AuthorJeffEyesRimmer The W-League kicks off for its 10th iteration this week, so it’s time for another season preview. The league will have more double headers with the men’s game and greater media coverage after increased interest nationally. I think we can thank the exploits of the Matildas for that. Aussie superstar Sam Kerr also stated this week that the W-League is on par with the American game, big call but if you are going to believe anyone then it’s the Matilda striker. I think this might be the most competitive league in the W-Leagues short history. Last season saw genuine contenders from four cities - Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. All those clubs have strengthened for this season and all are in with a serious chance of winning the competition. Additionally Brisbane and Newcastle have brought in some interesting signings and they could upset the apple cart a bit.
It all’s shaping up to be a great season and on Friday the 27th the league kicks off with the clash between Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar. So how are the teams shaping up? Canberra Utd The Minor Premiers from last season will be hoping to translate their regular season form into the finals. They fell at the semi-final stage last season against a strong Perth outfit and so they will be looking for rectify that. They are certainly looking strong and will be up there again. They have held onto the Michelle Heyman and have also bolstered their defence with a top signing. Defender Toni Pressley will be hoping to reduce the 21 goals they shipped last season. Pressley is a very strong, no nonsense defender and be a big signing for the club. The signing of promising youngster Ellie Carpenter is a great purchase as well and plenty of players will be looking for learn from Heather Garriock, the 130-cap Matildas legend as well. All up the Capitol City club will be up there again. Key Player: Michelle Heyman Melbourne City Grand Final Champions last season and coming from 4th spot in the regular season too. They have won the last two titles and look even stronger this season. They are by far the team to beat and appear to be very serious in keeping their trophy. More big name players have come in with Matildas defender Alanna Kennedy, Japanese international Yukari Kinga and United States youth international Ashley Hatch lining up for them. That’s coupled with genuine superstars in Steph Catley, Jess Fishlock, Lydia Williams and Larissa Crummer. This is a team that really could sweep all before them this season. Don’t bet against them making it a hat-trick of title wins. Key Player: Steph Catley Melbourne Victory It was an incredibly disappointing season last year for the Victory, ending up bottom of the league with only two wins to their name. However, the signing of South Korean international Jeon Ga-eul this week will give the Victory a big lift going into the first round against Canberra. The 29 year old midfielder becomes the first South Korean to play in the W-League and was a star for the Incheon Red Angels back in South Korea. While Ga-eul will be looked to going forward the Victory have improved the defence as well with American defender Kristen McNabb coming in. The Victory will hope McNabb will form a good defensive partnership with Matilda Laura Alleway. A better season I think is ahead for the Victory and they will be aiming to nab a playoff spot. That might be a little beyond them though. Key Player: Laura Alleway Newcastle Jets I think the Newcastle Jets are the dark horses of this competition this season. The Jets have re-signed Arin Gilliland and Tori Huster and this will certainly boost the squad. The signing of American Britt Eckerstrom is a major coup as well, with the goal keeper fresh from a title win with the Portland Thorns. The Jets have also bolstered their attack with the singing of Katie Stengel from the Western Sydney Wanderers. Stengel also played for Bayern Munich previously and so adds a touch of class to the squad. The major news though is the Matildas star Emily van Egmond has signed a contract with the Jets for the next two seasons. It’s a massive statement from the club. The Jets could pose quite a difficult team to the more established teams and any club coming to the Hunter thinking they will get an easy ride will be in for a shock. I don’t think they will quite make the playoffs this time out though. Key Player: Katie Stengel Perth Glory Perth had a stellar season last year, with them making it to the Grand Final before falling just short to a magnificent Melbourne City outfit. Glory will be hoping to go one better in the finals this season and with the retention of the best player in the world in Sam Kerr (even if FIFA disagree) they really could do it this time. Kerr was player of the year in the Westfield W-League last season and has followed that up with plenty of goals for the Matildas and also won the Golden Boot in the United States. Kerr was also named Most Valuable Player in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). However, it’s not just about Kerr, the Glory have talented attacker Marianna Tabain back after winning back to back titles with Melbourne City and a big coup for the club in the signing of Rachel Hill from Orlando Pride. The 22-year-old forward scored 61 times in 89 games during her collegiate career at the University of Connecticut. I think they could go all the way this year and will seriously challenge Melbourne City. Key Player: Sam Kerr Sydney FC A successful season last year coming third and they have strengthened well in the close season and will certainly be one of the teams to challenge for the title. The signing of Emily Sonnett is a massive coup. The 23-year-old comes to the Sky Blues fresh from winning the NWSL with the Portland Thorns where she commanded the best defence in the league. Sonnett was the first overall draft pick for the 2016 NWSL and made 24 appearances for the Thorns last season. Sydney have also lured Lisa De Vanna to the club and this adds a wealth of experience to the team as well as goals. Overall Sydney will likely be up there competing for the playoffs this season. Key Player: Lisa De Vanna Western Sydney Wanderers Second bottom last season and I think it’s going to be another difficult season ahead for the team from Western Sydney. Although the signing of Rosie Sutton is an astute signing, Sutton scored important goals in Perth’s run to the final last season and the Wanderers will be looking to her goals to make it into the finals. The Wanderers will also have new American signing Lo’eau LaBonta for the upcoming season. The 24 year old midfielder has joined from Kansas City and big things will be expected. Fellow midfielder Kahlia Hogg has also been signed from Canberra United and it will be interesting to see how she goes having spent the past five years away from the W League. The major signing for the Wanderers this season though is signing of Israeli forward Lee Falkon. It’s a big statement from the Wanderers to bring in the ex-Duisburg and Brondby forward in and they will be expecting big returns from the striker. Time will tell if Sutton and Falkon can combine to form a good partnership upfront. Key Player: Lo’eau LaBonta Brisbane Roar A new look Brisbane Roar side starts the season on Friday. Last season was the first time that the Roar failed to make the finals and they will be aiming to make sure it doesn’t happen again. A number of big name players left in the close season but the squad now looks like it has that right balance of youth and experience. Players Clare Polkinghorne and Katrina Gorry will form the backbone of the side along with local players promoted to the team. The Roar have also re-signed all-time leading goal scorer Tameka Butt this week. Butt’s return after playing for Norwegian club Klepp IL during the off-season is a huge boost for the side. However, it is the signing of Hayley Raso that will be the biggest boost for the Roar. Raso helped the Portland Thorns in the USA to a NWSL title and so will bring back some Championship winning mentality and quality. A playoff spot isn’t beyond them at all. They have also picked up American duo Celeste Boureille and Carson Pickett, a midfielder and defender respectively to bolster the squad. Key Player: Hayley Raso Adelaide United It was a relatively forgetful season last year with the South Australian outfit, with them coming in 6th. They only managed three wins last season and unfortunately it looks likely that another challenging season is ahead. The Lady Reds have lost many stalwarts of the squad and I don’t think they have brought in the quality that can match the bigger teams in the league. They have re-signed young Matilda Emily Condon, who is a good signing and also brought back Emily Hodgson and Georgia Campagnale. However, on paper it just seems they don’t have the team to match the others in this division. Key Player: Lorena Maggio I am going to stick my neck out and say the playoff spots will go to Sydney FC, Melbourne City, Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory. Yes, thats right, I think last seasons Minor Premiers, Canberra, are set to miss out this year. All up, the new W-League season is set to be the most competitive yet and it all starts this Friday. Who do you think will win this season? |
AuthorsJust Some Fans Writing About Football. Archives
June 2018
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