A longer season could be just what Adelaide needs to seal a finals spot in back-to-back seasons. Consistency has been key to United’s growing strength over the past few seasons and it’ll be business as usual, with the club building off a solid core of home-grown talent.

Last Season

The Reds broke through and made history. Faith in coach Adrian Stenta and his South Australian players paid dividends as the Reds shook the finals’ monkey off their back. The side missed out on the preliminary final after going down in a thriller against Melbourne Victory.

Goalscoring machine Fiona Worts was rewarded for her late season flourish with the Julie Dolan Medal, becoming the first player from the club to win the A-League Women’s top individual honour.

Key facts

Line Up

The coach

Taking out the A-League Women’s Coach of the Year award last season, Adrian Stenta has been charged with executing the long-term project at the club.

Stenta took over the reins from Ivan Karlović in the 2020-21 season after the former gaffer had built a young squad of South Australians over his five year stint. Stenta has credited his own period of success to the foundations built by Karlović.

The success Stenta has experienced since stepping up from the assistant role has been historic for the club. He will be hoping to build further and could very much be the one in charge when Adelaide win its first piece of silverware.

Ins and outs

INS

OUTS

Key players

Two key returns will be a welcome sight for Adelaide fans: South Australian Jenna McCormick and Dutchwoman Maruschka Waldus. Both know what the club is about and have previously played core roles successfully. As Matilda McNamara is now competing in Denmark with AGF, McCormick and Waldus will be timely additions.

The midfield duo of Dylan Holmes and Emily Condon is one full of experience and creativity, while Nanako Sasaki will look to shine as she did in her first season at the club. Youngster Sasha Coorey arrives on a scholarship and could be the side’s bolter in midfield after the 17-year-old had an impressive season with Football SA NTC.

Adelaide’s need for speed up front is set to continue with Chelsie Dawber and Fiona Worts both returning. Chinese forward Xiao Yuyi is an exciting addition for United and her promise of goals should excite fans.

In goals, Annalee Grove showed she is one of Australia’s top shot stoppers last year and will be looking to grow further in confidence this time around.

One to watch

Xiao Yuyi could unlock Adelaide’s full potential in attack. The Chinese international arrives with 31 caps, having been loaned from Chinese Women’s Super League side Shanghai Shengli.

Her injection provides experience and depth in an area the Reds have traditionally struggled with, despite Worts’ success last season.  

Alongside Canberra’s Wu Chengshu, they will become the first Chinese players to compete in the A-League Women’s. There’s a very real chance they could become trailblazers ahead of an extended home-and-away season.

Xiao has shown she can step up to the occasion of the big stage, scoring the 93rd minute winner in China’s come-from-behind Asian Cup Final victory over South Korea. Her composure will be something Adelaide hopes can be replicated in key moments throughout this season.

Prediction

While focus and attention is perhaps on the Eastern seaboard, including the likes of newcomers Western United’s strong pre-season performances, Adelaide could return as the sleeping lion this season.

With a largely settled side and slowly becoming one of the more experienced outfits in the competition, the Reds are poised to return to finals and could even go all the way if everything clicks.

Fixture

Adelaide United will look to start the season by building a South Australian fortress and it will be tested early in their first game against Sydney FC.