The Builders Club Women’s Divisions kick off on Sunday with 43 teams competing across five division including three new clubs in the lower divisions in South Coast United, Wollongong United and Jamberoo. The newly formed eight-team Women’s Youth League also gets underway on Sunday.

Headlining Sunday’s action is the Women’s Division 1 which features a new eight-team format (down from nine in 2017) with Russell Vale Black replacing Tarrawanna and Thirroul Blue dropping to the second division. Head of the Football South Coast Women’s Council Catherine Lear believes the reduced numbers will make for a more competitive league with every side in with a chance of playing finals football.

 

Let’s take a look at each of the eight teams competing and find out what we should expect from them in 2018.

 

Albion Park

 

Albion Park go into the season as the team to beat after sweeping all before them in 2017. Richard Davis’ side completed a phenomenal quadruple last season by taking out the League, Grand Final, State Cup and Champion of Champions - winning every game in the process.

While there are a number of quality players at the core of this champion side, expect powerhouse midfielder Rylee McGartland to have another strong season. The 19-year-old was one of the most damaging players in the league in last season with a knack of scoring from distance.

It would be easy for Albion Park to take their foot off the gas but star striker Brittany Ring, who scored 27 goals in the local league in 2017 says that won’t be the case. “We had a stellar campaign but the girls are eager to back it up this year,” pointing to coach Davis who keeps the side level-headed, “We haven’t achieved anything this year, success doesn’t come easy so we’ll work for it and see how things pan out.”

 

Balgownie

 

Only three players from last season’s squad remain at the Rangers with new coach Earle Canvin keen to promote the core of players who won the under 21s competition in 2017. Canvin was reticent to put forward any individuals instead focussing on the collective, “It really is about the team, they’re all technically sound and they all want to have a crack.”

Canvin did reveal they have picked up 19-year-old Courtney Riordan from the Illawarra Stingrays and he hopes her experience playing at representative level will brush off onto some of her teammates. Riordan is likely to lineup somewhere in either midfield or at the back.

Canvin believes his side has the potential to be in the mix for finals football come the back end of the regular season, however that isn’t the “Success for us will be judged on how we are playing at the end of the season compared to the start and how we are able to develop as a team and as individual players.”

 

Fernhill

 

The Foxes finished second from bottom in 2017 in a season where things just never seemed to get going. Despite this, coach Josh Sebben believes that his side are a real chance of taking a spot inside the top four of the competition.

Sebben admits it has been a frantic preseason with a number of players coming in and out of the club. However, they have settled on their core squad in recent weeks and managed a creditable 3-2 win over a seasoned Picton side in a recent trial match.

Amongst a crop of fresh faces, Sebben points to the signings of Norwegian import Pernille Dahl who will lineup in the middle of the park as well as former Illawarra Stingray and Western Mariner Kya Godbier. Football South Coast All Star Emi Skopal also returns for her second season with the club.

 

Kiama

 

Kiama edged out Thirroul White by a single point for the final spot in the top four last season. Coach Umberto Sorrentino admits another finals birth is the side’s target in 2018, “Things are looking great for Kiama this season…  we are always looking to move forward and to improve.”

Sorrentino has picked up a few new players including Katie Poulton and former Southern Branch player Emma Dowse who he believes will add plenty of talent and energy to his core squad. These signings will compliment the likes of Brooke Perkiss and Megan Blanch who were instrumental last season while Sorrentino also predicts Alex Stronach and Kari Gonzalez to take their games up a notch in 2018.

The Quarriers have had a productive preseason including trials against teams from Canberra and Nowra. Sorrentino believes due to the new mix of players it will take time for his side to gel, “The more matches we play and training sessions we have the better we will be.”

 

Russell Vale Black

 

Russell Vale Black enter the Women’s Division 1 as an over 30s side who will compliment Russell Vale Pink (another over 30s side) already competing in the third tier. A handful of the side were senior members of the now-defunct Tarrawanna side who have featured the last three Grand Finals.

Team Manager Leah Carlon says that the side was to set up to keep women over the age of 30 active within the game, “We were keen to keep this group playing soccer in the Illawarra for as long as possible,” adding they were still happy to hear from other women interested in getting involved. She also believes there aren’t any expectations on the side this season, “Our priorities are to have fun and keep the squad together if we win a couple of games that would be great but winning isn’t the priority.”

Given they are an over 30s side, Russell Vale will put out a side with plenty of experience. One of their underage players is ex Tarrawanna forward Jasmin Pearce who came close to earning golden boot honours in 2017, her energy in the final third will be invaluable and she’s sure to find the back of the net on a number of occasions this season.

 

Thirroul

 

In 2017, Thirroul were represented by two sides in the top division, however, after finishing bottom of the competition Thirroul Blue have dropped into the second tier. Thirroul White finished one place outside the top four for the second season in a row, missing out by just a point last time out.

 

The Thunderbirds will field a relatively young squad in 2017 with coach Tina Siskoska keen to promote members of last year's under 21s, “It’s their time, they have all been playing together for a few years and they are gelling well.” Siskoska opted not to single any individuals out, however, she believes her side will be competitive across the park.

 

Siskoska believes her side will be aiming for a place in the top four, “Our targets are to aim high and achieve higher,” adding “You’re not out there with an intention to lose, and if you keep winning it gets you to the end of the race first.”

University

 

Despite a couple of noteworthy results, University fell three wins short of the playoffs in 2017. This year, University will be represented across four teams across four division with a grand total of 80 players with the first division side spearheading the club.

Overseeing the club’s on the field efforts is head coach Brod Crighton who isn’t willing to put forward a position target to represent success this season, “The primary target is to play good football, while being respectful, strong and hard to beat,” adding “If we play a good style of football we give ourselves a strong chance of winning games of football.”

The Unicorns will be without Zoe Kalos this season with the midfield maestro signing for NSW NPL 1 side Northern Tigers. However, Crighton is confident others will fill the void, “We have got good players all over the park and across all four of our sides.”

 

Woonona

The girls from Ocean Park have fallen a game short of the big dance two seasons in a row. In 2017 they suffered an agonising 1-0 defeat to Tarrawanna in the Preliminary Final - a team they finished level with in the regular season.

Sharks player Kelsey Clements says the side are intent on breaking their Grand Final drought in 2018. Clements believes the side have had a strong preseason, “We have been focusing on fitness to ensure we are ready to hit the ground running from the first match.”

Woonona will be without veteran defenders Melanie Ireland and Samantha Walker who have moved on from the club. The two were key figures at the back, however, Clements believes it will give other players a chance to step up. The side will be spurred by the return of Fiona Leafe from injury as well as Elyse McNally. While the acquisitions of Ainsley Hawes and Kayla Draper should mean the Sharks possess the firepower they have at times lacked in recent seasons.

 

Preview by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela - done in conjunction with FSC Women’s Council, players and coaches.

 

Photo by Pedro Garcia