Canberra Croatia was the team to beat in 2020 going through the entire season unbeaten, but 2021 will provide a stern challenge of their defence of the trophies won in such commanding fashion last season. BarTV NPLW commentator Jeremy Magan looks at the teams in contention with stats supplied by Russ Gibbs.

BELCONNEN UNITED
Head Coach: Michael ZAKOSKI
Last Season: 2nd, Lost in Grand Final

2020 was a busy year for Belconnen’s new coach Michael Zakoski. After winning a minor premiership with the men at Canberra Olympic U23, he tried the European adventure, cut short by the pandemic. He is back in the capital and gets his debut role as a first grade coach in the NPLW powerhouse that has reached the last eleven Grand Finals. The club has clearly entered a period of transition in the last 12 months, and the loss this off-season of two Westfield W-League experienced players, Catherine Brown, and Jessie Rasschaert, means Zakoski already has his work cut out for him. The Blue Devils did add some real talent to their team, starting with one of the best goalkeepers in the capital, Cristina Esposito. Her safe hands and reflexes on the line made her a regular highlight reel with the Woden-Weston Wanderers, and no doubt she will be an asset for Belconnen. Former Panther Jazmine Zabel has the hard task of replacing Rasschaert in central defence, but she should be the only new face in the back four. Up front, as if being last year’s most prolific team was not enough, Zakoski also recorded the arrival of goal scoring machines Talia Backhouse and Cassia McGlashan. With such added strength and the experience of Michaela Thornton, Nicole Jalocha and Karen Clarke to name just a few, Belconnen looks ready to go back to their winning ways in 2021.

In: Talia BACKHOUSE (Sabbatical), Olivia BOMFORD (Olympia FC), Cristina ESPOSITO (West Canberra Wanderers), Sarah JOHNSTON (Illawarra Stingrays), Cassia MCGLASHAN (Sabbatical), Isabella TAMMARO (Sabbatical)
Out: Catherine BROWN, Jessica GIOVINAZZO (Work), Jasmine MAGUIRE (Study), Jessie RASSCHAERT (Interstate)

PRE-SEASON RESULTS

13/2 v Tuggeranong United W 9-0 (Bobbin, Jalocha (2), Clarke, Backhouse (2), McGlashan, Giorgi, Zaebel)
21/2 v Gungahlin United (h) W 3-2 (Ryan, Thornton (2))

13/3 v West Canberra Wanderers (a) W 3-0 (Johnson, Jalocha, Carnegie)
27/3 v Canberra Croatia (CS) 3-1

CANBERRA CROATIA
Head Coach: Nik BROZINIC

Last Season: 1st, won Grand Final

A simple stat for Canberra Croatia in 2020: they won every game, from Matchday 1 to the Grand Final meaning that Nik Brozinic and his undefeated squad will have a target on their back when the season starts. Defending their title and a tilt at another Grand Final will not be an easy feat. The coach will have stability on his side, with almost the entirety of the squad that lifted the trophy back in 2021. Two players with spectacular resumes are also making their comeback this season: Canberra United goalkeeper and goalkeeping coach Chantel Jones, and Jennifer Bisset, also an alumnus of Canberra United, who has spent the last three years playing in New South Wales. Expect the technique and leadership of Finals MVP Grace Gill, and the lethal left foot of Golden Boot Brittany Palombi to remind their opponents why the trophy sits at Deakin. Canberra Croatia dominated last season and looks even better in 2021. They say winning is the easy part, staying on top is the hardest, and you should expect the players with the chequered shirt to go to battle to prove they can keep their crown at the end of a full season.

In: Bella BARAC (Canberra United Academy), Jennifer BISSET (Apia Leichhardt), Olivia FOGARTY (Injury), Renee JUNNA (Brindabella Blues Boys NPL), Chantel JONES (Injury)
Out: Anna BENNETT (Canberra Olympic), Grace FIELD (Sabbatical), Christina GRAUER-KOMPOS (Wagga City Wanderers)

PRE-SEASON RESULTS

13/2 v Apia Leichhardt L 1-2 (Gill)
28/2 v Inter Lions (h) W 4-0 (Bisset (2), Gill (2))
14/3 v Illawarra Stingrays (a) L 1-4 (Gill)
27/3 v Belconnen United (CS)

CANBERRA OLYMPIC
Head Coach: Nicole Begg

Last Season: 4th, lost in Semi-Final

The Cinderella story of 2020, Canberra Olympic ended their season just a game shy of the Grand Final. Former assistant coach and player Nicole Begg is now at the helm, a first for the Westfield W-League champion. She played a big role in her team reaching the semi-finals last year and will strive to achieve the same results from the bench. Olympic brought in a ton of NPLW experience with four Woden-Weston regular starters last year, Iesha De Andrade, Lucy D’Arcy, Anna Vandenbroucke and Jemima Millar-Carton all travelling to O’Connor. With Angelica Pahina and Abigail Stanton out, they obtained a new promising young keeper in Aurelia Haynes, coming back to Olympic after a stint at Canberra United Academy. But make no mistake, the number one weapon in O’Connor this season again will be Ashleigh Sykes should she decide to lace up the boots once more. The 2016 Julie Dolan Medal winner will bring all her experience, speed, and ease in front of goals to win as many points as possible. The race for the Golden Boot in 2021 promises to be exciting!

In: Anna BENNETT (Canberra Croatia), Lucy D’ARCY (West Canberra Wanderers), Iesha DE ANDRADE (West Canberra Wanderers), Emma GUO (West Canberra Wanderers), Aurelia HAYNES (Canberra United Academy), Audrey MCLAREN (Canberra United Academy), Jemima MILLAR-CARTON (West Canberra Wanderers), Zoe SZEREMET (Monaro Panthers), Anna VANDENBROUCKE (West Canberra Wanderers)
Out: Lily DAWSON (attending Wollongong University), Eleanor JONES (attending RMIT), Angelia PAHINA, Abigail STANTON (moved to Sunshine Coast)

PRE-SEASON RESULTS

27/2 v Marconi Stallions (h) L 0-1
14/3 v Southern Districts Raiders (a) L 0-5
21/3 v Canberra United Academy (Hawker Football Centre, 16:20)
27/3 v Illawarra Stingrays (h)

CANBERRA UNITED ACADEMY
Head Coach: Vicki Linton and Eddie Senatore

Last Season: 5th

Vicki Linton’s debut at Canberra United Academy at the end of last season left us wanting more. Her successes in Westfield W-League so far brings even more excitement to the program. A new cycle starts at the Academy with a renewed team, that includes the addition of Maya Osmond, a young attacking talent who had a few NPLW games already with Belconnen last year, but also scored nine goals with their Reserve squad. The youth and intensity Canberra United Academy brings to every game will undoubtedly be an asset in a long season where other teams might tire after a few weeks. Vicki Linton has proven in her career her faith and quality in youth development and seeing her work in the NPLW will no doubt bring more interest to the competition.

 

In: Latisha BABIC, Chloe LINCOLN (FNSW Institute), Jayla MURPHY (Belconnen United), Maya OSMOND (Belconnen United)

Out: Bella BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Isy DAVEY, Alexandra GIDIS, Aurelia HAYNES (Canberra Olympic), Audrey MCLAREN (Canberra Olympic), Katie TYO (Sydney University), Hayley TAYLOR-YOUNG (MacArthur Rams)

PRE-SEASON RESULTS

27/2 v Tuggeranong United (a) W 4-0
13/3 v Gungahlin United (h) L 2-3
21/3 v Canberra Olympic (Hawker Football Centre, 16:20)

GUNGAHLIN UNITED
Head Coach: Diego IGLESIAS

Last Season: 3rd, lost in Semi-Final

Diego Iglesias and his players have gotten better year after year, reaching the semi-finals in 2020. As usual, there is not a lot of movement in the Gungahlin ranks, besides the return of experienced Gunner Natalie de Marco. With the core of the team returning, and last season’s addition Steffi Leijins and Tianah Miro settling in nicely, expect more of the same dynamic and attractive football played at Gungahlin Oval. Strikers Elke Aitolu and Jade Brown were in fine form in pre-season with two goals each, a good omen for two players who missed their fair share of games because of injury last year. Keep an eye out for some magic from young midfielder Stella de Marco, one of the best players of the season in 2020, and no doubt an asset Diego Iglesias will count on to lead his team to a third consecutive post-season.

In: Natalie DE MARCO (Injury), Anna WILKINSON (Promoted)
Out: Teah HAYES (Study), Alex PATTERSON (Work), Dee SIDHU (Study)

PRE-SEASON RESULTS

13/2 v Wagga City Wanderers (a) W 3-2 (Aitolu (2), Phelan)
21/2 v Belconnen United (a) L 2-3 (E. Brown, J. Brown)
13/3 v Canberra United Academy (a) W 3-2 (Tiro, J. Brown, S. De Marco)

27/3 v Marist Boys (a)

TUGGERANONG UNITED
Head Coach: Michael Aldred

Last Season: 8th

2021 is the occasion for Michael Aldred and his troops to start anew after a complicated short season that saw the Tuggies winning only once. Aldred was able to keep most of his squad, and will this season again lean on the experience of Stephanie Coates and Rhiannon Daisley to lead his troops to better results. Sophie Rolfe, the former Gungahlin keeper, is back in the NPLW and will be one to watch this season. The rest of the defence will almost be unchanged and with a year under their belt, we should see good habits developing, but this year again it’s going forward that Tuggeranong will need to improve the most. Tuggeranong only found the back of the net six times in 2020, and a better tally will be crucial to gain better results at Kambah. The addition of former Panthers Kenzie Ostruszka and Kassandra Guglielmin should help Jacquie Freeman and Maddie Magee achieve just that

In: Ashley CONLON, Kassandra GUGLIELMIN (Monaro Panthers), Kenzie OSTRUSZKA (Monaro Panthers), Sophie ROLFE
Out: Sofia FURLANETTO, Bella SANZARI, Emma STANBURY (West Canberra Wanderers)

PRE-SEASON RESULTS

13/2 v Belconnen United (h) L 0-9
27/2 v Canberra United Academy (h) L 0-4

WAGGA CITY WANDERERS
Head Coach: Sam Gray

Last Season: 7th

Wagga City Wanderers were one of the pleasant surprises of 2020. They played an exciting, attacking brand of football, and if the results were not always positive, the performances rarely disappointed. Sam Gray is losing some talent this season, with Tess Vaccari injured, and Maddy Harris and Lisa Cary moving away, but recorded a few signings, from local competitions as well as interstate. Piper Lockley’s technique, Megan Castle’s strength, and their ability to score goals will be key to the Wanderers’ successes in the 21-game season. They will count on the experience of their captain Suze Waia to lead their defence once again.

In: Kirrilee CAMERON (Cootamundra Strikers), Christina GRAUER-KOMPOS (Canberra Croatia), Ashley GARRATT (Henwood Park), Siana GRAHAM (Tumut Eagles), Ash HOLDER (Cootamundra Strikers), Bonny MCKEAN (Promoted), Maree MATTHEW (Promoted), Abby NOLAN-HODGES (Western NSW FC)
Out: Kerri-Anne BYRNE, Lisa CARY (Albury United), Stacey COLLINS (South Wagga), Maddy HARRIS (Wollongong), Tess VACCARI (Injured), Miranda WALKER

PRE-SEASON RESULTS

13/2 v Gungahlin United (h) L 2-3 (Castle, Lockley)
28/2 v Albury Hotspurs (h) W 2-1 (Castle (2))

WEST CANBERRA WANDERERS
Head Coach: Emma Stanbury

Last Season: 6th

Emma Stanbury arrives at Melrose as a player/coach full of ambition, not shying away from her target: reaching Finals football. The former Canberra United midfielder will count on an experienced core team keen on getting back to their 2019 form, when they just missed out on the post-season. 2020 saw them alternating great (thin 0-1 loss to Canberra Croatia, convincing 2-0 win against Gungahlin), and disappointing performances (1-5 loss to Olympic, 0-0 vs Tuggeranong), and they will need more consistency to hope for a better spot. West Canberra did lose talented goalkeeper Cristian Esposito in the offseason, but Captain and Wanderers’ leading scorer last season, Sarah Whitfield, will once again use her strength, ease ball to feet and clinical sense of goal, to bring some points home. Following Stanbury’s debut on the bench – while still playing – will be one of the attraction of the NPLW, and the Wanderers, looking more comfortable on a full season, will lean on her skills and leadership to climb back some spots on the ladder.
In: Emma ALFONSO (Promoted), Maya BINNS (ANU WFC), Sofia CHAVERRA (ANU WFC), Elizabeth EDWARDS (Monaro Panthers), Emma GUO (Canberra Olympic), Janet KING (Monaro Panthers), Emma STANBURY (Tuggeranong United)
Out: Lucy D’ARCY (Canberra Olympic), Iesha DE ANDRADE (Canberra Olympic), Jemima MILLAR-CARTON (Canberra Olympic), Julia STANTON, Anna VANDENBROUCKE (Canberra Olympic)

PRE-SEASON RESULTS

14/2 v Phoenix FC (a) L 0-2
21/2 v Marconi Stallions (a) L 1-6 (Whitfield)
7/3 v Radford College U18 Boys L 0-11