A-League 2024/25 A-League Women Thread

[stax on the mull]

Table as it stands after the Sunday games. The significant results today were Brisbane going down to Adelaide 2-3 at home and Wellington winning 3-2 at home with a goal in the last minute of extra time directly from a corner after being 0-2 down at half-time against Newcastle. Central Coast getting a point with a 0-0 draw away Sydney put them in 6th place.

Western United got a point against table leaders Melbourne City on Friday with a 1-1 draw and have a chance to go back into the top 6 if they beat Perth at home on Tuedsay.

The result of the abandoned game on Wednesday between Sydney & Canberra still pending. If Sydney are awarded the points after leading Canberra 2-0 the only change to the ladder will be that they'll jump above Perth Glory on points and take Newcastle's spot in 9th on GD.

 

[stax on the mull]

Table as it stands after the Sunday games. The significant results today were Brisbane going down to Adelaide 2-3 at home and Wellington winning 3-2 at home with a goal in the last minute of extra time directly from a corner after being 0-2 down at half-time against Newcastle. Central Coast getting a point with a 0-0 draw away Sydney put them in 6th place.

Western United got a point against table leaders Melbourne City on Friday with a 1-1 draw and have a chance to go back into the top 6 if they beat Perth at home on Tuedsay.

The result of the abandoned game on Wednesday between Sydney & Canberra still pending. If Sydney are awarded the points after leading Canberra 2-0 the only change to the ladder will be that they'll jump above Perth Glory on points and take Newcastle's spot in 9th on GD.




View attachment 2207057

Sydney vs Canberra game won't be rescheduled giving Sydney the 3 pts after they led 2-0 when the game was stopped after 53 minutes.

 

[stax on the mull]

4-1 win to Western United over Perth Glory puts them back in the top 6.

Perth just don't have the players to play with any cohesion and losing McKenna (red card last game) and Cassidy (concussion last game) had them put out a weaker line up than usual, although their defence is usually better than what they showed in today's outing.

 

[Ram-Man]

4-1 win to Western United over Perth Glory puts them back in the top 6.

Perth just don't have the players to play with any cohesion and losing McKenna (red card last game) and Cassidy (concussion last game) had them put out a weaker line up than usual, although their defence is usually better than what they showed in today's outing.

Cassidy was a big out. I feel although their defence is solid on the way out they often miss targets or make poor decisions.

They also lack pace on the outside. I feel Hollar is their most skilled player yet not sure they have found a way to get her more involved in the play. At NPL Vic level last year she had a lightning quick Josefski (not sure why she is not in the A League) on the outside and they combined very well for the Boroondara Eagles.

 

[stax on the mull]

Cassidy was a big out. I feel although their defence is solid on the way out they often miss targets or make poor decisions.

They also lack pace on the outside. I feel Hollar is their most skilled player yet not sure they have found a way to get her more involved in the play. At NPL Vic level last year she had a lightning quick Josefski (not sure why she is not in the A League) on the outside and they combined very well for the Boroondara Eagles.

Along with Georgia Cassidy, I like Grace Johnston from the Glory who is one of their outside players although she was subbed in the 2nd half, I would think for management issues with the short turnaround of games. She seems to have genuine pace and takes on and gets around opposition players. If she wasn't so lightly framed I feel like she could play more centrally where she would have more room to go left and right.

The other player they have on the outside, the 31yo Wynne who has some experience in the UK leagues and was a former Welsh international looks like she was probably a good player but she's so proppy on that leg with the heavily bandaged knee when she runs - and like a lot of players struggling with injury gets into the mode of flopping for free kicks.

They're slow up front too, but they're missing their striker they got from the NPL Kelli Brown who seems to be on long-term injury. Susan Phonsongkham being out for most of the year is also one they miss there as she played as a bit of a conduit between midfield and attack last season and set up some goals in their wins when they started well and were up the top of the table early last season (pre-Christmas 2023).

But really with the turnover of players they've had, and a new coach, they're starting from scratch again in 2025.

I've heard there's players in the NPL that are probably good enough to play A-League. Going back to when Western United came into the comp they had a big focus on NPL recruits.

 

[giggler99]

Round 13 Fixture

Friday 24th January
Melbourne Victory V Sydney FC, 4:50pm ESDT AAMI Park

Saturday 25th January
Western Sydney Wanderers V Melbourne City 5:00pm ESDT, Wanderers Football Park
Adelaide United V Western United, 5:30pm ESDT, 5:00pm CSDT, Marden Sports complex
Newcastle Jets V Canberra United, 7:45pm ESDT, McDonald Jones Stadium

Sunday 26th January
Central Coast Mariners V Wellington Phoenix 5:00pm ESDT, 7:00pm NZLT, Woy Woy Oval
Perth Glory V Brisbane Roar 8:00pm ESDT, 5:00pm WST 7:00pm EST, Sam Kerr Football Centre

 

[stax on the mull]

Super boot from Alana Jancevski to put Melbourne Victory 1-0 vs Sydney inside 5 minutes.

 

[stax on the mull]

2-0 in the finish. Alana Jancevski who scored the first goal went off under concussion protocols at half-time so will likely miss the next game. A debutant, Holly Furphy scored Victory's second. Commentator informed that she was a youth Matilda who has come back to Australia after 3 years completing a degree in the USA and playing in their college system.

The game lacked a lot of drama in-between goals with a lot of play between the boxes. Sydney find it hard to score and Melbourne Victory don't seem to push for goals, although imo, they've got the talent.

Result means Melbourne Victory go on top of the ladder with 27pts with Melbourne City to play tomorrow, currently on 26pts. As there's currently a a gap to 3rd place of more than 3pts it means whatever the results for the rest of this round, the Rd 14 clash where Melbourne City host Melbourne Victory will be 1 vs 2 or 2 vs 1.

 

[CURVE]

I'm really surprised Canberra are as high on the table as they are, they are terrible in the middle of the park, every time I watch them their midfield is dominated by the opposition, and the amount of open space they leave for the opponents to run though you could comfortably keep 100 head of cattle without any interaction from a girl in Green. Yet somehow, they have won as many games as they have lost.

 

[stax on the mull]

I'm really surprised Canberra are as high on the table as they are, they are terrible in the middle of the park, every time I watch them their midfield is dominated by the opposition, and the amount of open space they leave for the opponents to run though you could comfortably keep 100 head of cattle without any interaction from a girl in Green. Yet somehow, they have won as many games as they have lost.

The game yesterday between Newcastle and Canberra had a lot of drama. I thought Robers was pretty good. They have one regular midfield player from early in the season out with injury in Aiden Keane, not a star but has a few years experience with various teams which counts at this level where most teams are packed with inexperience players. We're just starting to see some separation at the top with Melb Victory and Melb City looking like they've got the best squad depth, but there's not much between the other sides.

It's really a development league with most of the teams being bits and pieces teams - good in some areas and lacking in others, and injuries play a part in that. A lot of these games are decided by a dubious ref decision, a poor error by a defender or gk, or a failure to capitalize on goal - like I'm watching the game right now between Central Coast and Wellington, and there's 3 clear one on one chances where the ball just has to be tapped wide of the keeper that the strikers from both sides have failed to score.

Canberra has won some games just because Heyman has been able to finish those kind of chances. They've beaten Brisbane twice, the 2nd game they got a very late winner from a route 1 long bomb with the wind by the GK where the Brisbane defender fell over as she was trying clear and kicked the ball into Heyman's hand before Heyman hit it past the GK. Very lucky, but other teams have had similar luck this season. They've also had some banger goals. Markovski and Stanic-Floody have scored long range goals for Canberra.

Definitely noticed what you say about Canberra's midfield in the game they lost to Sydney where the central defender Nat Tobin who is slow as treacle, just charged through the middle on both occasions to set up the two Sydney goals.

 

[stax on the mull]

Some late extra time drama in the final game of the round with Perth defeating Brisbane 3-2 at Sam Kerr Stadium from a free kick converted from just outside the box after a red card was given to the Brisbane defender for stopping a goal scoring chance.

Central Coast earlier beating Wellington 1-0 at home making some changes to ladder positions.

 

[giggler99]

Round 14 fixture

Friday 31st January
Sydney FC V Adelaide United 7:00pm ESDT Leichardt Oval
Western United V Western Sydney Wanderers, 7:00pm ESDT, Ironbark Fields

Saturday 1st February
Central Coast mariners V Newcastle Jets, 4:50pm ESDT, Industree Group Stadium
Canberra United V Perth Glory 5:00pm ESDT, McKellar Park
Melbourne City V Melbourne Victory 5:00pm ESDT, Ctrl Cyber Pitch

Sunday 2nd February
Brisbane Roar V Wellington Phoenix 6:00pm ESDT, Perry Park

 

[stax on the mull]

Friday 31st January
Sydney FC V Adelaide United 7:00pm ESDT Leichardt Oval
Western United V Western Sydney Wanderers, 7:00pm ESDT, Ironbark Fields

Western United comfortable 4-1 winners scoring two goals in first 7 minutes.

I switched over after their 4th goal to see the end of the Sydney vs Adelaide game. Sydney equalized in the 93rd minute after being 0-2 down at half time and Adelaide got the winner 30 seconds later to win 2-3.

 

[stax on the mull]

Did anyone in Melbourne know where tf this was without googling it?

Way to try and keep people excited about women's football. I get taking your games to more suburban audiences, but your derby?

I don't know if you're going to this but the starting time has been put back an hour to 6.00pm.

 

[stax on the mull]

There's a game on Wednesday Feb 5, 5pm AEST between Western United and Melbourne City. 6th vs 1st.

It's listed as a Rd 20 game, although it's being played before Rd 15, so both of these teams will be on the ladder as having played one extra game until Rd 20 when the fixture corrects itself and both of these teams have a bye that weekend. It's the only other fixture anomaly for the remainder of the season.

There is an A League break between Feb 16th and Feb 28th so the A League teams that will lose players to international duty for the 4 nations She Believes Cup between Feb 21 and Feb 27 will probably only miss 1 game. But there's not that many. Brisbane with L. Freier and Yallop will be the most affected. The others are McNamara (Melb City), Lincoln (Western United), Prior (Newcastle) and Heyman (Canberra).

 

[stax on the mull]

Hattrick to recalled Matilda Holly McNamara before half time as Melb City lead Western United 3-1. Should have had 4 but she creates opportunities with well timed runs and still has some acceleration after 3 ACLs. When she sits on a defender there's no catching her when she breaks towards goal.

 

[giggler99]

Round 15 Fixture

Friday 7th February
Adelaide United V Perth Glory 4:50pm ESDT, Coopers Stadium

Saturday 8th February
Wellington Phoenix V Melbourne Victory 2:00pm ESDT Pariua Park
Canberra United V Central Coast Mariners 5:00pm ESDT, McKellar Park
Newcastle United V Melbourne City, 7:45pm ESDT, McDonald Jones Stadium

Sunday 9th February
Sydney FC V Western United 5:00pm ESDT Leichardt Oval
Western Sydney Wanderers V Brisbane Roar 5:00pm ESDT Wanderers Park

 

[stax on the mull]

5-1 win to Melbourne City vs Western United entrenching their place at the top of the ladder.

3 goals to Holly McNamara in the 1st half. She was subbed at the 56th minute. Looked like she had cramp. She hasn't actually played a full game since coming back and only started in the last 3 so I'd think if she gets game time with the Matildas later this month it would probably be off the bench.

Western United had a fair few shots on target with Logarzo scoring their goal from about 25 metres after Laura Hughes lost possession in the midfield. It was 1-1 at that stage and Western United had about 10 minutes after where they looked like they could take the lead until McNamara scored her 2nd and 3rd goal in the space of a couple of minutes.

Current ladder before the fixtures for this weekend's Round 15 posted above. WU's GD could be a problem for them at the end of season.

 

[stax on the mull]

Western Sydney Wanderers win their first game since Rd 6 beating Brisbane Roar 2-1 in a bit of an upset at home with a late winner by sub Holly Caspers who has been injured most of the year.

Kahli Johnson from Western United leads the golden boot race with 8 goals with 7 players behind her all on 7 goals. Some have been stuck there for a few weeks now, so much so that Holly McNamara from Melbourne City who scored again coming on as a substitute player last night (after a 1st half hattrick midweek) is one of the players to join the others on 7 goals after having missed much of the season and still on limited game minutes. Chloe Logarzo also had a chance to move to 8 goals but missed a penalty today, but did score Western United's first goal in their away win over Sydney 1-2.

Johnson has maybe been the benefit of a couple of controversial decisions this year. One when she took out the GK on a header challenge and another allowed goal that didn't look like it crossed the line. Sienna Saveska has scored twice in the last two games for WSW which is better from a consistency point of view, and that she has been playing in the bottom side.

Worts is the only non-Australian player on the list.

 

[stax on the mull]

McNamara very composed goal. As I mentioned in the midweek game, she's just too quick.

 

[giggler99]

Round 16 Fixture

Friday 14th February
Western Sydney Wanders V Newcastle Jets 7:00pm ESDT, Wanderers park

Saturday 15th February
Adelaide United V Canberra United 4:50pm ESDT, Coopers Stadium
Melbourne City V Sydney FC 7:45pm ESDT, AAMI Park

Sunday 16th February
Melbourne Victory V Central Coast Mariners 5:00pm ESDT, Home Of the Matildas
Brisbane Roar V Western United 6:00pm ESDT, Perry Park
Perth Glory V Wellington Phoenix 8:00pm ESDT, Sam Kerr Football Centre

 

[stax on the mull]

Stunning goal by Speckmaier inside the 1st minute after half time to level it up 1-1. Melb City Vs Sydney.

 

[giggler99]

Round 17 Fixture

Friday 28th February
Central Coast Mariners V Western Sydney Wanderers, 4:50pm ESDT Industree Group Stadium

Saturday 1st March
Canberra V Melbourne City, 4:00pm ESDT, McKellar Park
Newcastle Jets V Perth Glory, 4:30pm ESDT, No.2 Sportsground
Western United V Melbourne Victory, 6:00pm ESDT, Ironbark Fields

Sunday 2nd March
Wellington Phoenix V Adelaide United, 2:00pm ESDT, Poriua Park
Sydney FC V Brisbane Roar, 5:00pm ESDT, Leichardt Oval

 

[stax on the mull]

Late winner by Western Sydney Wanderers gives them 3 wins in a row coming from 1-0 down away to Central Coast. They are well and truly off the bottom of the table now (in 9th spot) where they had been for 12th for most of the season. Central Coast in jeopardy, hanging onto a finals spot. Isabel Gomez was their best player and scored their goal, but went off and had an icepack on her leg, so might be seriously injured again. She was called up for the Matildas squad in November and was injured the following weekend and has just had her first starting game back since then after playing 30minutes as a sub in the previous game.

Bad mistake by Jess Nash, to concede possession and give the opportunity for WSW to score via Holly Caspers, who has come off the bench in the last 3 games and scored in every game since she's come back from injury.

All the other teams around Central Coast and in contention for the Top 6 lost their games.

Adelaide beat Wellington away confirming their spot in the Top 3. Sydney beat Brisbane 3-2 at home. Canberra managed a 1-1 draw at home against table leaders Melbourne City which was a good result but they needed 3pts and Western United lost 2-1 at home to 2nd place Melbourne City

Still 6 rounds to go. It might a couple of those teams in 4th to 8th will make the finals without really being challenged for spots. The bottom 4 teams seem a fair way of though Western Sydney have won 3 in a row. Wellington Phoenix in the biggest slump losing for the first time this season at home. They do have 4 more games out of 6 in NZ.

 

[giggler99]

Round 18 Fixture

Friday 7th March
Perth Glory V Western United, 10:00pm ESDT, Sam Kerr Football Centre

Saturday 8th March
Newcastle Jets V Sydney FC 4:30pm ESDT, No2. Sportsground
Adelaide United V Central Coast Mariners 7:45pm ESDT, Coopers Stadium

Sunday 9th March
Wellington Phoenix V Western Sydney Wanderers 5:00pm ESDT Pariua Park
Melbourne Victory V Canberra United, 5:00pm ESDT, Home Of The Matildas
Brisbane Roar V Melbourne City (postponed)