AuthorJeffEyesRimmer The W League kicks off for its 9th iteration on November 5th, so we thought we would do a little preview of the season to come, akin to the A League one we also posted on the Outcasts page a few weeks back. Last season was Melbourne City’s debut season and they went and won both the Minor Premiership and the Grand Final, which was quite an achievement for a clubs debut season. In fact Melbourne were top of the league from the start and didn’t lose a game all season. Unfortunately it wasn’t the same for their cross city rivals, with the Melbourne Victory coming bottom with only 2 wins in their entire season. They will be hoping for a better season overall, and both Canberra Utd and Sydney FC will be hoping to challenge Melbourne City for the title. The new season has a lot to live up to. Below we preview all 9 teams involved in this year’s competition: Adelaide Utd The Lady Reds had a decent season last year, just missing out on the top four finals births let down by the fact they were too inconsistent and drew the joint most amount of games for the league that season (4). If just one of those had been turned into a victory then they would have made the top four. The loss of league goalkeeper of the year Kaitlyn Savage will be keenly felt and it appears that Adelaide will be looking to their youth to provide the added spark needed to get into the top four, with Grace Abbey signing on this season being the one of the key players to look out for. However, with several other teams adding proven quality to their squads it might prove difficult for Adelaide to actually break into that top four. Key Player: Abby Dahlkemper Brisbane Roar A good season last year after making the top four, they then went on to push Melbourne City all the way in the finals, just losing out to them 5-4 on penalties. Not many teams could boast that level of performance last season. They have re-signed Captain Clare Polkinghorne and midfielder Katrina Gorry for this season and the signing of Matildas player Mackenzie Arnold is a real coup. Mackenzie played at the Rio Olympics and will be an important asset in goal for Brisbane. The Roar has also added Danish defender Nina Frausing-Pedersen to add a bit more steel to a defence that let in 17 goals in 12 games last season. Brisbane's 2015-16 Player of the year Angela Beard has also re-signed and they are looking quite the threat this season. A top four finish is well within their reach. Key Player: Clare Polkinghorne Canberra Utd The 2015 champions were one of the few teams to really challenge Melbourne City last season but ended up off the pace by 10 points. The signings of striker Jasmyne Spencer and midfielder Celeste Boureille (both from the American NWSL) will add strength in depth. They have also brought in youth with three youngsters Clare Hunt, Laura Hughes and Karly Roestbakken from around the Canberra area being added to the squad ranks. All three have played for the Australian youth teams and bring in some raw talent to the squad. However, it is the resigning of Hayley Raso and Stephanie Ochs that will really help the squad and with likes of Matlidas Michelle Heyman and last season’s Julie Dolan Medal winner Ashleigh Sykes, Canberra will be hoping to bridge the gap between themselves and City. They won’t have long to wait either, as the start of the season is set to be a big one with Canberra up against Melbourne City in their first game, so they will be hoping to set a benchmark early. Key Player: Michelle Heyman Melbourne City It was a fantastic season for the Melbourne City club - a debut season, Minor Premiers and Grand Final winners. The stats speak for themselves: 38 goals scored in 12 games, only 4 conceded, dominant is the word best used to describe it. Their nearest challengers were 10 points off them in the league. It’s hard to see them not dominating again. Larissa Crummer will be hoping for another great season in front of goal after an 11 goal haul last season. The addition of the Matilda’s goalkeeper and one of the best in the world in Lydia Williams, will add certain quality to a squad already packed with other Matildas like Steph Catley and Lisa De Vanna, so it shows the strength in depth they have going into this campaign. You just can’t see past them for the title again this year and they start as strong favourites. Key Player: Lydia Williams Melbourne Victory A very poor season last year for the other Melbourne club saw them ending up bottom of the table with only 2 wins. They had the worst defensive record last year with 28 goals conceded and they will be hoping the signings of international goalkeeper Bianca Henninger and defender Samantha Johnson (on loan) will boost their defence. The resigning of Christine Nairn in midfield for the third season in a row should help the team’s energy and English international Natasha Dowie will be hoping to strike a good partnership with Caitlin Friend up front. They will be both hoping to improve on Victory’s rather measly 10 goals scored last season. They should be on for a better season that last year though. Key Player: Christine Nairn Newcastle Jets With the 2015 W League coach of the year Craig Deans at the helm Newcastle will be looking to push on this season. Similar to Adelaide, the Jets were one win away from the finals positions last season and will be hoping to break into those positions this season. The signing on loan of American defender Megan Oyster will certainly help with that aim. The Jets really struggled in front of goal last season, with the lowest goals scored (just 9), so again much will depend on the form of Matilda Chloe Logarzo and Adriana Jones who need to provide a better return than last season in front of goal. Although the Jets were far from prolific in front of goal last season they didn’t let many in either, with them having the third best defence in the league. The hope is that it will be the defence again this year that can prove the catalyst for a good season. Key Player: Gemma Simon Perth Glory From MinorPpremiers and a Grand Final appearance in 2015 to second bottom in 2016, it was not the best of seasons last year for Perth. The resigning of Sam Kerr for another season will be important as the striker missed much of last season, but has been in fantastic form for her NSWL side the Sky Blue FC. Kerr and Perth will both be hoping she can carry on that form into the new W League season. Last season’s goal of the year winner, American Vanessa DiBernardo, is back on loan from Chicago Red Stars and will be hoping to improve the fortunes of the club as well. However, with so many other teams strengthening we can’t see them making the finals. Key Player: Sam Kerr Sydney FC Third last season in the league, but a full 17 points off top spot, however a Grand Final appearance was not to be sniffed at. They were comfortably beaten in the aforementioned Grand Final by Melbourne City in the end, but it was a season of “what might have been” for Sydney FC. The return of one of the best players in the world in Caitlin Foord from Sky Blue FC will certainly help. Sydney fans can also look forward to seeing fellow Matilda players Alanna Kennedy and Kyah Simon who have also joined the team. Those three players have been added to an already strong team with returning Australian internationals Teresa Polias, Leena Khamis, Nicola Bolger and Servet Uzunlar. Also look out for the fantastically named 16 year old Princess Ibini-Isei. The forward was team mates with Ellie Carpenter at youth team level and the young striker will be hoping to open her goal account this season. Sydney looks like the team that could really challenge for the title this season and everything is on the up – shown by a record number of season ticket holders having signed up too. Key Player: Caitlin Foord Western Sydney Wanderers Western Sydney will be looking to break into the top four for the first time this season after a 7th placed finish last year. The Wanderers have certainly strengthened during pre-season. They have signed four American overseas players with the picks of the bunch being Katie Stengel and Kendall Fletcher. Stengal adds some real quality up front, with the 24 year old being in good form from previous club Washington Spirit and she was a part of an undefeated Bayern Munich side in the 2014 - 2015 season. Fletcher adds real experience to the team as well after winning the W League previously. The signing of Ellie Carpenter, the youngest Matlida at the Rio Olympics, also blends youth and experience as well. Wanderers have a real chance this season to make the finals for the first time in their history. Key Player: Kendall Fletcher All up, the new W League season is set to be the most competitive yet and it all starts on November 5th. Who do you think will win this season? Image by: Warren Major Flickr
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