Season 2021-22 of the A-League Women promises to be an exciting one, with a new broadcast deal and a new team in Wellington Phoenix. For Perth Glory, they will be hoping it brings a change in fortune – they have only won three games since their appearance in the 2019 Grand Final.
A major squad restructure has seen no less than 14 new players coming in and nine players not returning from last season’s squad. Coach Alex Epakis started the rebuild early, signing a large number of young and relatively untested players in an attempt to turn things around.
This influx of new players and a more settled pre-season has introduced a sense of real determination from the club to correct their dramatic fall from grace. There is a genuine sense of optimism from the coaches and players alike that this season will be a dramatic improvement on 2020-21.
Last Season
2020-21 proved to be the toughest season that Perth Glory has had in the Women’s competition since the W-League was established in 2008. They finished in last place with no wins and just one draw, scoring seven goals and conceding 32.
The impacts that COVID had on the club can’t be overstated, as it severely hampered pre-season preparations and led to multiple fixture re-structures, but that alone doesn’t explain the winless season.
The squad seemed overwhelmed by the challenge of playing in the W-League, and the return of just seven goals meant they had to rely on keeping things tight at the back to earn points. Despite Lily Alfeld‘s goalkeeping heroics, the defence was not up to that task and their goals against tally of 32 was another reason for finishing bottom of the table.
The on-field results also led to poor attendances, and their average of just 493 per game meant that visiting teams had little to fear when coming to Perth.
Squad Ins and Outs
INS
Morgan Aquino – Brisbane Roar
Sarah Cain – Melbourne City
Kim Carroll – Brisbane Roar
Lisa De Vanna – Melbourne Victory
Alana Jancevski – Melbourne Victory
Aideen Keane – Western Sydney Wanderers
Demi Koulizakis – Canberra United
Claudia Mihocic – Football Victoria Emerging
Courtney Newbon – Western Sydney Wanderers
Susan Phonsongkham – Western Sydney Wanderers
Sofia Sakalis – Melbourne City
Sadie Lawrence – MUM FC (NPLW WA)
Cyera Hintzen – Valur (Iceland)
Mie Leth Jans – Vittsjo (Sweden)
OUTS
Lily Alfeld – Wellington Phoenix
Rebecca Bennett – Released
Patricia Charalambous – Released
Caitlin Doeglas – Injured (ACL)
Jamie-Lee Gale – Released
Katarina Jukic – Released
Lexie Moreno – Released
Malia Steinmetz – Western Sydney Wanderers
Marianna Tabain – Released
Coach
Alex Epakis may have felt like he had been handed a poisoned chalice last season, as he had little say in the makeup of his squad and couldn’t hold his first full training session until Christmas Eve. COVID meant that games were constantly being rescheduled and Glory found it difficult to maintain any semblance of momentum as a result.
Many coaches would have probably walked away from the project after season one, but Epakis is determined to leave a legacy and he set about a complete squad re-structure immediately after the end of the 2020-21 season.
Drawing on his knowledge of the game in Sydney, as well as spending large amounts of time checking the local leagues in Melbourne, Queensland and WA, Epakis has brought in a raft of young and hungry players, many of whom have experienced international football at a junior level. He has also added some experience to the squad in the form of Kim Carroll, Lisa De Vanna and Mie Leth Jans, so no one can question his desire to win trophies with the club.
Epakis is a firm believer that if you get the processes right then results will follow, and he will leave no stone unturned as he attempts to restore some much-needed pride back to the club.
Key Defender
The pairing of Kim Carroll and last season’s Most Glorious Player Liz Anton may well be the bedrock upon which the team can build. Both players are senior internationals, and Carroll had a superb season with Brisbane Roar last time out.
The style that Epakis wants to play will rely on ball-playing defenders and both of these players fit the bill perfectly. In addition to being the springboard for Perth’s attacks, the two of them are extremely capable defenders and will be focused on ensuring the goals against tally is greatly reduced this time around.
Key Midfielder
The signing of Danish international Mie Leth Jans is another indication that Epakis is determined to avoid a repeat of last season’s woes. Epakis has spoken glowingly of Jans and had this to say about her when her signing was announced:
“She is a leader, she is determined and she is a pure professional. Everyone associated with Glory and the A-League Women should be excited to have someone of Mie’s calibre in the competition.”
The 27-year-old Danish international can play as a central defender but is most likely to be used by Glory as a holding midfielder. She has 26 senior international caps to her name and comes to Glory after spending three seasons with Swedish clubs Rosengard and Vittsjö GIK. She has previously played with Manchester City.
Key Forward
The lack of goals last season was a huge issue for Perth, and Epakis has moved to address that by bringing in an array of young attacking talent. Demi Koulizakis and Susan Phonsongkham will be keen to establish themselves as Glory spearheads. There is also American youth international Cyera Hintzen, who has Champions League experience from her spell at Icelandic champions Valur.
However, the biggest weapon in the armoury has to be Lisa De Vanna, now in her third spell with the club. Her goalscoring talents alone would be enough to warrant a place in the squad, but she also brings a wealth of experience and a burning desire to win.
Young Player to Watch
Hana Lowry will be playing in her third campaign for Glory and was last season’s joint golden boot winner with two goals. Her talent is unquestioned, plus she has the backing of Epakis after he started her in 11 of the 12 games last season. This campaign will be vital for Lowry to catch the eye of Tony Gustavsson and push her claims to be included in the 2023 World Cup squad. Hopefully that will be the spur for Lowry to now push on and impose herself on games for the full 90 minutes.
Predicted Finish
With so many new faces in the squad, it’s very hard to predict where Glory will finish this year. Goals are still an issue for the squad, but the inclusion of De Vanna will go a long way towards addressing that shortcoming from last season.
Pre-season has shown a big increase in intensity and the benefit of the new players is that they won’t be carrying any baggage from last season’s campaign. A top 4 finish is not out of the question, but much will depend on how quickly the team can gell with so many new signings. As the season progresses they should become stronger and may well surprise a number of teams.
