A change in coach, a return to McKellar Park, new faces in the squad while retaining a Canberra core, and access to the full salary cap all point to a stronger 2022-23 campaign for the team in green.
Last Season
A disappointing seventh placing in 2021-22, including just two wins and seven draws, pointed to how inconsistent the team was, even within games. It was only at the tail end of the season when the team could justifiably say it was putting together 90 minute performances.
High points included Michelle Heyman‘s nine goals, placing her fourth on the top scorer list for 2021-22, plus the form of goal-keepers Keeley Richards and Chloe Lincoln. Lincoln’s form led to selection in the Young Matildas squad for the U-20 World Cup.
Key Facts
| Coach: | Njegosh Popovich |
| Captain: | Michelle Heyman |
| Last Season: | 7th (2 wins, 7 draws, 5 losses) |
| Venue(s): | McKellar Park – 8 games Seiffert Oval – 1 game |
| Membership: | from $60 |
Line-up
One key point of difference this season is the announcement of several two-year deals.
The Coach
Njegosh Popovich (see here for in-depth interview) comes to the Head Coach role having previously been an assistant during the Rae Dower era of Canberra United. He has also worked with Dower for several years in the Junior Matildas setup.
Popovich has a long association with Canberra. He played in the NSL for Canberra Cosmos and has plenty of experience with various local clubs, both as a coach and as a Technical Director. There is a strong Canberra focus to the coaching team: the highly regarded Ant Jagarinec is assistant coach, ParaMatildas coach Kelly Stirton is the team manager and Tim Davies is the goalkeeper coach. Popovich has also brought in a group of Canberra United luminaries as mentors (Ash Sykes, Nicole Begg, Caitlin Muñoz and Grace Gill).
“I think we’ve assembled a squad that’s going to be quite dynamic. We have pockets of players around that are very explosive. We have a very, very strong attacking force in the likes of Michelle and Jale. Gracie Maher is able to score from distance, Vesna scores from distance. Nickoletta Flannery had a good season this year with Leichhardt as well, scoring goals and getting into the right areas to do so.
“So I think we’re going to be scoring a lot of goals, I really do believe that.”
“I would like to think that my style of play is a possession-based game, but it’s not possession for possession’s sake. We look to go forward as early as we possibly can and make it appealing to the crowd. In terms of our aspirations for where we end up during the season, I’ve always been a winner. I don’t like to go into things not thinking that we’re going to win. I think the mental preparation with all the players has been all about winning. And we would like some success coming back in to fill that trophy cabinet.
“Again, going back to McKellar Park is huge for us. It’s our fortress, you know over the years how much success we’ve had at that stadium and ground. We just want to replicate all of that, as best we can.”
Ins & Outs
INS
| Keely Segavcic | Goalkeeper | Northbridge Bulls |
| Ellie Brush | Defender | Sydney FC |
| Grace Taranto | Defender | Adelaide United |
| Holly Murray | Defender | South Melbourne FC |
| Kennedy Faulknor | Defender | UCLA Bruins (USA) |
| Madison McComasky | Defender | Macarthur Rams |
| Vesna Milivojević | Midfielder | ZFK Spartak Subotica (Serbia) |
| Emily Roach | Midfielder | Heidelberg United |
| Wu Chengshu | Midfielder | Jiangsu Suning Ladies FC (China PR) |
| Sofia Christopherson | Forward | Canberra United Academy |
| Nickoletta Flannery | Forward | APIA Leichhardt |
| Ellen Gett | Forward | Brisbane Roar |
| Grace Jale | Forward | Wellington Phoenix |
OUTS
| Cristina Esposito | Goalkeeper | Not retained |
| Beth Mason-Jones | Goalkeeper | Not retained |
| Ally Haran | Defender | Not retained |
| Lauren Keir | Defender | Western Sydney Wanderers |
| Mikayla Vidmar | Defender | Not retained |
| Karly Roestbakken (guest) | Defender | Melbourne City |
| Margot Robinne | Midfielder | Brisbane Roar |
| Alexia Karrys-Stahl | Midfielder | Not retained |
| Chelsee Washington | Midfielder | Orlando Pride |
| Allira Toby | Forward | Not retained |
| Ashleigh Sykes | Forward | On a playing hiatus |
| Holly Caspers | Forward | Western Sydney Wanderers |
Key Players
Captain Michelle Heyman is always a barometer for the team’s performance; when Heyman is playing well and scoring goals, Canberra United tends to do well.
How quickly Canadian defender Kennedy Faulknor settles in will be important to the team’s fortunes. Faulknor will be a vital cog in central defence while Ellie Brush continues her healing and preparation for match play.
Vice-captain Grace Maher will again be playing a key role in midfield this season, no doubt alongside Laura Hughes and Vesna Milivojević. She spoke eloquently in September about where the club is leading into the season:
One To Watch – Wu Chengsu
Chengsu joins the above midfield trio from Jiangsu Suning Ladies FC in China and has made 12 appearances for the Chinese national team. She was a member of the squad that took out the 2022 Asian Cup.
A speedy attacking midfielder with an eye for goal, Chengsu impressed her new club upon arrival when she stated that one of her goals this season is to help Michelle Heyman attain 100 league goals.
Prediction
There appears to be a good feeling around the squad. If the team can display early cohesion and avoid injury to key personnel, then Canberra United is every chance of a top four placing.
Fixture
United’s season starts at home against Perth Glory.
| Date: | Saturday November 19th |
| Venue: | McKellar Park |
Full Canberra United fixture list
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