Polkinghorne: “Really special to be able to play one last game here at home.”

Above: Clare Polkinghorne in action against Iran. Image: Kris Goman for Impetus.

By Genevieve Henry (28/11/24)

A legend of the Matildas, Clare Polkinghorne is preparing for a “really special” final game in green and gold. The most-capped Australian will say her goodbyes to the professional game (at least as a player) in her home in Brisbane against tough rivals Brazil.

“It’s really special for me to be able to come back to Brisbane and play one last game in the city that I grew up in, in a stadium that means so much to me, and in front of my family and friends and all the people that have helped me along my journey who I wouldn’t be here without today. So (it’s) an opportunity for me to thank them for everything that they did in my career and yeah, just really special to be able to play one last game here at home.”

Looking ahead to the game tonight, Sermanni spoke of sending out his best lineup and the fitness of the group. Even with some of the European-based players having little preparation time, Sermanni and the players themselves are looking forward to a tough match. “They want to be out there and they want to be out there for 90 minutes, so we will be putting out our strongest team possible.”

“With the group that we’ve got in here, everybody, touch wood, at this stage is fit and healthy. Unfortunately, leading into the camp, I think we’ve had seven players, for a variety of reasons, that have been unavailable, so that’s been a little bit challenging. But other than that, everybody’s fit and healthy.” 

Above: Australia interim head coach Tom Sermanni speaks to the media about team selection. Photo: Football Australia.


“The reality is that if you feel you’re not in a place to turn up and play and be ready to play, whether that’s physically or mentally, it is important to make those decisions and for us as an organisation, it’s important to keep supporting those players and to make sure that they come back fit and healthy and ready to play, and hopefully have real long careers ahead of them.”

Polkinghorne said, “I think for me, the main thing is the team comes first. So whatever Tommy decides, that’s up to him. It’s just about being part of the night and enjoying it and celebrating the career that I’ve had.” 

“I think a lot of my focus will probably be on the game itself. Obviously, it’s another opportunity to represent your country and playing a team like Brazil. So they’re always tough, challenging games for us and games that we look forward to.”

Sermanni joked, “Well, she’s not playing!” 

The Matildas interim head coach heaped praise on Polkinghorne, saying, “it’s a very, very special night. You know, in elite sport it’s not often that a player or an athlete gets to sort of go out on their own terms in such special circumstances. But if there’s anybody that deserves it, it’s Polks…”

“We use the word legend very loosely these days, but I think it describes her. She’s been not just a stalwart within the team on the field and off the field. She’s been the absolute team player. I know from my times in charge that I’d play her anywhere and everywhere, and she just did it with aplomb, shall we say. It’s going to be a fantastic night and a great way to finish a fantastic career.”

With Polkinghorne only days ago announcing that she will not only be retiring from international, but club football as well, this could very well be her last series of games. “Yeah, I don’t think it’ll quite hit me until after. But yeah, I think the focus for me the next week or so is just to enjoy the last few games. I’m really excited about my next chapter.”

Above: Clare Polkinghorne reflects on her career to the press ahead of her final game. Image: Football Australia


“Something I would love to pursue in the future is coaching and just staying in the game. Football’s given me so much in my life and I think it’s really important for me that I’m able to give back, and continue to help the game grow, and help the players grow, and hopefully pass on a little bit of my experience and knowledge to the next players coming forward.”

Sermanni commented, “I think she’s ready to go into that next stage and that red hair will probably turn my colour if she goes into coaching.”

With a remarkable and record-breaking 167 international caps, Polkinghorne will be departing the game as one of the best to ever do it. Polkinghorne has high confidence that her record will soon be overtaken. “I think it’s definitely going to be eclipsed and probably sooner than we think. I think there’s going to be a number of players that will play many more games than that and I think it’s just a testament to the growth of the game that we’re playing more international games. It’s going to be really exciting to see how this team continues to grow.”

An international career spanning an incredible 18 years, Polkinghorne has been there through it all in the development of women’s football. From a financial standpoint, as well as dozens of others, the game has had incredible growth, but it’s still not enough. 

The defender commented, “there’s a lot of players that came before me that did a lot of hard work to get the conversations going, and throughout my career under the Matildas we have really pushed in that space. Hopefully, we can continue to grow so that players can be full-time professionals, both at club and international level and not have to worry about that side of things; they can put all their focus into football and being the best athletes they can be.”

But, as much as it’s grown, Polkinghorne won’t be set for life like a male player with a fraction of her influence would be. She laughed, commenting, “I’ll definitely need a job, for sure.” With the impact she and the Matildas have had over the past few years, hopefully that financial security is not far-off. 

Above: Clare Polkinghorne celebrates after scoring against Spain. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.


Sermanni praised Polkinghorne’s illustrious career, saying, “Eighteen years, which is enormous. If a player gets 10 years as a professional or 10 years in the national team, they’ve done extraordinarily well and Clare’s done almost double that, so it’s a phenomenal achievement.”

“For her to be able to continue to progress during that time, because as a player you can’t afford to stay still, you’ve got to keep progressing. I think that’s what Clare’s done, fantastically, and her ability to be as flexible as possible on and off the field, to be reliable, to know that what kind of performance you’re going to get out of her, and to be able to maintain that level of  performance over the development of the women’s game, which has been quite significant, particularly in the last four or five years, is just a huge achievement.”

Polkinghorne commented on the full-circle nature of Sermanni’s reintroduction as the Matildas coach. “It’s amazing to have Tommy back. It’s where my career started, with Tommy in charge and so it’s really special that he’s here at the end as well. But I think he’s brought a lot back to this team…He allows the players to be creative and be themselves and that’s something we’ve really relished.”

“I think when I was at the start of my career I was lucky enough to come into the team, and there (were) a lot of successful players, probably Di Alagich was someone who I really looked up to, Cheryl Salisbury, Kate McShea, (Alicia) Ferguson. All these sort of players who have been really successful at the international level, and been in the game and in the Matildas for a while, so to have them sort of nurture me as a young player was something that I’m really thankful for, and to get the opportunity to play with them was something I’m really proud of.”

“Over the years I’ve played with a lot of amazing players that have really inspired me to be better, so it’s hard to name a few players, but it’s definitely been a highlight to be able to share the field with a lot of these great players that we produce in Australia.”

As stalwarts such as Polkinghorne and earlier, Lydia Williams, retire, Sermanni realises the importance of developing youth talent domestically.

“Kyra Cooney-Cross and Mary Fowler are two that have burst onto the scene of late, and so they’re probably the two that stand out and who have over recent times really become established players in the senior team. I think that’s something that we need to do a little bit better moving forward, is actually start to expose and to look at some of the younger local domestic players, and put them in an international environment and see which ones push through.”

Above: Clare Polkinghorne in mid-air action up against Jenni Hermoso of Spain. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.


Polkinghorne is confident, however, that she is not starting a trend of retirements. “Yeah, I think you sort of base yourself around a four-year cycle and the Asian Cup is the next major tournament so I think I’d be pretty confident in saying most of the team, if not all of them, would hang around for that. Not hang around, but that would be involved in that tournament and then, yeah, obviously from it’s the World Cup and Olympics so there’s a lot of exciting tournaments to prepare for and I know  that there’s a lot of motivation within the group to continue to push towards the results that we want as a national team.”

Polkinghorne is leaving the Matildas at a great point in their timeline. “The team’s in a really good spot, we’ve got players playing in the best leagues around the world, playing in Champions League, and playing top level football week in and week out. I think that’s definitely something that we’re going to reap the rewards of as a national team…Really satisfied with stepping away at this point. They’re definitely in safe hands and I’m just really excited to see how the team continues to progress.”

Whether we see a famous Polks celebration tonight or not, it will surely be the best occasion to say goodbye to a legend.

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GeoPolitics in football: What is it and how does it interact with the women’s game?

by Ella McShane (27/11/24)

Above: People gather at Lousail Boulevard during the 2022 Men’s World Cup in Qatar. Photo: Trip Advisor.

The globalisation of football has seen the sport belong to many humans across the world. Football can celebrate culture, exude passion, and unite, arguably in a way that no other sport can. This also means that football is entitled to some of the richest benefits this world has to offer and has become inherently political. For many different reasons.

When it comes to reaping the natural world’s benefits, we come across the term geopolitics which is a branch of politics that refers to a particular country’s international relations, as influenced by its geographical factors (Oxford Languages, n.d.). Geopolitics in sport refers to developments and influences in sport, enabled by foreign and domestic governments. In recent years, football has seen a big increase in foreign government investments, especially from countries in the Gulf.

The most recent example is Newcastle United. In 2021 a majority stake in the club was acquired by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. This was derived from its “40%” oil-based economy” (International Monetary Fund, 2022), thus geopolitically intertwining Saudi Arabia and England through the sport of football. The following season, the men’s side finished fourth on the Premier League table, a far cry from the relegation battle they faced the previous season.

Above: Fans of Newcastle United’s men’s team gather with the Saudi Arabia flag. Photo: PA Images.

But where does the women’s side fit into all of this?

Until 2022 Newcastle United Women operated as an independent entity that received funding from the Newcastle United Foundation in its later years. Following the restructuring of the club, the men’s team ownership claims to have invested in their women’s first team.

The team was promoted to Championship (tier two) in April of this year. Newcastle United Women are on a seemingly upward trajectory, supported by increased funding. There has been an improvement in marketing, the massive summer signing of Lioness Demi Stokes and they set a Championship attendance record of 15,382 in their match against North-East rivals Sunderland earlier this season.

However, a big increase in funding cannot be presumed. The arrival of Stokes from Manchester City was completed on a free transfer and the improvement in marketing and attendances can be equated to their promotion to the Championship. This league is also undergoing many changes after a transfer in ownership to the Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL).

It is uncertain as to whether the women’s side is benefitting from the club’s newfound geopolitically derived wealth. The latest comprehensive financial report for the women’s club which is available to the public, dates back to June 2023, their promotion to tier two.

Above: Newcastle United in the huddle before their Championship game with Charlton Athletic in October. Photo: Newcastle United Women.

What can be said with certainty is that any potential benefits, at the hands of the club, would not be distributed equally.

Like funding discrepancies in the women’s and the men’s games, the way geopolitics interacts with the women’s and the men’s game is truly night and day and can come with both positive and negative implications.

One positive outcome of geopolitical involvement in the women’s game is increased access to football for women and girls living in socially conservative countries. Those in the Middle East are already starting to see increased access.

By Western standards, modern Saudi Arabia is still considered to be a conservative country with restricted rights for women and girls, being at the centre of human rights controversy in recent history.  

Government programs and worldly influences have begun the process of “diversifying” modern Saudi Arabia. Thus, the concept of denying half your population of a sport that plays such a crucial role in society became increasingly deemed as immoral. In 2022 we saw the inaugural season of the Saudi Women’s Premier League, giving the women’s game its biggest platform yet and generating interest all over the country.

Above: Saudi Arabia Women’s Premier League champions Al Nassr lift the 2023/24 trophy. Photo: Qatar Tribune.

Another positive outcome is simply the sheer amount of funding that is potentially available to the women’s game from oil-based economies like Saudi Arabia. Although extremely wealthy, such nations are seen to be tainted with their climate impact being the arguably most sinister.

Independent scientific project The Climate Action Tracker, rated Saudi Arabia in 2023 as “Critically Insufficient” in their efforts to combat climate change. They also stated that emissions are projected to significantly rise by 2030” and “its national oil company, Aramco, is planning to increase oil output in the coming years.”

This is extremely problematic, especially considering the large share Aramco has in FIFA.

Another negative implication of geopolitics in sport is the use of a tool known as sports washing. This “is the deployment of sports for the purpose of cleansing a country’s image and reputation.” (S. Chadwick, 2023).

In the case of the women’s game, sports washing becomes specifically problematic when it is used by countries whose societal and cultural beliefs, violate the values and beliefs at the foundation of the western women’s game.

For example, women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights have made the women’s game into what it is today. If you have a socially conservative country that has long violated women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights, gain the ability to hold a strong influence in the women’s game through geopolitics, it can be seen as giving “a massive middle finger” to everything the women’s game stands for.

In my opinion, the future of geopolitics in the women’s game is likely to take, what I deem, a positive upward turn. The current generation of professional female footballers has always had to have a ‘plan B’. Being a full-time professional female footballer did not seem like a feasible career path even five years ago in the UK. It is still not feasible in many countries.

If these girls wanted to continue playing football, it was most likely additional to education. Ten players in the 2022 European Championships squad held University degrees and “90.6%” of female players in the German Bundesliga “are pursuing or have already completed academic or vocational education” (P. Ehnold et al, 2024).

Educated individuals are more likely to value democracy, universal human rights, climate conservation, and collective freedoms. Something I believe, is not currently being upheld in the current climate of geopolitics in sport.

We have begun to see these values, strongly upheld by female footballers. Recently in an open letter to FIFA a group urged the world governing body to end their deal with Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco.

These girls have got to where they are today by fighting the patriarchy at every step. The last thing the momentum for change is going to do is stop.

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Breaking Through: Who Are the Latest Call-Ups to the Matildas?

Isabelle Campbell & Alice de Koster-Kitto 26/11/2024

Above: Morgan Aquino in her A-League Women days. Photo: Perth Glory

Impetus profiles the newest of the new faces called up to The Matildas.

The latest Matildas squad announcement for their upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Chinese Taipei brings both excitement and opportunity as five uncapped talents—Morgan Aquino, Leah Davidson, Isabel Gomez, Hana Lowry and Natasha Prior—join the senior national team. Each player has impressed at club level, earning a chance to prove themselves on the international stage, while their call-ups signal the depth of talent emerging in Australian women’s football.

For West Australian Morgan Aquino this selection carries added significance. Should she debut, she could become the first player from Western Australia to pull on the Matildas jersey since captain Sam Kerr’s debut 15 years ago. 

This fresh injection of talent highlights the Matildas’ commitment to building a strong foundation for the future, as these rising stars step into the squad of Australia’s most beloved sporting team.

Morgan Aquino

Aquino’s professional career began with her hometown team, Perth Glory, where she patiently awaited her moment to shine. That opportunity came in January 2020, when she debuted as a halftime substitute against Western Sydney Wanderers.

After just three games with the Glory, Aquino moved to Brisbane Roar for the 2020 season, making four appearances before returning to the West Coast. Over the following seasons, she worked her way into the starting lineup, eventually securing the first-choice goalkeeper spot by the 2023/24 season.

Her 23/24 campaign was exceptional, recording a league-best 126 saves with an 81% save percentage. This outstanding form earned her places in the PFA and A-League Women’s teams of the season, as well as the title of Liberty A-League Goalkeeper of the Year.

Internationally, Aquino has represented Australia at various youth levels, including the Junior and Young Matildas, and featured in the 2019 AFC U-19 Women’s Championship. Earlier this year, she was called up to the U-23 Matildas for the Four Nations Tournament in Sweden.

In July, Aquino announced her move to USL club DC Power, with the club’s president hailing her as “one of the brightest young goalkeeper talents in the world.”

Now, with her first senior Matilda’s call-up, Aquino’s journey has reached an exciting new chapter. From patiently waiting for her debut to becoming one of the league’s top goalkeepers, her rise is a testament to her hard work and talent.

Leah Davidson

Leah Davidson has earned her first senior Matildas call-up at 23, marking a huge turning point in her career. Currently in her fifth season with Melbourne City, Davidson has been a standout in midfield, playing an integral role in one of the league’s most competitive teams.

Davidson began her career in the Women’s NPL in Queensland at just 17. She was part of the Championship-winning Roar/NTC team in 2018, scoring seven goals in 16 matches. That same year, she made her professional debut for Brisbane Roar in a 1–1 draw against Perth Glory.

In November 2020, Davidson signed for Melbourne City, where she has continued to grow as a player. Her consistent performances with City earned her the Coaches Award at the 2020/21 Player of the Year Awards. 

In 2021 Coach Rado Vidosic predicted she would soon be a regular on the Matildas roster, saying, “I think in a few years’ time, she is going to be one of the first names selected for the Matildas.”

Davidson has had her time in Australia’s youth teams, and now her senior call-up reflects her growth. Eager to utilise the opportunity presented in being around Matilda’s veterans, she shared, “I’d just love to learn from the players there. A lot of them are my role models, and the way they play is incredible. I want to gain as much experience as I can and push for future camps.”

With her strong foundation at club level and a clear hunger to continue developing, Leah Davidson is poised to make an impact with the Matildas. Her dedication to learning and growing her game marks her as a player to watch in years to come.

Isabel Gomez

Central Coast Mariners midfielder, Isabel Gomez, has earnt her first Matildas call up, following an astonishing start to the Ninja A-League 2024/25 season, scoring a goal against reigning champions Sydney FC, in a 3-1 defeat during the opening round. The 22-year-old has quickly become one of the most consistent central midfielders in the league and has cemented her place as a key member of the Mariners squad, since her signing in 2023. 

Gomez began her professional career with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2020, at 18 years old. After 5 appearances with the Wanderers, the midfielder transferred to Wellington Phoenix, as part of the club’s inaugural season in the Women’s A-League.

Gomez is no stranger to adversity. A serious knee injury saw the midfielder’s first campaign with the Phoenix cut short. Gomez returned to action shortly after, with  Northern Tigers FC in the NPL NSW Women’s First Grade competition under the guidance of Mariners assistant coach Jake Stephenson, after returning to the A-League, even stronger than she had left it. This kind of persistence and resilience, will be crucial as she enters her first camp with the senior national team. 

Already one of Australia’s most promising midfielders, Gomez is set to thrive during her first Matildas camp. She will be joined in the midfield by the likes of Kyra Cooney-Cross and Tameka Yallop. Training and playing alongside this world class squad, can only further challenge Gomez’s innate skill and creativity, as she continues to develop her potential in an elite environment. 

Gomez’s versatility as a player has made her a valuable asset to every club she has been a part of in her short, yet exciting career, and The Matildas should be no different. The youngster brings a creativity that will help usher the squad into a new era of Matildas. Should she take this well deserved opportunity in her stride, Isabel Gomez could very well cement her place in the first team over the coming years. 

Hana Lowry

Since her professional debut in 2019, Hana Lowry has proven to be one of the most promising Matildas prospects. The midfielder signed her first professional contract with Perth Glory at 16 years old and quickly became a crucial part of the squad. After playing several games off the bench, Lowry made her starting debut in a 4-2 victory against Newcastle Jets, where she scored her first A-League goal. 

Over her 72 appearances, Lowry established herself as a vital part of the squad, scoring 11 goals for the club. Following an impeccable 5 years with the Glory, the 21-year-old left her hometown club, after winning ‘Most-Glorious-Player’ at the end of season awards, to join 2023/24 Ninja A-League Champions, Sydney FC. 

Lowry is no stranger to international football, scoring 5 times across her 17 appearances for Matildas U17s to U23s. This first senior call-up marks a huge milestone in her international career. Though it will be a tough fight for a regular spot in the Matildas squad, the youngster has a lot to offer. She comes with great flexibility in the midfield, with a track record of accurate passing range, and enviable set piece service. 

The opportunity to train and play at this level will give the midfielder the experience she needs to grow as a player and expand her career at club and internationally. 

Note: This article was written ahead of the news of Hana Lowry’s season ending Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury which she sustained in Sydney’s 1-1 draw against Melbourne City in Unite Round, just days out from her first international camp. 

Natasha Prior

Natasha Prior’s professional career began with the Newcastle Jets, debuting during the 2017–18 W-League season. The Leicester-born, Australia-raised defender then joined Canberra United for the 2018–19 campaign, where she quickly made an impact before facing a significant setback.  

In Round 5 of the season, Prior was involved in a heavy collision with Savannah McCaskill, resulting in a severe concussion that forced her to miss the remainder of the season. This marked her fifth concussion in less than six seasons, leading her to make the difficult decision to retire at the age of 21. Speaking on her retirement, Prior remarked, “I didn’t really want to have dementia at the age of 30.”  

However, Prior’s love for the game saw her return in 2021 with Sydney FC, where she played a pivotal role in the club’s defensive setup. In September 2023, she re-signed with her first club, the Newcastle Jets, marking a full-circle moment in her career.  

In the 23/24 season Prior showcased her skills as a central defender, scoring her maiden goal in the campaign. Jets head coach Ryan Campbell has praised her, saying, “Tash was a key member of our run to the semi-finals last season. Her defensive ability combined with her calmness in possession are key qualities that make her one of the best central defenders in the competition.”  

From overcoming early career challenges to cementing her reputation as a standout defender, Natasha Prior’s journey is a testament to resilience and her enduring passion for football.

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England U23 prepare for huge few days

by Bethany Monkhouse (26/11/24)

Above: The England U23 side that played in Sweden. Photo: Jayde Chamberlain.

Whilst the Lionesses take all the headlines when it comes to international women’s football in England, it’s time to look beneath the surface.

This Thursday, England’s U23 squad are back in action when they travel to Norway before hosting Sweden on 2nd December at Doncaster Rovers FC. Their squad is hugely talented containing the likes of Khiara Keating, Missy Bo Kearns and Mia Enderby.

Emma Coates’ squad go into this international window on the back of a 1-1 draw in the Netherlands, and a 1-0 win at home to Portugal, last time out thanks to Michelle Agyemang’s free-kick with four minutes remaining in front of a record U23 crowd of 2,953 at Shrewsbury Town FC.

Ruby Mace and Laura Blinkilde-Brown both played for the U23s in those matches and have now, for this camp, been called up to the senior Lionesses team, which just shows the potential and talent of this team.

With the senior Lionesses playing in nearby Sheffield next Wednesday, the fact that the U23s are playing just a half-hour drive away the previous day offers England fans the opportunity to make a short break of it, or gives Yorkshire Lionesses fans the chance to see the nation’s best talent on their doorsteps in quick succession.

The U23 side is playing in the group stage of the Women’s U23 European competition with the best-placed sides going on to a semi-final and final. Currently, England are top of their pool, however, Norway are able to overtake them as they have played one game less and are only one point behind ahead of their encounter this Thursday.

Looking ahead to the two games, head coach Coates told the England Football Website: “These are two exciting games against tough opponents. Not only do we want to finish the year with two strong performances, but we want to put ourselves in the best position in our group for the next stage of the competition.

“We’ve played in front of some great crowds this year and I hope to see another one in Doncaster for our final game of 2024. I have some amazing memories of coaching at Doncaster Rovers Belles, so it’ll be a really special night to return to the club with the Young Lionesses.”

Tickets for the game against Sweden (Monday 2nd December) are priced at £5 for adults, £3 for concessions and 14-24-year-olds, and only £1 for under 14s. Tickets can be purchased here. https://tickets.clubdoncaster.co.uk/en-GB/categories/rovershome 

ENGLAND U23 SQUAD FOR THE GAMES WITH NORWAY AND SWEDEN:

Goalkeepers: Khiara Keating, Kayla Rendell, Fran Stenson.

Defenders: Brooke Aspin, Tara Bourne, Megan Collett, Anouk Denton, Teyah Goldie, Neve Herron, Ella Morris, Hannah Silcock.

Midfielders: Elysia Boddy, Ruby Grant, Missy Bo Kearns, Lucia Kendall, Olivia McLoughlin, Maisie Symonds.

Forwards: Sarah Brasero, Mia Enderby, Isobel Goodwin, Missy Goodwin, Lenna Gunning-Williams, Katie Robinson.

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City and Sydney share the points as Bosch hits the net again

Sydney FC 1-1 Melbourne City

by Alice de Kosta-Kitto at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium for Impetus (24/11/24)

Above: Lourdes Bosch (right) celebrates her third goal in four games this season with Laura Hughes. Photo: Melbourne City.

Melbourne City have dropped to second on the A-League table, after drawing with reigning champions Sydney FC, in the final match of Unite Round. 

A sixth-minute strike from Mackenzie Hawkesby opened the scoring, giving Sydney FC the lead. The host’s dominance was short-lived, however, when Melbourne City’s Lourdes Bosch found the equaliser just minutes later, establishing an already contentious match, as an exciting and unpredictable afternoon of football. 

Melbourne City controlled the possession early on, although Sydney FC was the one to capitalise on the few opportunities they had. 

An attempt from Maddie Caspers in the fourth minute gave Sydney an almost immediate upper hand, which their attack maintained for the majority of the first half, despite City’s dominant defensive line. 

Above: Amber Luchtmeijer on her A-League Women debut for Sydney FC. Photo: Sydney FC.

The two sides last met during the 2023/24 Grand Final, where Sydney FC took home the title. The rivalry made for a thrilling tactical battle that kept both Sydney and City fans captivated from start to finish. 

Melbourne City were out for redemption, and their determination was displayed through their unfaltering defence. Sydney on the other hand, took every chance they could get to move up in the table, following a disappointing start to the season. 

Indiana dos Santos played a key role in Sydney’s attack. The 17-year-old’s pace and creativity allowed her to make an impact throughout all areas of the pitch, often creating chances for her teammates. Dos Santos’ versatility was a defining feature in Sydney’s ability to withhold attacking pressure against a combative defensive side.    

A strong shot from Hawkesby almost saw Sydney take the lead, once again, however despite their consistent effort, the scores remained level at the break.

A blocked attempt from City’s Mariana Speckmaier in the 49th minute, saw a shift in momentum. As the visitors began to take advantage of their chances, Sydney fought back, and the possession ended up at a 51.7% to 48.3% split in favour of Melbourne, a much closer battle than was seen in the first half. 

Above: Shelby McMahon (left), seen here trying to fend off Sydney FC goalscorer Mackenzie Hawkesby, made her first appearance of the season for Melbourne City today. Photo: Melbourne City.

Shay Hollman was Sydney’s first substitution of the match, although the change came earlier than was expected when Hana Lowry had to be taken off after what seemed like quite a painful shoulder injury. Both the Western Australian and the Matildas will be hoping that it doesn’t prove to be too serious after Lowry’s first senior call up for the national side.

With just a few minutes left of regulation time, City once again shifted up ther gears, desperately looking to maintain their undefeated streak this season. Sydney responded with several shots on target, including a very close strike from Shea Connors.

The result sees Melbourne City drop to second place on the ladder, behind Brisbane Roar, while Sydney FC remain ninth.

Sydney will head to Victoria in a fortnight, to face Western United. Meanwhile, Melbourne City are set to host a Western Sydney Wanderers side next weekend still searching for their first win of the season.

Teams: SYDNEY FC (4-3-3): Edwards, Tumeth, Tobin, Thompson, Bryson, Lowry, Hawkesbt, Caspers, Dos Santos, Connors, Ibini. Substitutes: Franco, Hollman, Lemon, Luchtmeijer, Tallon-Henniker.

Scorer: Hawkesby 6′.

MELBOURNE CITY (4-4-2): Mieres. Apostolakis, Stott, Otto, Roestbakken, Davidson, Hughes, Pollicina, Speckmaier, Bosch, Harvey. Substitutes: Barbieri, Henry, McKenna, McMahon, Vlajnic.

Scorer: Bosch 11′. 

Referee: Rachael Mitchinson.

Attendance: 3,149.

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Glory shared between Canberra and Perth

Canberra United 1-1 Perth Glory

by Ben Gilby (24/11/24)

Above: Izzy Dalton (centre) celebrates her goal for Perth Glory with Tijan McKenna (left of centre) and Sarah O’Donoghue (right of centre) as Georgia Cassidy (left) and Megan Wynne (right) rush to join them. Photo: Perth Glory.

Perth Glory produced a performance full of positives, buoyed by the ability to welcome a number of experienced players into their side as they claimed a point against high-flying Canberra United in Sydney.

Internationals Casey Dumont and Megan Wynne made their Glory debuts, Dumont just a week after her AFLW side Hawthorn lost their semi-final to Port Adelaide. Nigerian international Onyi Zogg also made her first start after being nursed back from injury on the bench in previous weeks.

As well as providing a calming presence to the younger heads around them, these additions to Stephen Peters’ starting 11 meant that Tijan McKenna could be pushed further forward alongside Georgia Cassidy to continue the midfield partnership between the pair that was so fruitful for Perth SC in the NPLW WA this season.

Canberra fielded three players who had spent time at Perth in the past – goalkeeper Sally James, defender Liz Anton, and midfielder Aideen Keane, who was on the bench.

The capital city side gained the first chance with just six minutes on the clock as Mary Stanic-Floody supplied a perfectly judged pass into Michelle Heyman who advanced in on goal. The Matildas striker took a touch to beat Dumont who came out to meet her, but was denied by a superb covering tackle from young Glory defender Grace Johnston.

The Western Australian side set their stall out to use their pace to run directly at the capital city side, and it gave them the offensive front foot as they gradually grew into the game.

Before the half-hour mark, Nat Tathem gained possession along the right and found Sarah O’Donoghue inside her. The striker showed great skill in turning Darcey Malone and running between her and Lillian Skelly before defeating Alex McKenzie with superior footwork. O’Donoghue crashed in a shot which came off the boot of Canberra keeper James and away for a corner.

O’Donoghue has grown steadily into her Perth shirt this season with performances incrementally improving as the weeks go by, and she was to have an increasing influence on this game.

With four minutes of regular time remaining, Perth finally took the lead. A long ball through on the left flank bounced and caused problems for the Canberra defence, allowing Gabby Hollar to lay off a pass for Izzy Dalton on the edge of the box, and the Glory co-captain took a touch before slotting home across James.

Deep into stoppage time at the end of the half, O’Donoghue caused chaos for Canberra again. McKenzie lost possession under pressure from McKenna. The Perth Young Matilda threaded a pass through for O’Donoghue in the centre of the park to run centrally at a host of green shirts, who backed off. She did not turn down the invitation and unloaded with a shot that came back off the right-hand post.

Another of the Glory’s Young Matildas showed her immense skill just before the hour mark as Johnston provided an example of her outstanding range of passing. Allowed to advance through the midfield, the locally produced defender played a sumptuous centimetre-perfect ball into the stride of Morgan Roberts on the right. James saved the substitute’s shot at the near post.

The Western Australian side continued to have joy when running directly at their opponents. Twenty minutes into the second period, Ella Abdul-Massih danced along the right flank before squaring a pass for McKenna in the box, but her initial shot was blocked by her own teammate, Miku Sunaga. The ball came back to McKenna, who saw a second attempt roll wide of the left-hand post.

Above: Mary Stanic-Floody (green ribbon) is embraced by Maja Markovski (17) after scoring her superb equaliser. Photo: Canberra United.

Four minutes later, with McKenna down on the left flank, play was waved on by referee Beth Rattray, with Emma Robers taking advantage of the space to feed Maja Markovski. The former Melbourne Victory attacker, who had a red-hot NPLW Victoria season, played a delightful backheel to Heyman. Tathem got out to block the Canberra star, but the ball rolled into the path of Stanic-Floody, centrally positioned, just over 20 yards from goal who sent an absolute rocket into the net.

There were a few half chances in the 22 minutes of regulation time that followed, but neither side could add to their tally.

Whilst Perth let the lead slip, there were plenty of good things on display with the exciting raw talent of this young team allied at last with some experienced heads. They now just need to combine this with their attacking talent – the likes of Kelli Brown and Tanika Lala were absent today – and they may soon be able to look further up the table.

To view Impetus’ Kris Goman’s exclusive photo gallery from the game, visit our Instagram page @ImpetusFootball

Teams: CANBERRA UNITED (3-4-3): James, Christopherson, Anton, Taylor-Young, Stanic-Floody, McKenzie, Robers, Malone, Skelly, Markovski, Heyman. Substitutes: Bertolissio, Keane, Majstorovic (GK), Murray, Dos Santos.

Scorer: Stanic-Floody 68′.

PERTH GLORY (4-2-3-1): Dumont, Johnston, Chinnama, Zogg, Tathem, McKenna, Cassidy, Hollar, Dalton, Wynne, O’Donoghue. Substitutes: Abdul-Massih, Anderson, Roberts, Sunaga, Templeman (GK).

Scorer: O’Donoghue 41′.

Referee: Beth Rattray.

Attendance: 1,237.

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Cicco and Maher goals result in draw for Jets and Western

Newcastle Jets 1-1 Western United

By Emma Burke (23/11/24)

Above: Grace Maher is congratulated after her wonder goal. Photo: Western United.

For the second game of day two of Unite Round, Newcastle Jets faced off against Western United at Nestrata Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah.

An opening half filled with end-to-end football saw both sides have their chances at goal.

Western United’s chance was the clearest with Sasha Grove winning her side a penalty, after taking a shot on goal that clipped the hands of Jets’ defender Claudia Cicco.

Cicco was let off for her error however, when United Captain Chloe Logarzo missed the spot kick, sending the ball into the right post.

The Jets were forced into an early change, having to take out Natasha Prior, who received a knock in a collision with her own keeper Tiahna Robertson. 

A challenge at goal from the Jets left Western scrambling to clear, with the final clearance being made just in front of the goal line by Alana Cerne, whose header took the ball over the bar.

The deadlock was broken by a stunning goal from Cicco who shot from the top of the box. The layoff from Sophie Hoban was timed with perfection for Cicco to run onto the ball and shoot.

Moments later Western United found their response in the form of Maher. The defender was left in simply too much space and fired from thirty yards away.

Newcastle was forced into another injury-prompted change when Lara Gooch went down with an off-the-ball injury which looked to be to her knee, however, having already used up all their substitutes, they were forced down to 10 players.

The Jets were able to hold on to the draw despite being a player down and keep Western United at bay for the final minutes of the game.

With the points split between the two teams, they both look to Round Five where Newcastle Jets will travel to play Adelaide Untied and Western United will host last year’s Champions Sydney FC.

Teams: NEWCASTLE JETS (3-4-3): Robertson, Baumann, Prior, Cicco, Davis, Allan, Dundas, Wilson, Jackson, Gallagher, Hoban. Substitutions: Copus-Brown, Hammond, Gooch, Adams.

Scorer: Cicco 71’.

WESTERN UNITED (4-3-3):  Lincoln, Grove, Mher, Cerne, Dehakiz, Eggesvik, Logarzo, M. Taranto, Zimmerman, Johnson, Medwin. Substitutions: Hieda, Roach, Sardo, Prakash.

Scorer: Maher 80’.

Referee: Rebecca Durcau.

Attendance: 1,494.

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Late Morrison goal rescues a point for Victory against Mariners

Central Coast Mariners 1-1 Melbourne Victory

By Isabelle Campbell (23/11/24)

Above: Melbourne Victory captain Kayla Morrison with a fan post-game. Photo: Melbourne Victory.

Melbourne Victory remained cool, calm, and collected under the pressure of the Central Coast Mariners’ early lead and came out with a point after a gripping draw.

The Mariners held the lead for most of the match, courtesy of academy graduate Annalise Rasmussen’s early strike, but a late free-kick from Victory saw captain Kayla Morrison ensure the points were shared.

The match kicked off with Melbourne Victory pressing forward, and Emily Gielnik came close in just the eighth minute with a promising shot that went off target. Just four minutes later, the Mariners struck gold when Rasmussen unleashed a spectacular long-range strike, assisted by Brooke Nunn. Victory struggled to respond, with Alana Jančevski and Isabel Gomez both sending efforts wide of the target.

Victory controlled possession for much of the first half, holding 74% in a 15-minute spell, but Central Coast’s defence stood firm. In the final minutes of the half, Courtney Newbon denied Rasmussen a second goal, and Brianne Riley blocked Gielnik’s attempt to level the score. 

Taylor Ray was a standout for the Mariners, looking comfortable amongst her new teammates, consistently controlling the tempo of the game, and showcasing incredible distribution from the midfield.

Despite four minutes of added time, the Mariners maintained their 1–0 lead at the break whilst Jeff Hopkins’ side headed in to reevaluate their tactics and return to the game with their intentions set on improving upon their first-half performance.

Victory did, in fact, come out stronger in the second half, and Alex Chidiac would have equalised had Jessika Nash not made a crucial block to deny her. The Mariners held firm despite Victory’s relentless possession.

The game grew more physical as desperation set in. Alana Murphy received the first yellow card of the game for a blatant shirt pull, handing over a free kick though it didn’t come to anything.

Substitute Sara D’Appolonia had an immediate impact on her side’s attack, firing a shot that was blocked by the Mariners’ defence.

Tensions mounted when Ellie Wilson fouled Gomez, earning a yellow card and forcing Gomez off the field due to injury. Peta Trimis came on to replace her.

Despite a tense third quarter of the match, neither side created any clear-cut chances, with a dangerous cross from Gielnik that almost caused an own goal for the Mariners being the closest call.

In the final ten minutes, Victory found their momentum—or perhaps desperation to avoid dropping points. Jade Pennock fouled Chidiac, conceding a free kick in a prime position. Jančevski sent the ball in and defender Claudia Bunge picked it up as it bounced about the area, delivering it to the head of Morrison who headed it in, bringing her side to equalise in the 83rd minute.

The Mariners fought back, earning a free kick in added time after Bianca Galic was fouled by Laura Pickett, but the chance went begging, and the whistle blew with the score locked at 1–1.

This result places the Central Coast in fifth place on the ladder following their third draw of the season while Victory remain at a comfortable third place.

Round Five of the Ninja A-League will be split across two weekends due to the upcoming international break. November 30th will see the Central Coast Mariners take on Canberra United at home while Melbourne Victory will be travelling to the West Coast to take on Perth Glory on 8th December.

Teams: MELBOURNE VICTORY (4-3-3): Newbon, Wilson, Bunge, Goad, Murphy, Chidiac, Flannery, Gielnik, Morrison, Lowe, Jančevski. Substitutes: O’Grady, D’Appolonia, Briedis, Pickett, Candy.

Scorer: Morrison 85’.

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (4-3-3): Langman, Riley, Irwin, Nash, Martin, Gomez, Pennock, Galic, Ray, Rasmussen, Nunn. Substitutes: Carmichael, Quilligan, Puxty, Trimis, Evans.

Scorer: Rasmussen 12’.

Referee: Georgia Ghirardello.

Attendance: 1,238.

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Chinnama: “We feel the sting” and aim to get better next game

by Ben Gilby (23/11/24)

Above: Perth Glory defender Naomi Chinnama speaking to the media ahead of tomorrow’s game against Canberra United in Sydney. Image: Perth Glory.

Perth Glory’s Young Matildas defender Naomi Chinnama believes that with the squad’s plethora of new players gradually beginning to gel, performances and results are about to improve.

The Western Australian side go into tomorrow’s Unite Round game against Canberra United at Sydney’s Netstrata Jubilee Stadium with one win from their opening three games.

In terms of how the new interstate and overseas players are settling in, the 20-year-old former Melbourne City player said: “We’re adjusting more and more. Definitely the time difference and travel has been challenging, but the good news is we’re all getting better at adjusting.

“The flights are longer than what is standard, but we don’t use that as an excuse, we prepare as best as we can, and moving forward we’ll get better and better.”

From a personal perspective, Chinnama goes into tomorrow’s game on the back of by far her best performance in a purple shirt last weekend at Brisbane Roar. The defender’s showing was one of the major positives in the team’s 3-0 loss at Perry Park.

Above: Naomi Chinnama in action on her Perth Glory league debut at former club Melbourne City. Photo: Tilly McDonald for Impetus.

“I feel like I’m starting to settle in nicely,” she said. “I feel like it’s an exciting journey for me. Coming to a (new) club, and the ultimate goal is to help us get as far as we can. I’m excited for this new chapter. I’m grateful for my time at (Melbourne) City, but new times ahead!”

With Perth standing on three points from a possible nine, this weekend could be a pivotal one in their season. One of the squad’s challenges ahead of this season was the loss of experienced members of their backline in the shape of Tash Rigby, Liz Anton, and last season’s breakout campaign from keeper Morgan Aquino. They go into Sunday’s game against Canberra United having conceded 10 goals in those opening three matches.

Chinnama recognises that the stat is far from positive, but believes that the squad are using that pain to come back stronger and more organised. “We like to hold ourselves accountable for everything,” the defender said.

“There is disappointment and I feel as though there are many valuable lessons we can take from each game, and as long as we learn from it…it’s important to feel the sting and just be better the next game.”

With Canberra led by iconic striker Michelle Heyman and having won two of their opening three games, Chinnama knows that tomorrow’s game will be a challenge for the Glory, but one she is pumped for.

“She’s (Heyman) definitely not to be taken lightly, and as for the team, in general, we know it’s going to be a tight competition…it is exciting…she’s such a top quality player that we want to make sure we study up!”

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Brisbane brush past Wanderers

Western Sydney Wanderers 0-4 Brisbane Roar

By Joe Rosedon (23/11/24)

Above: Tameka Yallop of Brisbane Roar. Photo: Brisbane Roar

Brisbane Roar went top of the table after thumping winless Western Sydney Wanderers 4-0 in the second game of the Unite Round.

A double from Momo Hayashi coupled with goals from Tameka Yallop in her record-breaking game and Emily Pringle was enough to seal a commanding win for the Queensland side.  

Brisbane dominated the ball in the opening stage but without creating anything that could be considered a clear-cut chance. Both Sharn Freier and Tamar Levin looked lively on the wings, but Western Sydney were able to keep them relatively quiet. 

Western Sydney’s resistance did not last much longer. In fortunate circumstances, Brisbane took the lead. Hayashi’s deflected free kick wrongfooted Western Sydney keeper Shamiran Khamis to give the Roar the lead and score her first goal for Brisbane.

Brisbane were firmly on top following the opening goal and looked threatening on every attack. Levin’s close-range effort was smothered well by Khamis whilst Alicia Woods clattered the crossbar on the half-volley after Khamis’ punched clearance could only reach the midfielder.

The Roar deservedly doubled their lead in the closing stages of the first half, Hayashi making the difference once again. Yallop’s deep free kick was flicked by Levin to Hayashi to finish first time on the edge of the box. 

Brisbane continued their dominance into the second half. Evdokiya Popadinova was able to drift to the right side and cut the ball back towards Yallop. The Matilda was inches away from a third goal, but the Western Sydney defence did just about enough to stop her from tapping home.

On her recording breaking 153rd appearance for Brisbane, it felt just that Yallop would get in on the goal scoring action. A poor back pass from Western Sydney was capitalised on by Yallop, curling home from outside the penalty area with an excellent finish.

The pick of the goals, and Brisbane’s fourth, came from Emily Pringle. The American picked up the ball near the corner then brilliantly put the ball through the legs of Danika Matos. With the now acquired space in the box, Pringle drove in and fired past Khamis to complete a comfortable victory. 

Teams: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (4-4-2): Khamis, Matos, Buchanan, Harrison, Hayward, Chessari, Younis, Harada, Saveska, Rue, Harding. Substitutes: Segavcic, Ferris, Kapetanellis, Trew, Bennett.

BRISBANE ROAR (4-3-3): Sekany, De la Harpe, McQueen, Varley, Blissett, Hayashi, Yallop, Woods, Levin, Popadinova, Freier. Substitutes: Richards, Kruger, Kuilamu, Hecher, Pringle.

Scorers: Hayashi 18’, 45+1’, Yallop 67’, Pringle 84’.

Referee: Kelly Jones.

Attendance: 1,398.

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