Above: Bryleeh Henry (right) after scoring against Chinese Taipei. Photo: Football Australia
Matildas coach Tom Sermanni was full of praise for the in-form Leah Davidson and Bryleeh Henry at the Matildas squad announcement
“The call up was definitely bittersweet,” said midfielder Leah Davidson when asked about her weekend.
The Matilda alongside her also Melbourne City club teammate Bryleeh Henry had both received the email calling them into the upcoming National Team camp after their 1-0 loss in the A-League Women semi-final against Central Coast Mariners.
“We’re really proud of what we did on the weekend as a club, we kept them out for 100 minutes with ten men,” she said.
Both Davidson and Henry have now been called up to the Matildas for the third time.
“Each time you go in you get used to what the environment is like, the first time you’re a bit starstruck,” said Henry before explaining that with each call up, “you can focus more on playing and training and doing what you can best.”
Matildas Interim Head Coach Tom Sermanni only had praise for the two young players when prompted on their selection.
“Leah’s been in the last few camps and has performed very well in those camps so she deserves to keep her spot… [she’s] really held her own in amongst our midfield players,” Sermanni said of Davidson.
When speaking on Henry, Sermanni lauded her ability to play all across the pitch, as she’s able to play as a striker, a defender, and out wide on the wing.
“She’s a versatile player and got the international characteristics that she’s athletically very good, she’s quick, and has the ability to play in numerous positions,” he said.
Now the pair are looking ahead to not just their next appearances as Matildas, but their Asian Women’s Champions League semi-final game.
Melbourne City will travel to Wuhan and enter a centralised hub for the finals of the competition. They face South Korean side Incheon Red Angels in the semi-final on Wednesday May 21 at 10pm AEST, and should they progress, will meet either Wuhan Jiangda or Ho Chi Minh City I in the final.
By Kieran Yap/ interview conducted by Isabelle Campbell. 17/5/25
Above: Alana Jancevski. Photo: A-Leagues
Alana Jancevski is preparing for her second Grand Final in less than 12 months.
The Victory Star and goal of the year nominee lifted an NPLW Championship trophy with Victorian club Heidelberg United in the off-season. Now she is back at her other childhood club ready to repeat that success.
“I think being a part of a Grand Final experience is really important,” she told Impetus at Victory’s open training session.
“I think you can understand (the) excitement, the nerves.
“Obviously going down in that Grand Final and having that real feeling to need to have a big last seven to ten minutes to try and get the result.”
In that game, Heidelberg were down 2-1 until the dying stages, when a late Jancevski corner helped deliver a dramatic win.
“I think being in that position was really helpful and I hope that on the day on Sunday it can help me in tough moments.”
Jancevski’s arrival back at Victory was one of the most heralded signings by the club. A former star of the youth setup, she developed her game at Perth Glory and Adelaide United before returning home and delivering one of her best individual seasons.
Her ability was no surprise to Victory fans, but her role was somewhat unexpected. Following the retirement of Beattie Goad, Jancevski dropped into fullback and has been part of the leagues most uncompromising defence.
“Jeff (Hopkins) came up to me when Beattie retired with such big shoes to fill and he asked if I’d be open to try it out.
“Of course I’d want to do anything for the team and anything for us to win.
“It was definitely a challenging experience and throughout the season there’s been ups and downs where I’ve had such good role models and such good people to help me in that position.”
Jancevski, the prodigal star has more than delivered on her return to the club, and has the chance to cap off the season with her first A-League title on Sunday.
It will mean the world to the 22 year old who once dreamed of representing the club as a child.
“It warms my heart and I know little Alana would be screaming in her boots right now so I think that’s just got to fuel me throughout the game and really enjoy it and put everything out there for her.”
Above: West Ham’s team photo from their 2-0 win at home over Tottenham Hotspur. Photo: West Ham on Instagram.
By Ella McShane (16/05/24)
In the first of a series reviewing how the team’s of the WSL fared in the 2024 to 2025 season, Impetus Football’s Ella McShane evaluates how West Ham United’s campaign went.
The 2024/25 season was one of transformation for West Ham United. A campaign defined by fresh faces, international tours, new leadership, tactical growth and solid foundations for a promising 2025/26 campaign. The Hammers’ journey was true testament to the club’s growing ambition for the women’s game.
Standout signings
The 2024-25 season commenced with a host of new additions to the claret and blue. The most notable among them being Shelina Zadorsky, Kinga Szemik and Shekeria Martinez.
Joining the club as a loanee from Tottenham Hotspur in the 2023-24 season, Zardorsky then made things permanent in the summer, and was later appointed vice captain.
Polish international Kinga Szemik was brought in as East London’s new number one, the Pole playing in every Women’s Super League fixture.
Shekiera Martinez has emerged as West Ham’s star signing of the season. Returning from loan in January, the German international has accumulated 10 goals in 12 matches, and won the Barclays Women’s Super League rising star award.
Above: Martinez (right) goes toe to toe with Manchester United’s Dominique Janssen.Photo: Lindsay Cook for Impetus.
Preseason in Perth; a club committed to the women’s game
West Ham’s campaign officially kicked off down under at the inaugural Perth International Football cup. As this was the first tour the women’s side had embarked on, it represented a new chapter in the club’s commitment in elevating the women’s game.
The preseason tournament hosted the Hammers’ alongside the likes of French giants Paris Saint-Germain, and fellow WSL side’s Leicester City and Manchester City. This provided much needed time for the refreshed squad to build cohesion on and off the pitch.
Above: Katrina Gorry, who was named the club’s new captain at the start of the season. Photo: Lindsay Cook for Impetus.
A new era of leadership; Gorry takes the armband
Upon the Hammers’ return from Australia it was announced that Australian international Katrina Gorry was appointed captain of the east London side. She succeeded her fellow Matildas’ teammate, Mackenzie Arnold.
“It was a special moment…I was really emotional as it is something that I don’t take lightly.”
The Aussie’s example of leadership on the pitch and advocacy for eating disorder awareness and IVF accessibility earned her the Barclays Women’s Super League Champion of Change award.
A team capable of competing – yet struggling to convert
The league commenced, and early struggles were evident within the revitalised squad. A lack of cohesion saw the side unsure of their tactical identity and conceding frustrating goals they were capable of defending.
Following a discouraging defeat to Manchester City in October, Manager Rehanne Skinner acknowledged the teams’ growing pains:
“I think we’re still trying to work on everyone understanding everybody and how they play, as there are still a lot of new players on the pitch.”
Above: The team huddle together after a loss at Manchester City. Photo: West Ham on Instagram.
West Ham eventually secured their first win of the season in a 1-0 triumph against Leicester City at home. A far cry from the 5-2 defeat the Hammers’ faced at the feet of the foxes in Perth just months earlier.
As the season progressed it was evident that the hammer’s attacking identity was still ineffective. Initially adopting a direct style of attack, they then switched to a more effective possession-based approach for the latter half of the season, breathing a renewed sense of confidence into the team.
Shekiera Martinez’ return from loan in January, also played a significant role in the sides converting ability. The German international accounted for 12 of the total 34 goals scored by West Ham this season, all in an impressive trademark fashion.
Season Highlights
The Hammers’ made it to the semi-final of the Subway™ league cup, giving Sonia Bompastor’s Chelsea a hard fought game. Although ultimately falling short, the side gave a commendable performance through the entirety of their league cup campaign.
Crystal Palace away was the team’s most successful fixture across all competitions this season. Martinez netted a whopping four goals in world class fashion, Viviane Asseyi’s worldie earning herself WSL goal of the month and youngster Emma Harries’ score sheet debut in the form of a brace.
Above: Viviane Asseyi with the ‘goal of the month’ award for April. Photo: West Ham Women on Instagram.
Interpreting ultimate league standings
When reflecting on the Irons’ performance during this campaign, their goal difference is particularly illustrative. Although finishing ninth on the league table, the Hammers’ maintained a goal difference of -5.
The most positive figure among all teams outside the top four. Highlighting the sides’ ability to maintain respectable score lines and keep matches competitive.
In conjunction with West Ham’s narrow score lines, you simultaneously must question their ability to maintain a productive winning mentality. The Hammers’ drew with WSL powerhouses like Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United, but then suffered repetitive defeats to compatible WSL sides. An assumingly frustrating position for players, staff, and supporters alike.
Looking forward
Despite the season making a less than ideal start, West Ham have laid solid foundations for a promising 2025/26 campaign. The second half of the season saw the emergence of a clear tactical identity, in particular improvements in their attacking play.
While results may have varied, the Hammers consistently demonstrated their ability to go toe-to-toe with a wide range of opponents, showcasing resilience and an ability to provide consistent competitive match ups.
Above: The FA Cup at Wembley. Photo: The FA Website.
Chelsea and Manchester United: contrasting histories
For fans of Manchester United women, this time last year was a special one. Captain Katie Zelem lifted the club’s inaugural major trophy at London’s Wembley stadium, having bulldozed past Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 in the FA Cup final.
Since that day, there have been many changes for United. Zelem is no longer at the club; she, alongside other key players such as goalkeeper Mary Earps and World Cup winner Lucia Garcia, left United for pastures new.
United have a bunch of new players: Grace Clinton returned from loan with bestie Celin Bizet from Spurs, Wolfsburg’s Dominique Janssen was brought in to bolster the central midfield, and Brighton’s top scorer from the 2023-24 season was added to the mix (Norway’s Elisabeth Terland). In goal, Phallon Tullis-Joyce has taken over the reigns from Earps with style, sharing the 2024-25 golden glove with Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton.
Head coach Marc Skinner has repeatedly referenced that United are a “young” team – both in terms of personnel and in being one of the last of the big Premier-League affiliated clubs to establish a professional women’s side. Whilst Chelsea have had a women’s team competing in the top division since 2004, United’s history has been more tumultuous: a women’s team has been in place in some form since the 1970s unofficially, and the club formed an official partnership with them in 2001.
Above: Manchester United Ladies in the 1980s. Photo: Exploring Trafford’s Heritage.
Chelsea’s journey has been a different kettle of fish. The side’s origins are also in the 1970s, overseen by Chelsea men’s player John Hollins as president. Since the beginning, their legacy has been one based on winning trophies – they won the London Women’s Football Challenge Cup in 1974, beating Millwall Lionesses in the final 4-2. The team were officially formed in 1992, and since then, the story has been glittering: despite a struggle to rise to the top tier, they won the County Cup in 1999, retaining it the following year and adding the league cup and the league title.
Above: Chelsea Ladies winning their inaugural trophy in 1974. Photo: Chelsea FC Website.
They have played in England’s top tier since 2004 and come into this final as one of women’s football’s most successful teams – enjoying a great run under current USWNT head coach Emma Hayes. Hayes departed last summer and whilst many pundits predicted a readjustment period, the team have gone the league season undefeated.
Whilst United celebrated their first major trophy in 2024, Chelsea have won eight Women’s Super League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups, and one Community Shield.
One of those five FA Cups came in 2023, after beating United 1-0 via a goal from Australia’s Sam Kerr. The lineups from both teams for that game are vastly different than the twenty-two who will take to the field on Sunday: Chelsea’s team included Germany keeper Ann-Katrin Berger, Bayern’s Magdalena Eriksson, Canada’s Jessie Fleming. United’s team included the current golden-boot winner and Arsenal striker Alessia Russo, Brighton’s Nikita Parris, Zelem, Earps, and Barcelona’s Ona Battle.
Above: Sam Kerr celebrates scoring to win Chelsea the 2023 FA Cup. Photo: PA Images.
Sunday’s final will be a different battle, however – United have won a major trophy, and are coming off a successful season of their own. Establishing Champions League football for next year and under the leadership of new captain Maya Le Tissier, the Red Devils are looking strong.
Chelsea have recently announced that Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian have invested £20 million into Chelsea Women specifically, which head coach Sonia Bompastor has called a “game-changing endorsement”. The two will attend Wembley, prompting reflections to last year when United’s own major shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe chose instead to watch United men play Arsenal in Manchester. It is unknown if he will make the journey to London this time around.
How have the teams fared against each other?
Chelsea and United have played each other 14 times (since United’s 2018 reformation). Across the 15 games, Chelsea have 12 wins; United have one (last year’s FA Cup semi-final), and there has been one draw.
In the fixture, Chelsea have scored 35 goals, United have scored 10. The last three meetings have all ended in a 1-0 victory for Chelsea, with the goals primarily coming from set pieces.
United head coach Marc Skinner has been talking about the narrow losses and how he hopes his team can bridge that gap: “We are going to have to have strategies as coaches to help the players manage momentum when they’re in the moment, especially for set pieces. It might be visual aids; it might be visual cues. It’s about you being adaptable for every player on that pitch because they’re going to have to make decisions that might go against any plan that you have made.”
What do the stats say?
Across the WSL season, Chelsea have scored 56 goals (compared to United’s 41) and conceded 13 (compared to United’s 16). However, goal conversion is on the red side: United have a 14% shot-to-goal conversion rate compared to Chelsea’s 13%. United are also fonder of headers – eight of their goals have come from headers compared to Chelsea’s five.
A key part of the game on Sunday may be physicality. Both teams have a host of players across the pitch that like to play a physical game, particularly in attacking areas. For example, comparing United striker Elisabeth Terland with Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones: Terland has more shots-per-game (3.3 compared to Beever-Jones’ 2.1, although this could be due to positioning, as the Chelsea forward has been played in different positions up front), and has made more tackles per game (1.3 compared to 0.9). Both players have recovered an average of 2.7 balls per game.
Grace Clinton is another United player who enjoys the physicality of football: making four tackles per game, she also wins more duels (around 50%), and makes more ball recoveries (7.6) from her position in midfield.
In his pre-match press conference, Skinner referenced physicality: “It will be vital, Chelsea can beat you on physicality. Where we’ve been before – I remember last game of last season at Old Trafford, we were beaten on physicality. We were beaten on motivation, whereas, we’ve improved that massively this year.”
Form
From their last five games in all competitions, United have one win, two draws and two losses – although it must be considered that this was a period where they faced Manchester City twice, Chelsea, Arsenal, and a resurgent West Ham. They have scored seven and conceded seven.
Chelsea come into the final following four wins and one loss – beating Tottenham, Liverpool, and United all 1-0, whilst beating Crystal Palace 4-0 and losing to Barcelona 4-1. They have scored eight and conceded four.
What do the managers say?
Marc Skinner: “To beat Chelsea in the final I think is something that is another step for us. It’s a big team, a big game, and it’s gonna be tight, there’s no doubt it’s going to be a tight game. So we have to be prepared for that.”
“I’m really happy with how we’ve performed this season and where we finished. But there’s also the competitor in me that wants to win these games.”
Sonia Bompastor: “We want to go into the game showing pride, but with the exciting news [new investment], you also want to feel responsible for the result we get on Sunday, and show our best version”.
“We have been really focused on that one last game, it’s a very important game for us, a final….we have the opportunity again in one game to win a trophy which will be something exceptional for the team and for the club.”
Chelsea v Manchester United kicks off at 13:30 UK time on Sunday, 18th May 2025. The game will be broadcast on BBC One in the UK.
As Melbourne Victory prepares to face the Central Coast Mariners in the Grand Final this Sunday, captain Kayla Morrison is relishing the chance to lead her team on the pitch after missing the club’s last final through injury.
“Really excited,” Morrison told the media. “It’s just another game, though, and it does kind of feel that way. It’s a headspace I’m trying to stay in.”
The sense of calm heading into such a high-stakes match has been consistent across the Victory squad.
“I actually think it’s a really calm environment at the moment, and just keeping to a normal week, we’ve not done anything differently, and the girls seem to all be on the same page.”
Having played in multiple grand finals, Morrison knows how to maintain her composure.
“I don’t necessarily think that I let the pressure get to me too much, which maybe just shows some mental strength in that area. I just think it’s a privilege to have that pressure and to be in that situation. So I don’t take it as a negative, but just as a positive.”
And when the moment comes to visualise lifting the trophy, she doesn’t hold back.
“No, I think it’s good to have some positive manifestation and to visualise positive things and it would be really exciting to do that. So it’s not something I stray from. If it pops in my head, it puts a smile on my face.”
”She’s been my comfort…”
Victory’s journey to the final has been marked by strong performances and most notably a defensive line that’s been dubbed the best in the league.
“We take a lot of pride in our defense, not only the defenders, but from the nine all the way back. Everyone knows their shape defensively, and it’s something that we really focus on.”
Though it’s a team effort, much of that defensive strength can be credited to her centre back partnership with Claudia Bunge.
“She’s one of my best friends off the field as well as on the field. So it’s a calming presence next to me. She’s a calm person off the field as well, she’s got that personality that just everyone gets along with. So it’s really easy to play next to someone like that, and she’s just been my comfort my whole time at Victory.”
This year’s final will be against the Central Coast Mariners, though a surprise opponent to many, not an underestimated one.
“I think they’re a great team. I think they have a good game plan against us. In saying that I think we play well against them. So I think they’ll bring the best out of us.”
The two sides met in last year’s elimination final, which ended in a penalty shootout win for the Mariners. On preparing for the possibility of a repeat in events, Morrison assured they were ready.
“Ever since we knew we were going to be in the finals we’ve had penalty shootouts at the end of every training session. So I don’t think it’s a nerve-wracking thing if that’s what the game leads to. It will be what it will be, but I think we’re ready for it.”
The journey back to this moment has been a long one for Morrison, who is determined to make it count.
“It would mean everything. I think it would not just be the hard work from this year, but for me personally, the hard work from coming back from that injury all the way through up to this weekend, it would mean everything to me. And to do it with this group of girls, that puts an extra emphasis on it because it’s a special team and I just think that it would be the cherry on top of a good season.”
”I feel valued here”
It’s that connection to the team that makes the moment even more meaningful. It’s also why she recently extended her contract with Victory, a place she proudly calls home.
“I feel valued here. I feel like I belong. Jeff [Hopkins] takes my opinions and makes me feel like he’s truly listening to me. I just feel like a really valued part of the puzzle here. The girls are like my sisters, some like my daughters. It’s a really comfortable place for me and that’s a special feeling.”
Morrison also reflected on her time during the offseason at Bulleen Lions in the NPLW and early pre-season training as key to Victory’s readiness.
“There were a lot of us working in that off-season. I also think we were already starting to play together earlier than a lot of teams, there were only a few of us there, but it did kind of bring excitement, starting to understand each other better, and we just had more fitness, more gym and more touches on the ball. So I think that has played a really important role.”
As captain, her role extends to helping her teammates manage the mental side of such a high-stakes game.
“I think just talking to the girls about it as just another game. There will be a lot of outside influence on the game and there’ll be more people there, but it is just another game if you go out and follow the game plan. Once the whistle goes, you kind of forget the surroundings and you just know that you have to win this game, just like we felt in the league. So just reminding the girls to feel your emotions, but when you go out there, there’s a job to be done.”
And on the growing calls for VAR to be implemented in key A-League Women’s fixtures following the controversial goal that sent the Mariners through to the final?
There are many stories every year surrounding the A-League Women’s Grand Final, and this year perhaps one of the most interesting is that of Melbourne Victory’s goal keeper Courtney Newbon.
It has not always been an easy journey in the A-League Women’s for the 24 year old, who has bounced around a number of clubs in the competition before finally settling at the Victory.
Last year was a particularly crazy year for Newbon, starting the year as a temporary replacement player at the Central Coast Mariners before moving down to the Victory and ending the year as the first choice keeper at the Victory.
“I think last year was honestly a bit of a whirlwind” Newbon confessed.
“At the start of the year, I wasn’t playing A-League at all last season. I then turned around and played at two different clubs and played maybe 17 odd games or whatever it was, it was definitely unexpected.
“I almost felt like I was maybe thrown in the deep end a little bit, but I think I dealt with it in the best way that I could have and I guess maybe I used that as an opportunity to get to Victory and now I’m here and enjoying myself and enjoying my football.”
Newbon certainly feels grateful to have finally found a home after all those years bouncing around a number of clubs.
“It’s a great feeling. I think like any player, I would’ve loved to have found this right at the start of my career, eight years ago at Wanderers or whenever it was” Newbon said.
“But to finally get here and finally being a club that has taken me and has believed in me, has actually given me a solid chance, has been something that I’ve been super grateful for and maybe something that I was missing a couple years ago.”
This Sunday’s Grand Final will see Newbon play her old side the Mariners, but Newbon said that she does not have the same feelings facing them that she would have if she had played there for a number of years.
“It’s a bit of a weird one, right?” Newbon said.
“Central Coast was my old club, but at the end of the day I only played four games there on an injury contract. So I was never there for years and years and that sort of thing. So, I still want to go out, I still want to win. I want to get one back on them from last year.”
Looking ahead to this weekend, Newbon is certainly feeling excited about playing in the biggest match of the season.
“It’s awesome. It’s something that everyone would love to do some point in their career and I guess to do it so early on in mine, it’s something that it’s pretty amazing and something that I’m pretty proud to achieve” Newbon said.
Newbon also agreed that because she is so early on in her career that the emotions surrounding making the decider are amplified.
“I think I’m quite good at maybe compartmentalising things, so I’m trying to stay quite calm and cool and relax. But I’m sure the closer we get the more maybe nerves or will kick in, that’s part of the occasion, right?”
Controlling nerves and emotions around such a big game can sometimes be a struggle, but the ever professional Newbon certainly has a plan for what she is going to do.
“I think just maybe treating it as a normal game as best as I can, going through my processes and what I typically do on a normal game day, and try not to stray too far away from that,” Newbon explained.
Melbourne Victory were the first side to book their place in the decider, but as their players watched on to see who they would be playing, Newbon said that there was not a preference among the group as to who they wanted to win the other semi between the Mariners and Victory’s crosstown rivals Melbourne City.
“I don’t think we were too concerned” Newbon said.
“I mean, we would’ve loved a Melbourne Derby just because it’s a Melbourne Derby and we haven’t got one over them this year. That would’ve been nice, but at the end of the day, we weren’t really concerned which team we got. I think we back ourselves and we know what we can do that it wasn’t a huge concern at the end of the day.”
During the first leg of Victory’s semi final win over Adelaide, Newbon picked up a goal assist, a rare feet for a goalkeeper, after her long kick from defence set up Emily Gielnik who then scored the first goal of that match.
🔥🚨 GOALKEEPER ASSIST IN THE SEMI-FINAL! WHAT A PASS.
Melbourne Victory keeper Courtney Newbon produces an extraordinary ball to set up Emily Gielnik for a beautifully taken opener.
“That was awesome. That I think is a career highlight” Newbon said with joy when reflecting on that moment.
“I joke about it with my teammates. I’ll say at training I’m going to get an assist this weekend, and so some may say I manifested it, but yeah it was pretty cool. I was in shock I think.”
Already with a three goal to one lead in the bank heading into the second leg, Newbon said that Victory did not rest on their laurels in the return leg of the tie.
“We really treated that game like we didn’t have the lead,” Newbon explained.
“We treated that game like we had to win, like we treated every other game this year. We’ve had to go in and had to win and maybe had to grind it out and we were prepared to do the ugly stuff if we needed to.
“I think we were quite fortunate that we got that first goal quite early on, and then it leaves Adelaide in a place where they have to score three, so it’s obviously a little bit more of an uphill battle.”
All of this is the culmination of quite the journey for the star goal keeper, who may have never even become a goal keeper if it was not for a successful representative team trials back in the day. Originally an outfield player, she decided to trial in goals at those trials, and backed by the confidence against potential pain given to her by her rugby league days, she made that team as a goal keeper and the rest is history.
It is a sporting cliche that a great team is better than a team of great players. This season has shown that Melbourne Victory is both at once , and they can prove it on Sunday.
Melbourne Victory are in form. They are undefeated in 15 games, and have only conceded nine times in that streak. During that impressive run, only once did they concede multiple goals.
Impressively, they have done this while rotating the backline dure to injury or departures. Laura Pickett and Rosie Cutis have both deputised for Ellie Wilson while the English fullback was injured, while Alana Jancevski has been a revelation at left back.
This shows that Victory have a game plan that works and the depth and talent to execute it every week.
Only a near perfect season by local rivals Melbourne City denied Victory a top of the table finish, but statistically, they are the best team left in the finals race, with defensive stability, a star studded but hard working midfield and an attack boasting firepower in the starting XI and on the bench.
This is a side that has been unbeatable for more than half the season, and have the experience, discipline and talent to win this Grand Final.
Talent and Grit
Melbourne Victory have big names. There are senior internationals in midfield, attack and defence. They have players capable of changing the game across the pitch and almost every player in the squad is capable of scoring.
Importantly, this is not an all-star team. They may be a team of great players, but they have shown a willingness to sacrifice their own ego’s to win games.
Alex Chidiac has built her reputation as a playmaker with dazzling feet and an eye for goal, but she has played in a much deeper position this season. Often she is found receiving the ball from the defenders or winning it from the opposition.
Jancevski was signed as a wide forward capable of curling crosses and thunderous shots, but has emerged as an uncompromising, and disciplined fullback who still manages to chip in with a few long range goals.
Nikki Flannery has shown a willingness to switch flanks to help make room for Emily Gielnik’s finishing, and Sara D’appolonia is are selfless as she is tireless, running from box to box, retrieving any loose ball and forcing midfielders into hurried passes.
Victory can fight out games, they can grind out results and they can score heavily when they need to. Whether in an arm wrestle or a shootout, they are equally comfortable, and it makes it nearly impossible to deny them their preferred gameplan.
Peaking at the right time
Although they have been winning for most of the season, the semi finals have seen victory at their best. Against one of the league’s most entertaining attacking sides in Adelaide United they looked more dangerous in attack and more stable in defence.
They did concede in both legs, but ended the tie 6-2 ahead on aggregate, with Claudia Bunge and Rachel Lowe both scoring braces in either game.
Victory scored from set pieces, good old fashioned wing play, and precision long balls from the very last line of defence to overcome The Reds and the two wins sent a message that Victory could still improve on their 15 game run with an even stronger performance when it mattered most.
Head to Head History
This season, Victory enjoyes the edge over The Mariners. They have drawn 1-1 away, but won at home 2-0. Interestingly, Victory looked to have the stronger side in the drawn game. Beattie goad had not yet retired and Ellie Wilson was available.
Both first choice fullbacks were missing from the winning result, with Central Coast missing the talismanic Izzy Gomez.
Victory look more settled now than they did on either of those days, and are a far more formidable side than the one that lost to The Mariners on penalties at the end of last season.
Tactically, Victory are unlikely to have the same vulnerabilities that undid City. While Central Coast love a counter attack, Jeff Hopkins prefers a structured and deeper defence, even when his side is attacking. The matchup of a side that likes to score on the break against one specifically set up to avoid that happening will be fascinating to watch and this could be decided by set pieces, which Victory also excels at.
Game Changers:
Kayla Morrison
The Victory captain is a chance to win the Julie Dolan Medal this season. She has been among the best players every week in a campaign that has seen her play every single minute.
Morrison scores goals, marshals the defence and helps start attacks with her impressive passing range.
She has been one of the best players in the league this season and is a centeback that opposition coaches need to plan around at both ends of the pitch.
When your centre-back can hit them like THIS 😮💨🎯
Off the underside of the crossbar and in, that is some goal from Kayla Morrison to open the scoring for @gomvfc!
She’s a substitute, but shes often decisive. Furphy has an eye for goal, a deadly shot and impressive speed on the ball.
The wide forward is usually brought on in the second haldf either to break deadlocks or turn momentum back in Melbourne’s favour and she almost always manages to impact the game.
In less than half a season, Furphy has established herself as a star of the competition. A highlight machine who has shown impressive consistency.
Rachel Lowe
Another player forced to sacrifice her natural game for the benefit of the team. Lowe is generally seen as a number 10, or deeper playmaker, but at Victory she has been used at the point of the attack. Often battling with her back to goal or as rhe first to start to defensive press.
Lowe is one of Victory’s real barometers, she might not feature in the player of the week polls, but for Victory to win, she will need to have a good game, or at least execute her part of the plan to perfection.
Wildcard
Ella O’Grady
The former Young Matildas striker has had limited game time this season, but if she is turned to by Hopkins she has the ability to define this contest.
O’Grady can score from almost anywhere inside half way and has phenomenal running power. She can burst clear of defenders or go straight through them. As we saw last season with Shea Connor’s winning foal for Sydney FC, a substitute striker can make the day their own if they take their chance to when it arrives.
The Central Coast Mariners are preparing for their biggest moment since rejoining the A-League Women in the 23/24 season. Just two seasons into their return to the competition after a 14-year absence, they now stand on the brink of something few could have predicted: a shot at the title.
Their opponent, Melbourne Victory, brings no shortage of finals experience but Central Coast have shown all season that they’re more than capable of matching up against the league’s best. They’ve earned their spot in the Grand Final not through luck, but through tactical clarity, resilience under pressure, and a belief in their system.
A Team Built for Finals Football
Under head coach Emily Husband, the Mariners have formed a clear identity: defensively disciplined, efficient in transition, and composed in big moments. Their style of play may not be the most flashy, but it has kept them competitive in every match and helped them take points off some of the league’s top sides. In many ways, they’re built for knockout football. They don’t need to hold the majority of possession to control a game, they use organisation, patience, and the ability to strike at the right time. And they’ve shown they can do exactly that.
Semi-Final Statement
Their semi-final win over Melbourne City wasn’t just a great result, it was a landmark moment. City entered the tie unbeaten all season. But the Mariners matched them over two legs, holding firm in defence and delivering the decisive though controversial goal in extra time through Izzy Gomez, whose last-minute strike secured a 1-0 win on the night and a 3-2 aggregate upset.
It was a performance built on belief in a system that has proven itself time and time again and goes to show that they should not be counted out too early.
Victory may have taken the edge across three meetings this season, with two wins and a draw, but the gap has been marginal. All three matches were tight, with only one goal separating the sides in their most recent encounter. The first of those, a 1-1 draw in Round 4, came without Gomez, whose return to the team has added significant threat in midfield.
And it would be wrong to not mention that just last season, it was the Mariners who knocked Melbourne Victory out of the finals through a penalty shootout. The Mariners team knows how to handle the pressure, and how to beat this particular opponent when it matters most.
Underdogs Edge
If Melbourne Victory are expected to win, then Central Coast gets to play with something even more valuable: freedom. Without the heavy burden of expectation, the Mariners are able to head into the final full of confidence, lifted by their recent momentum, and focused on playing to their strengths.
They’ve already proven they can beat the best. Now, with belief, structure, and a little bit of grit, they might just be ready to go all the way.
Game Changers
Izzy Gomez
Izzy Gomez has been a revelation since returning from injury, with six goals and three assists in just 15 matches. Her winning goal against City underlined her ability to rise to the occasion. Just this week, she was recalled to the CommBank Matildas squad, after receiving her first call up late last year but having to withdraw due to injury. This call-up is a clear sign of her rising profile on the international stage.
ISABEL GOMEZ, TAKE A BOW 🔥
The midfielder scores her second career goal in style to double @CCMariners' lead! And how about the cheeky nutmeg in the build up 😮💨
In defence, Jessika Nash brings composure and leadership well beyond her 20 years. A former Victory player herself, she’s been a stabilising presence at the back for the Mariners and could prove vital in shutting down her former teammates. Despite her youth, she has emerged as one of the most reliable and composed central defenders in the league. Nash’s maturity on the ball and her ability to read the game make her a key figure in the Mariners’ backline.
Sarah Langman
Between the posts there’s Sarah Langman, the league’s top shot-stopper. No goalkeeper made more saves or had a higher save percentage this season. Against a team like Melbourne Victory, who thrive on set pieces and often apply immense pressure in the final third, Langman’s presence becomes even more invaluable.
Wild Card- Brooke Nunn
Nunn brings energy, creativity, and experience to the Mariners’ attack. She’s known for her flair and ability to beat defenders one-on-one, using sharp footwork and clever movement to find space and create chances. Her impact was clear in the first leg of the semi-final against Melbourne City, where she scored a crucial brace to keep the Mariners in the tie. She also thrives on frustrating her opponents, often drawing fouls and forcing errors through relentless pressure. That ability to get under another player’s skin was on full display in the second leg, where her pressure and knack for riling up the opposition led to City’s Lourdes Bosch receiving a red card, a turning point that left the side with just ten players.
Above: Aleks Sinclair is congratulating after scoring the goal for Spring Hills.
Spring Hills FC drew 1-1 with Heidelberg United in an entertaining and attacking game that was ultimately decided by Bergers goalkeeper Mia Bailey and Sprng Hills custodian Jenna Ibrahim.
The newly promoted Spring Hills have been impressive since arriving in the NPLW Vic. They recruited strongly in the off-season, adding the likes of former Western United players Natasha Dakic and Aleks Sinclair to join firepower in the form of Julia Budiongo.
Results have been mixed so far, but performances have been encouraging and scorelines have recently started to better reflect ability. In Round Seven they drew with the previously unstoppable South Melbourne, and this week, they faced the reigning champions Heidelberg United.
Both sides began the match in attacking style, with Heidelberg’s Asuka Miyata looking particularly industrious for the visitors. For the home side, Sinclair looked like she was on a mission to make an impact.
The Spring Hills attacker was a constant threat, using her experience and pace to create chances wide and behind the Heidelberg defence. A Dakic long pass resulted in a cross to Budiongo that was cleared, but moment later, Sinclair put her side ahead.
It was another long ball, and another ghosting run that broke the deadlock. Yikina Tamamura’s ball floated behind the Heidelberg defenders and landed between them ands their goalkeeper. Sinclair’s first touch took her around Bailey and her second bundled the ball over the line to make it 1-0.
Heidelberg are not a side that drops their heads however, and they immediately surged in search of an equaliser. Kathryn Vlahopoulos’ long range strike found Ibrahim equal to it, but the diminutive dynamo found a way to level the scores before half time.
Matsuda’s vision unlocked the Spring Hills backline with a first time pass and Vlahopoulos cruised into the area. With plenty still to do, and the defenders back in position, Vlahopoulos hit the ball with power at the near post. Ibrahim got behind it but could not keep it out as it bounced over the line.
Despite the breakneck speed of the game and attacking intent of both sides, clear cut cchances were rare, and both goalkeepers were equal to whatever was thrown at them for the rest of the game.
Bailey was regularly quick off her line, and brave at ground level to snuff out any danger. Ibrahim’s positioning and athleticism denied Heidelberg. Low scoring draws can sometimes makes for laborious highlight packages, but both goalkeepers made their opponents realty earn their chances, and prevented them taking any in a captivating battle.
Sinclair looked likely to add a second and re-take the lead in the 53rd minute. she was in acres of space to meet Olivia Anderson’s perfectly placed cross, but skied her effort over the bar.
A piece of magic, against from the veteran Sinclair almost created the winning goal. Despite falling to ground, she maintained possession, drove into the box and cut the ball back for a teammate. The shot was barely 10 yards out and struck well, but Bailey pulled off a miraculous save to keep it at 1-1.
Heidelberg had more shots on goal for the match, but none to equal that opportunity, and can thank the former Brisbane Roar shot stopper for leaving the round with a crucial point.
The result keeps them in second place, and particularly in this very even and extremely competitive season, every point matters.
Next up, Spring Hills FC will look to build on two impressive performances on their trip away to face Brunswick Juventus. Heidelberg will aim to return to the winners list when they host Preston Lions.
In other games, Box Hill put give goals past Brunswick Juventus for their third win of the season. Goals to Katie Cox, Victoria Zikas and Olivia Ellis effectively ended the contest before half time.
Josephine Aulicino and Zoe Hudson added two more after the break.
Preston Lions looked set to end South Melbourne’s undefeated run until the dying stages of the game. Ellie Vlaeminck opened the scoring for the home side in the sixth minute and supporters dared to dream of victory until the 90th minute when Mami Ambo levelled the scores for South Melbourne.
An Emma Langley brace helped Essendon Royals defeat Bentleigh Greens 3-2 at home. Fijuwara Airi added a crucial third for The Royals, while Bentleigh’s were scored by new recruit Sidney Allen with Delaney Kenney’s 70th minute strike offering some hope of a comeback.
Danella Butrus starred once again for Bulleen against her old side. The defending premiers defeated FV Academy 5-0 due to a second half blitz that saw them score all their goals between the 60th and 82nd minutes.
The pace and finishing of Butrus and Anais Josefski did most of the damage for the home side. Josefski’s line breaking speed provided the opener, before Butrus, Nia Salleh and Sarah Cain added their names to the scoresheet. Butrus brought up her brace in to round off the scoring in a tough end to an otherwise promising performance from the Academy side.
Boroondara-Carey Eagles defeated Alamein in the final game of the round. Two goals from Candela Ferreya-Bas were scored either side of one from Emily Collier to give the home side a 3-0 win against their in-form opponents.
Above:Annalise Rasmussen celebrates – the forward is positive that her and her team mates will have a lot more to enjoy on Sunday at the A-League Women Grand Final. Photo: Central Coast News.
Days after defeating ‘invincible’ Melbourne City in a thrilling semi-final showdown, the Central Coast Mariners have returned to Gosford, in preparation for the 2024/25 Ninja A-League Grand Final against Melbourne Victory.
“I’ve just been thinking of it as another game, and I think just trying to play the game, not the occasion,” says Mariners forward Annalise Rasmussen.
The upset, which put the Mariners in their first-ever grand final, has left the squad full of confidence as they head into Sunday’s showdown, with Rasmussen saying “100% like, I think our goals from this season as a team, like obviously one of the top four finishers we got, and then I think our ultimate goal was to make the grand final”
Head coach Emily Husband doesn’t feel a need to change up her team’s tactics or mindset as she carries them into the biggest game of their campaign.
“Yeah, obviously, I think all of the preparation that we’ve done up until this point will all go into this game. I don’t think there’s too much you’re going to change within a week.”
“It’s just down to the little tweaks that we can make tactically and to overcome some of their strengths and to make sure that we expose some of their weaknesses.”
Whilst the Mariners are entering the match as the underdogs, with Melbourne Victory the favourites to win at their home ground of AAMI Park, the perceived disadvantage hasn’t fazed the Mariners, but has in fact given them even further motivation to bring the trophy home.
Above: Central Coast Mariners head coach Emily Husband. Image: Central Coast Mariners.
“We’ve always been classified as the underdog everywhere we’ve gone, you know, even after how well we did last year, I don’t think anybody anticipated us to do as well as what we have again.”
“We kind of used that to give us a little bit of fire in our bellies, so we’ll continue to use that, let it help us.”
The sense of assurance that has been instilled in the squad this campaign was further cemented, as they became the first team to beat Melbourne City this season, while Husband has always had the belief that her team has what it takes to take the title.
“I always had the belief in the players that I’ve picked that they can do something extraordinary, and they have done that, ” the Mariners head coach said, adding, “I was so determined the last two weeks that we had weren’t going to be our last.”
It’s a particularly sweet moment for Rasmussen, the first player signed upon the team’s reinstatement, after leaving the league in 2009. “ I feel like it hasn’t really hit me yet, but like once I’m in the stadium and I see the crowd and my parents and everyone there, like I think that’s when it’s really gonna sink in.”
“Everyone’s unbeaten record has to come to an end at some point, as we found out this weekend,” says Husband, reflecting on the success streak of her opponents, Melbourne Victory. “We went through a poor patch of form – we didn’t win a game in five; we came out of that patch, and there was a lot of concentration for us around our mentality in that area.”
In terms of preparations, the squad is as expected following a 120+ minute showdown this past week, Emily Husband says, “There’s been a high emphasis on recovery and making sure that players are rested and ready to go for the game.”
Above: Annalise Rasmussen. Photo: A-Leagues.
“I think obviously we’re super excited to play Victory. That last game we played against them, we did lose that game, but I think as a collective, that was one of the best games we’ve played as a team.”
Central Coast’s history against Victory has been a tumultuous one, losing their past three meetings, but never without a fight, and they are not willing to back down now.
“To score off a set piece, obviously it’s disappointing, but I think that just shows how much we limited their chances.”
Heading to a grand final is nothing short of a dream come true for the Mariners at the tail end of a successful campaign, and they are confident that their strength as a squad can carry them through to the win.
“I think they struggled to break us down defensively, and I think that’s a big credit to us, our defensive discipline, but you know, full confidence going in there, and there’s no doubt we can beat them.”
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