start of amazing things for both sides with so much young talent in the works.

Teams: SPAIN (4-3-3): Coll, Batlle, Paredes, Codina, Carmona, Bonmati, Abelleira, Hermoso, Redondo, Paralluelo, Caldentey. Substitutes used: Hernandez (for Redondo 60’), Andres (for Codina 70’), Putellas (for Caldentey 90’).

Scorer: Carmona 29′.

ENGLAND (3-4-1-2): Earps, Carter, Bright, Greenwood, Bronze, Stanway, Walsh, Daly, Toone, Hemp, Russo. Substitutes used: James (for Russo 46’), Kelly (for Daly 46’), England (for Toone 87’).

Referee: Tori Penso.

Attendance: 75,784.

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This is Aimee-Lou Caldecourt’s debut article for Impetus, to read her writers’ bio and those of all our contributors, click here: https://impetusfootball.org/about-our-contributors/

The Matildas and Gustavsson made history, but adjustments are needed for Paris

By Kieran Yap 20/8/23

Above: The Matildas thank the fans following defeat to Sweden. Image: Football Australia

Australia’s top four finish at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup was a vindication of the last four years of tough decisions. There could be more ahead for the players and manager.

The Matildas have finished fourth in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. In the immediate aftermath of a lacklustre loss to Sweden in the third-place playoff, this feels like a failure. In the context of the tournament’s history and the last four years of The Matildas, it is a remarkable achievement.

Prior to this tournament, the last host to lift the trophy was the USA in 1999. The last time a home team got beyond the quarter finals was in 2003. The common notion is that hosting a World Cup gives you a once in a lifetime chance to win it. The statistics show that there is no correlation between the two.

Here is what was achieved at this World Cup. The Matildas finished the highest any senior Australian team has at a World Cup, men’s or women’s, Australia won two knockout games for the first time in our history, The Matildas won a penalty shootout, forever banishing the ghosts of the 2016 Olympics and the 2019 World Cup.

Australia have also routinely beaten European opposition. The Republic of Ireland and Denmark were defeated, overcoming the most pressing issue to come out of the last four years.

Almost immediately after being eliminated by Norway and suffering a surprise loss to Italy in 2019, most of the senior Matildas moved to Europe. That was where the future of the game was, and being able to compete with these nations would be essential.

It took until 2022, and wins over Denmark and Sweden to accomplish this convincingly, but it helped set the stage for this World Cup, and vindicated the sacrifices the players had all made.

When Tony Gustavsson first took over the national side, and the team suffered immediate and huge losses to German and Denmark a top four finish looked incredibly unlikely. The manager continued to press ahead with program of unprecedented difficulty. Improvement was not always instantly apparent, but the graph trended upwards over time to get to now.

The final result is a historic run at a World Cup in front of live crowds and tv audiences the like of which the Women’s game has never seen. On the way there have been highlights delivered and memories created that will last a lifetime, long after the disappointment of the last two games is barely a thought.

That is not to say that everything went to plan, or that the team reached their full potential. Overall history will record this as a successful run, but a closer look shows some issues that need to be addressed for the Paris Olympics should Australia qualify.

The Kyah Simon selection has to go down as a mistake. She is an all time great and a unique footballer, but it was always a risk taking a player with a long term injury into a major tournament. Gustavsson has since said that she was on schedule to return but suffered a setback after the deadline which meant she was unable to play.

In hindsight, this meant that once Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler were unavailable, Australia had no backup centre forward. Simon’s selection was a gamble that did not pay off.

Guatavsson’s use of substitutions will also rightly come under scrutiny. It seems to be a trend of the modern game to make subs late, and having won more games than lost it is understandable why Gustavsson did not want to mess with consistency despite the drawbacks.

That loss proved fateful for the rest of the tournament. A win in the second game would have guaranteed qualification for the knockout stages. More squad players could have been given game time against Canada and others rested.

Instead, The Matildas were forced into a series of must win games, where not risk could be taken. The Denmark game seems straightforward now, but in the moment, had Pernille Harder’s radar been more finely attuned, the result could have gone down to the wire.

That lack of breathing room meant that there was little chance for experimentation.

However, Australia show no significant drop off in form when Charli Grant comes in for Ellie Carpenter or Alex Chidiac for Cortnee Vine. There were still opportunities to rotate some players even in high pressure circumstances.

This is an issue that Gustavsson has said that he will look at, but the “what if?” will always remain, especially as it was visibly obvious that Australia was tiring in the final two games.

The third issue is a lack of a specialist number six or defensive midfielder. Common wisdom says this is an unused Clare Wheeler, but she is not deployed in that role for Everton, nor was she for Fortuna Hjorring or Sydney FC. Wheeler is a mobile, hard running box to box player. She could be used as a stopper, but she prefers to run up and down the pitch rather than left to right to screen the defence and support the strikers.

The truth is, that these players are rare in Australian football. Holly Murray performs the role sporadically for Canberra United, Shay Holman and Taylor Ray for Sydney FC, Amy Jackson for Victory and Leah Davidson for Melbourne City. We know that Emily Van Egmond has not excelled as a defensive player despite dominating in the position for San Diego Wave.

Even after the long absence of Elise Kellond-Knight, no solution was found. Even after the failures of 2019 can be directly linked to “KK” being shifted from that position, was there an attempt to develop someone else who could do the job.

Katrina Gorry, Mary Fowler and Kyra Cooney-Cross were three of Australia’s best and most tireless performers, but particularly against England, Sweden and Nigeria, they were overrun in midfield without a sweeper to mop up.

In time, one will emerge. Sarah Hunter looks like the most likely candidate, but the solution against Nigeria was to have Ellie Carpenter cut inside when Australia had the ball. This resulted in wide open wings for the African side.

The final repetitive issue was a lack of an obvious plan B or C. There clearly was one, as players shifted positions and the team changed formations, but it was not obvious to any onlookers what the team was trying to accomplish when the transition plan had not worked out.

This feels like the only real backward step from The Olympics. In that tournament, Australia rotated the squad each group stage game and used well-timed subs and a major formation shift to overcome Team GB in the quarter-final.

That ability was not really evident in this World Cup, although Australia won more games, finished higher, and scored more goals this last month, the Olympic campaign felt more promising at the time with squad depth used more readily and seamlessly.

Gustavsson has another year left on his contract, there are upcoming Olympic qualifiers just over a month away in Perth. The USA is rumoured to be attempted to poach him, and many are calling for his resignation in Australia.  

His tenure is not certain, no coaches is, but unless three major criteria are not met, he should be allowed to continue and try for an Olympic medal.

  • Does he have any ideas left? If Gustavsson and his staff have tried everything they know and have no more ways to take this team one extra step he should look for a fresh start. I believe he does, the gradual shift in personnel, tactics and improved result show that the team has been on an upward trend. Only he will know if this can be continued by himself.
  • Does he still enjoy the support of the players? This is an unknown, and Football Australia’s review will uncover this. So far, despite the rocky road to now, the players have all shown unwavering support and many have enjoyed the same. The players should be listened to on this subject, or changes made immediately to the way things work if needed.
  • Does he think that Australia can win an Olympic medal? Semifinals at the Olympics and World Cup show that The Matildas can overcome the hump that has plagued them in the past. It shows that Gustavsson was the right man to help them achieve that, but is he the right person to take them one step further? Only he will know that. As a devout analyst of the game, he might have an inkling that this is as far as he is capable of taking them. In many ways, Australia overachieved compared to better-resourced and more battle-hardened teams, but semifinals may be their limit. Just one step below perennial third-placer’s Sweden.

The final point to consider is if there is a realistic, suitable replacement. It is hard to think of one out there currently, especially given the poor results and performances of other nations.

Many Australian pundits like to throw out names like Joe Montemurro, but the Juventus coach has rarely shown an interest in any job outside of the day-to-day business of club land and has no national team program experience.

Mel Andreatta and Leah Blayney are potential senior managers and have both played a big part in forming this current senior side, but even with any game-day deficiencies, Gustavsson’s fourth-place finish at this World Cup has earned him the right to see out his deal.

This was a monumental achievement. It has set a new benchmark and could change the future of the sport in this country for men and women.

It hurts now, and there will always be plenty of work to do, but this was the best performance by an Australian side in senior World Cup history.  In the end, that is how history will remember it.

Australia lost their final two games to teams that most other teams lose to. There’s a gap between us and the other three finalists. More subs would have helped but there are more complex issues at play such as investment in the domestic league and playing more competitive games.

Despite these differences, Gustavsson’s Matildas almost delivered a miracle. Success is within reach.

With some adjustments, they could easily go one better in Paris.

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Gustavsson: “I want to see real investment that shows we’re serious about what we want to do”

Ben Gilby reports on the Matildas’ post-match media conference after their Third Place Play-Off defeat to Sweden as head coach Tony Gustavsson outlined the “serious investment” he wants to see now, and players Caitlin Foord and Alex Chidiac reflected on an incredible month (20/8/23).

Above: Matildas boss Tony Gustavsson at last night’s post-match media conference. Image: CommBank Matildas/Football Australia.

Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson used his post-match media conference after his side’s third-place play-off to call for “serious investment” in the women’s game in the country, outlining the specific areas he believes needs it.

“All I can say is I love working with this team. It resonates with me as a coach – their identity and their ‘why’. I don’t see this as the end of a journey, I see it as a beginning. But I want to be really clear – I want to see investment now, I really do. I want to see real investment that says we’re serious about what we want to do.”

Tony Gustavsson, Australia head coach.

“We have a massive amount of work to do now to capitalise on this. It is a massive achievement for these players if you compare the resources of the top ten-ranked teams. It’s unique. These players, have in some way, overachieved if you look at where they play compared to the top ten nations in terms of how many players do we have in top teams in the top leagues that are starting consistently.

“The FA (Football Australia) will do an in-depth review in a few weeks’ time as they did after the Olympics and Asian Cup. In that review we will learn a lot.

“In terms of investment, there are several key areas – the grassroots and facilities…I’m passionate about the high-performance space. The other area I’m passionate about is the U20 and U23 space. The gap from the youth national team to the national team – we need huge investment in that space. We have seen some players come through where that step is too big.”

Reflecting on the actual match itself, Gustavsson admitted his team found it hard to cope with Sweden’s opening assault, the type of display that saw them overcome Japan in their Quarter-Final tie.

“Sweden came out flying. The first 15 minutes they were all over us – pressing high, very direct in their attack. I don’t think we handled that very well. When we played over that press and started an attack against their backline we had a couple of really good sequences. Then we had that PK that really cost us, it hurt us a lot in terms of the momentum in the game. At the end of the day we lost to a better team tonight.”

After a tough quarter-final with France last Saturday, and a semi-final with England just three days ago, Gustavsson highlighted why he stayed with the same team selection for last nights game in Brisbane.

“If I’d roped in a lot of different players and we lost, then it would have been ‘Why did you change it’? When I said we needed 23 players in 20(23) that doesn’t mean that (all) 23 players should play (a part in the campaign). It was that we needed 23 players. The way the players have stuck together and supported each other, even if it’s the second or third-choice goalkeepers or Kyah Simon…it has been 23 for (20)23.

“In terms of substitutions, we have a clear strategy based on experience and stats. If you look at teams who have gone far in men’s and women’s tournaments continuity of roster have been success factors. The players know this has been a clear strategy. They saw it in the Olympics and they saw it now. We think this might be the reason why we have been able to break barriers, bypass history and create history.

“We did know today that we needed to go to the bench earlier. Trying to find the right time and momentum, when do you do it – unfortunately we conceded that second goal two minutes after we did that double sub. That hurt us a bit tonight.”

The sense is, with the USA potentially circling Gustavsson to be their new head coach, his future could well come down to the powers that be persuading him that they are serious about putting money into the women’s game in Australia to make the future as bright as the present. Football has had so many missed opportunities in the country over the decades gone, it cannot be allowed to happen again.

Above: Caitlin Foord speaking after the match yesterday. Image: CommBankMatildas/Football Australia.

A battered and bruised Caitlin Foord spoke of her mixed emotions after the match as disappointment was combined with pride.

Showing the after-effects of her challenge before half-time with Sweden’s Kosovare Asllani, the Arsenal attacker said: “At this moment we’re fourth in the world but it’s disappointing not to finish the tournament with something round our neck. We feel like we deserved it, we left everything out there, but it wasn’t to be.”

Foord revealed that the true reality of the impact that The Matildas have had on Australia is yet to be fully appreciated by herself and the wider team – something that should change today in their ceremony in Brisbane.

“I never imagined it would get to where it was got now. It’s hard for us to see exactly what has happened in this country as we’re in our little bubble. We did want to change the game here in our country and I think we’ve done that and I think that’s something we can be very proud of.”

Above: Alex Chidiac speaking to the media after last night’s Third Place Play-Off. Image: CommBank Matildas/Football Australia.

Alex Chidiac, who got the second-half minutes that her legion of A-League Women fans have been begging for all tournament, spoke post-match of her belief that whilst the Matildas have ended the World Cup without a medal, their overall impact will have a longer legacy.

“I don’t ever think we dreamed we’d have this big an impact. You’ve seen it after every game. We never used to have that impact on the Australian public, people yelling our names and wanting to be involved. Obviously, it would have been lovely to win tonight or be in the final tomorrow, but ultimately we have something that will last a lot longer.”

Chidiac, a star at Melbourne Victory underlined the importance of Australian fans now embracing the A-League Women in larger numbers with the new season starting in October.

“I’m hoping that off the back of this, we will have a whole bunch of the Australian public going out to (watch) the A-League Women’s competition and support their local clubs. That’s the league we all came from and got us to this point, and we’re really grateful for that support through the league.

“It would make people want to come back (from Europe to play in it), it would make other internationals come here.”

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The ongoing battle to support Human Rights in sport

by Genevieve Henry in Sydney (19/8/23)

Above: From left to right: Craig Foster, Kate Gill, and Minky Worden take part in the event on Thursday. Photo provided to Impetus by: UNSW Australian Human Rights Institute.

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Australian Human Rights Institute, alongside international nonprofit Human Rights Watch hosted an event regarding human rights and sports, specifically the Women’s World Cup, on Thursday night. This event was held on Bedegal land.

Around 70 attendees were treated to a panel of human rights advocate and author, Minky Worden, former Socceroos captain and activist, Craig Foster, and former Matildas captain Kate Gill, the joint chief executive of Professional Footballers Australia (PFA).

With this momentous sporting event capturing the hearts and livelihoods of the Australian public, it is important to remember the conditions not only surrounding Australia but each and every nation and their women and girls in sport. Although funding and resources have undoubtedly improved in the past few years, far too many women experience injustice and abuse in what should be a professional environment. 

The Matildas have made remarkable strides in achieving equity with the Socceroos, having equal pay, resources, and treatment. However, this was not simply handed to them. The Matildas had to strike to get this support. The US Women’s National Team had to go through scrutinisation and lawsuits to achieve equal pay.

Players from nations such as Norway, Spain, and Canada have had to risk everything for the hope of fair treatment. But, even if individual teams can fight for their own equality, FIFA will only award the women a quarter of what the men earn for the World Cup, for the same achievement. There needs to be change on a larger scale.

But, the situation is far worse in some developing countries. The Jamaican women’s national team, known as the Reggae Girlz, had to start a GoFundMe to afford their trip to Australia. The South African team, Banyana Banyana, refused to play in their final lead-up match to the World Cup. Nigeria’s coach, Randy Waldrum, has had to openly criticise his federation for pocketing the money his players should have been receiving. And this isn’t even touching on the abuse that many female athletes receive.

One in three women has experienced physical or sexual abuse in their lifetime, according to a 2018 survey from the World Health Organisation. That is approximately 736 million people. The problem worsens when one looks at athletes. Twenty out of 211 national football federations have active complaints from the players about sexual abuse.

Above: Left to right – Grace Gill, Craig Foster, and Genevieve Henry at the event on Thursday. Photo supplied to Impetus by: UNSW Australian Human Rights Institute.

Far too many women and girls have been abused in a sporting environment. It is baked into the culture. The head coach of the Zambian Women’s National Team has had repeated complaints about him from players. But nothing has been done. The former Haitian coach would frequently assault and abuse his players. Players shared that there were many witnesses, but none said a word. Most players don’t even report misconduct, for fear of jeopardizing their spot on the team.

Kate Gill and the PFA are working on fixing the system, but when there is little to no infrastructure to assist players in dealing with abuse, it’s an uphill battle. “It’s an education process for [athletes], to be able to identify these behaviours that are inappropriate and to be able to assist others that have been exposed to these behaviours.” Gill spoke of how useful unions are in securing the rights players deserve, saying that, “collective bargaining has played a huge role in getting the Matildas to where they are”. 

Women deserve a professional environment, with proper equipment, fair resources, and professional treatment. Without these, female athletes are not safe. It is strongly felt that FIFA is not doing enough to protect them and their human right to participate in sport.

One of the key themes raised was the feeling that FIFA does not put human rights first. As Craig Foster put it, “Sport is in a position where it doesn’t want to put any sponsors, host countries, stakeholders, or anyone else in a position of discomfort”. FIFA puts out statements that could be best described as vague about respect and unity.

Even in this World Cup, FIFA used first nations symbols and designs to promote the tournament. Every game included a welcome to country conducted by the appropriate first nations elders. The traditional owners of the lands that games were played on were recognised. But FIFA has yet to show sufficient evidence of supporting Aboriginal and Māori girls in sport. 

Then there was the hosting of the men’s World Cup in Qatar. Migrant workers who were used as modern slaves to build the stadiums died in horrifying numbers. Indeed, according to figures provided by the Qatari government themselves, nearly 16,000 people lost their lives constructing these stadiums, with causes ranging from heat stress to accidents with equipment.

Foster discussed how even though the players and fans were speaking out and educated on the cause, nothing was changing. He said, “There is literally blood in the field. The field has actually been built on dead bodies.” Corporations need to comply with human rights framework in order for a difference to be made. 

Among all of these topics discussed by the panel of experts, the common theme was that corporations and organisations need to fund sport in a more proactive way, assuring that the money they earn and spend goes towards issues that actually matter and the athletes that deserve that money. 

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Four clubs announce A-League Women signings

18/8/23

Above: Millie Farrow in action during her time with Bristol City. Photo: The FA.

Perth Glory yesterday announced the signing of English forward Millie Farrow for the 2023/24 season.

The 27-year-old brings a wealth of top-flight experience from England where she represented Chelsea, Bristol City, Reading, Leicester City, and Crystal Palace and has most recently played in the US for NWSL outfit, North Carolina Courage.

A former England Under-19 and Under-23 international, she was a part of the Chelsea squad which completed the FA Women’s Super League and Women’s FA Cup double in 2015 and collected an FA Women’s Championship winners’ medal with Leicester City in 2021.

Farrow is now looking forward to embarking upon a new football journey in Western Australia.

“After talking with [Head Coach] Alex [Epakis] and hearing the ambitions and values of the club, I felt it was the perfect fit,” she said.

“It’s a very exciting opportunity and I can’t wait to meet everyone and get started. Personally, I’m determined to help the team in any way possible to reach their objectives. I’m hungry and ready to play some football in the sun!”

Epakis, meanwhile, believes that the new recruit has the potential to make a major impact on the ALW competition.

“Millie is another attack-minded player who has great finishing ability and speed to run beyond lines,” he said.

“She has an impressive history of being part of some great teams in Europe, with the England youth set-up, and in the US. She is a mature and well-rounded individual who will add some strong football experience into the team.

“Her partnership with our other attacking players is something that excites me a lot because we want to be an attack-focused team with different scoring options. Millie has an impressive and inspiring story away from football and she will no doubt prove to be a great mentor and leader within the group.”

Above: Back for another season in Brisbane – Hollue Palmer (right). Photo: Brisbane Roar.

Also yesterday, Brisbane Roar announce the re-signing of midfielder Hollie Palmer for the upcoming season. 

Palmer made her top-flight debut with the Roar as a 16-year-old in October 2017 after coming onto the field as a substitute in the 3-1 victory over Sydney FC. In April 2019, Palmer was named in the Young Matilda’s 23-player squad for the 2019 AFC U-19 Women’s Championship where she played four games in the tournament.

Born in Brisbane, the former Young Footballer of the Year nominee made 27 appearances across a three-season period before moving to Melbourne City for a season.  

She returned to Brisbane Roar in the 2021/2022 Liberty A-League season at a time where Roar Head Coach Garrath McPherson was focused on cementing a strong Queensland core within his squad. Now approaching her fourth season with the Roar, the midfielder is excited to continue playing in her home state and developing as a player. 

“I’m excited, I grew up playing in Queensland so, it’s nice to be able to sign for my home state again,” Palmer said. 

“There are parts of my game that I can see improvements on, but I still think I’ve got a bit to go, and I want to keep developing so I’ll be doing that this season,” she added.  “We want to make finals; it would be a dream to win the Premiership and the Championship so that’s definitely the goal.”

Head Coach Garrath McPherson looks forward to what Palmer can bring to the squad this season with her mindset and confidence on and off the field. 

“Hollie is a strong, confident midfielder who is free from injury and ready to rumble! I am most proud of the growth mindset she possesses. She is hungry for feedback and always looking to get the most out of her training. Over the past two seasons, it has been wonderful to see her using this mindset in areas outside of technical and tactical areas,” McPherson said. 

“Hollie is a wonderful ball-playing midfielder who technically stacks up with the League’s best. We’ve seen her create and score some wonderful goals, and it’s in these areas that we will see her shine this season, a stronger and more confident footballer,” he added. 

Above: Taren King – the former Newcastle Jets star has moved to Central Coast Mariners. Photo: Newcastle Herald.

Central Coast Mariners announced earlier today the signing of experienced defender Taren King for the upcoming 2023/24 A-League season.

The 26-year-old makes the trip down the F3 having spent the last three seasons with Newcastle Jets, playing 34 times for our rivals.

King started her A-League Women’s career with Canberra United, joining the club as a trialist at the beginning of the 2017/18 season. After impressing she ultimately spent three seasons with and made 22 appearances for Canberra, before making the switch to Newcastle.

The defender immediately became a crucial cog in their defence, starting in all of the 34 matches she played for the club. King has currently featured in 66 Liberty A-League games, looking to grow that number this season.

The 26-year-old has also spent considerable time working under Central Coast Mariners Head Coach Emily Husband at Sydney University, winning the premiership with the squad last season.

Husband is extremely excited to have King on board for the upcoming campaign, seeing the experienced defender as an extremely valuable addition. “I am thrilled to have been able to sign Taren to the squad for the upcoming campaign.

“Having someone with the experience that Taren has in the A-League is really important to help guide the players around her as we join the competition this season,” Husband said.

“She will bring stability to the defence, she is good in the air and reads the play well. She is also an awesome human and individual so she will bring loads of positivity into the group.”

King is thrilled to be a Mariner this season, eager to get the campaign started. “I am extremely excited, obviously it is a new challenge with a brand new squad coming together as the Mariners join the competition. It is an exciting prospect for a player to make history with the team coming into the A-League Women’s.

“I have been in the league for quite a few years now so I will bring some experience and communication skills from the back,” King said.

Above: Mariana Speckmaier in action for Venezuela. Photo: Livinotinto.

Wellington Phoenix have added some international quality to their frontline for the 2023-24 A-League with the arrival of pacey striker Mariana Speckmaier for the upcoming season.

Speckmaier, 25, has been capped 12 times by Venezuela since 2021 and was recently on a national team replacement contract with the Washington Spirit in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).

Phoenix head coach Paul Temple believes she is the perfect fit. “We’ve talked from day one about bringing in a striker and a number nine who can help the team in the attacking space,” Temple said. “We were always looking for the right person and feel Mariana is the right person.

“I didn’t just want somebody that could hold the ball up and finish in the box. I wanted somebody who could do that but also be good at pressing from the front and can run into the spaces in behind.

“She’s got speed and athleticism, but is still technically good, and still is hungry to make that next step. Mariana knows exactly what she wants. She’s quite mature about her career, where she wants to go, and is driven. I feel like that’s an attribute that will really help, not just her individually, but the team.”

Speckmaier signed off from the Washington Spirit with a stunning stoppage-time winner against the Orlando Pride in their final NWSL Challenge Cup match earlier this month.

“Mariana knows what it’s like to score in high-profile games and she’s played in one of the best competitions in the world. She scored a bit of a wonder goal the other week, which gets me excited because it shows the quality that she has.

“Our fans too can now start getting excited because we’ve brought in some really high-quality players to complement the talented core we’ve re-signed, and I think it sends a message as to where we want to go.

“With Hope Breslin and the other forwards we’ve signed we’re starting to look a lot stronger from an attacking sense. Hopefully that leads to a high amount of interest in the team and getting people to come to the games and to watch us play.”

Mariana Speckmaier believes she can be a regular goal scorer for the Nix. “I think that’s definitely the idea,” Speckmaier said. “I would love to be that for the team. Just to help the Phoenix team succeed would be great for me, and I want to help the club in any way that I can.

“I’m excited to come in and take the striker role. I played a lot of nine at college and throughout the last few years as a pro, so I’m definitely very comfortable in that position.

“I wouldn’t say I’m your typical nine size-wise, but I love playing in that spot.”

Speckmaier has been on “an interesting road” since. She didn’t play for Washington as much as she had hoped in her rookie season so signed with CSKA Moscow early last year.

“I was with the team in Turkey, where they were doing pre-season but then the war in Ukraine broke out so I told the team I wasn’t going back to Russia with them.”

She then joined Valur in Iceland for the 2022-23 season. “It was super cool to live in Reykjavik. It was really cold, which is not something I’m used to, but it was cool to experience a different type of living situation and Iceland is a beautiful country.

The move to Wellington proved to be an easy decision for Speckmaier to commit to moving to another corner of the globe.

“I grew up in Miami so I’ve been around different cultures my whole life. “My family is from all over so being in different parts of the world excites me more than it scares me. I’m always up for a change to experience other cultures.”

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Norfolk Weekly Round-Up

Darrell Allen is back with the first of his detailed weekly reviews of the women’s football scene in the country of Norfolk (17/8/23).

Above: Rebekah Lake fires the ball over Yaxley Phoenix goalkeeper Kira Markwell to score Mulbarton Wanderers’ first ever goal in Tier Six. Photo: Ben Cunningham.

Match of the Weekend

Eastern Region Division One North

Mulbarton Wanderers 4-3 Yaxley Phoenix

Mulbarton Wanderers made a victorious start to life in the Tier Six, Eastern Region Division One North in a game that was closer than it should have been.

Mulbarton started at a frenetic pace, an exquisite ball from Samantha Walker found Rebekkah Lake but new Yaxley goalkeeper (the highly experienced former Tier four player Kira Markwell) saved well. But Mulbarton meant business and a great ball from Ellie Hunter soon after found Lake once more but this time her curling shot hit the post.

Yaxley began to have their own moments going forward but found Mulbarton defender Megan Belsey in the way on a couple of occasions so there was no way through to the Mulbarton goal.

Mulbarton finally got a deserved lead when a super ball from Hunter found Lake, who chipped Markwell to register Mulbarton’s first-ever goal in Tier Six.

Mulbarton had just the one at Half time but could have been out of sight. Lake found Walker just before the break but the ball stuck under her feet and was unable to get the shot at goal from just a couple of yards out.

Mulbarton started the second half of the game with the same intent as the first, Walker found Lake who wellied it in for her and Mulbarton’s second of the afternoon.

Above: Samantha Walker was inspirational all afternoon for Mulbarton and deservedly claimed their Player of the Match award.Photo: Ben Cunningham.

A flash moment in the contest came when Yaxley’s Alexa Hunter was sent off for foul and abusive language towards match referee Daniel Bird. Hunter has previous disciplinary issues against Mulbarton, having been sent off whilst playing for King’s Lynn Town against Mulbarton in Mulbarton’s victory at Kings Lynn in the Norfolk Women’s Cup Semi Final in March 2022.

You would have thought that would have been the end of Yaxley’s hopes for the afternoon but the Red Card to Hunter seemed to wake the rest of her teammates up, who upped their game whilst playing with only 10.

Andrea Oliviera halved the scoreline and gave Yaxley hope 20 minutes from time and the game then descended into absolute drama until its conclusion. Lake should have had her hat-trick for Mulbarton when she received a ball from Laura Hedtke only to put her chance wide.

Walker was then through on goal but was denied superbly by the legs of Kiera Markwell who performed inspirationally in the Yaxley Phoenix goal all afternoon.  Mulbarton did then re-store their two goal lead when Rebekah Lake found Lanta Griffth who tapped in for the hosts’ third.

Yaxley came back for more in a game you could not take your eyes off. Katie Steward was denied superbly by Jody Todd in the Mulbarton goal before Steward did score with a fantastic clipped finish into the net.

That wasn’t the end of the scoring as a topsy turvy finale saw Beth Edwards finish after being assisted by Alice Ladbrooke as Mulbarton again re-stored their two goal lead. Codie Steward received a wonderful ball to again half the deficit but Mulbarton got over the line to claim a 4-3 victory.

Above: Beth Edwards scored Mulbarton’s final goal of the afternoon in their 4-3 win for Yaxley Phoneix on Sunday. Photo: Ben Cunningham.

A great win for Mulbarton which will give them confidence heading into a tricky trip to Newmarket Town on Sunday.

Teams: MULBARTON WANDERERS: Todd, Belsey, Belsey, Brown, Bumstead, Hedtke, Hunter, Jermy, Lake, Mungham-Gray, Walker. Subs: Edwards, Griffith, Ladbrooke, Spurrell.

Scorers: Lake (2), Edwards, Griffith.

YAXLEY PHOENIX: Markwell, Barhoumi, Frederick, Hatfield, Hunter, Kulesza, Loveridge, Newman, Oliveira, C.Steward, K.Steward. Subs: Cockel, Scott, Willis.

Scorers: Oliveira, K.Steward, C.Steward.

Referee: Daniel Bird.

Attendance: 44.

Norfolk Wrap

Eastern Region Premier Division

Adam Race made a winning start as manager of the Yachtswomen as Wroxham were 12-0 winners at King’s Lynn Town thanks to four goals from Hannah Fuller, a brace from Luci Middleton, and other goals were scored by Holly Connell, Ella Gambell, Tigi Robson, Rebecca Russell, Lauren Bullard, and an own goal.

Above: Hannah Waters scored four goals in Wroxham’s magnificent 12-0 victory over King’s Lynn Town on Sunday to give Adam Race victory in his first game in charge. Photo: Tim Smith.

Eastern Region Division One North

Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers made an eye-catching start as they thrashed last season’s Tier Six North runners up Biggleswade United. Two goals each from Victoria Leyer and Abby Hutchin plus one from Chelsea Brister saw Adrian Tink’s side claim an extraordinary opening-day win.

Fakenham Town were also winners with a 5-3 home success over Wooten Blue Cross, Chloe Gravett and Rochelle Woods scored a two each with Jemma Riches getting the other goal. A brace from Kelly Sutton and a goal from Nicola Henman were the visitor’s scorers. It was a fine start to Fakneham Town’s second season at this level.

Thetford Town produced a sensational 6-0 win at St. Ives Town. Thetford who finished third in the Tier Seven Norfolk Women and Girls League last season, dominated their opponents from start to finish with four goals from Kamile Omeleviciute and two from experienced Tier Six star Jordan Sillitoe on her debut saw Luke Pickford and Amber Browne’s side claim an impressive opening day win against St Ives who finished third last year.

All in all, an impressive opening day for many of Norfolk’s teams.

Above: Smiles all round for Thetford Town as they beat St Ives Town 6-0 in their opening Eastern Region Division One North game. Photo: Thetford Town Ladies FC.

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