Happy times in the capital! Canberra United are top of the table after ten games, a feat made even more impressive by their recovery from going winless over the first three rounds.
Position after 11 rounds: 1st
5 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses
16 goals scored, 9 conceded
Match Record
R1: Canberra United 1-2 Newcastle Jets
R2: Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Canberra United
R3: Adelaide United 2-1 Canberra United
R4: Canberra United 3-0 Perth Glory
R6: Melbourne Victory 1-3 Canberra United
R5 (postponed till after R6): Canberra United 2-0 Sydney FC
R7: Canberra United 2-1 Melbourne City
R8: Canberra United 1-1 Central Coast Mariners
R9: Newcastle Jets 1-2 Canberra United
R10: BYE
R11: Western Sydney Wanderers 1-1 Canberra United
Head coach Antoni Jagarinec is back for his second season at the helm, and he retained 14 players from last season’s squad. Jagarinec also added the following players:
Goalkeeper: Eliza Evans (Souths United – NPL Queensland / Canberra United Academy)
Defence: Jazmin Wardlow (Central Coast Mariners)
Midfield: Nanako Sasaki (Adelaide United), Sasha Grove (returning from Western United), Josie Aulicino (Box Hill United – NPL Victoria / US College), Ava Briedis (Melbourne Victory / Young Matildas)
Attack: Emma Hawkins (US College / FH – Iceland / SF Damaniense – Portugal), Sienna Dale (Manly United – NPL NSW / Junior Matildas), Kiara De Domizio (Western United), Keira Bobbin (Belconnen United – NPL Capital Football)
Jagarinec has once again shown a talent for recruiting hungry up-and-comers, along with some experienced players. Local fans were intrigued by the newcomers, excited by Bobbin’s selection, and thrilled by Grove’s return to the club.
Midfield stocks are so strong that Jagarinec jokingly remarked at the season launch that the coaching team was considering a 1-8-1 formation. He also believed the new recruits should allow for a less counter-attacking style of play with more patient build-up. This was beautifully illustrated by Grove finishing a team move during the win against Melbourne Victory. Grove has scored two Goals of the Week this season.
Player losses included Michelle Heyman’s attacking partners Maja Markovski and Aideen Keane, and it was in the attacking line where the biggest unknowns lay.
The complete squad list is available here.
The first three rounds offered some highlights, with the team somewhat mirroring the previous season’s setup and personnel, and Hayley Taylor-Young playing creditably at centre back.
A first-up loss at home to Newcastle found the team wilting late in the heat after playing an intense pressing game, and this was followed by a hard-fought draw against Wellington at windy Sky Stadium.
Kiara De Domizio scored an astounding goal in Round 3 against Adelaide, but would unfortunately suffer a hamstring tear during that game. Bethany Gordon’s importance was highlighted by her absence during the loss to Adelaide.
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It was in Round 4 against Perth where the magic really started to happen.
The return of last season’s Player of the Year, Liz Anton (from a season in Norway with Kolbotn), allowed Taylor-Young to resume her touchline free-roaming role from last season, and together with Grove, answered the question of who would provide service from the wings.
However, the real special sauce was in the coaching team’s decision to stick with a midfield triangle of Nanako Sasaki, Gordon, and Aulicino. Watching these three go about their business is a delight. They are savvy, mobile, and ever-interchangeable. Sasaki is more defensively inclined with control and distribution, Aulicino has an eye for pulling the attacking strings behind Heyman, while Gordon is combative, near the top of the assists list, and absolutely everywhere.
The effectiveness of the formation was solidified during a remarkable three-game run in nine days which saw Canberra defeat Melbourne Victory, Sydney, and Melbourne City.
The team is still using the high press that served them so well last season. However, this can be challenging to sustain in hot conditions, and Canberra were arguably matched in the pressing stakes during their draw with the Mariners.
All in all, Canberra are a formidable opponent for ball-playing teams who like to control the majority of possession (as seen in the Melbourne City result, which snapped City’s undefeated 30-game regular season run).
All this, and we haven’t yet mentioned Sally James’ great form in goals – now with 50 A-League games behind her – or evergreen captain Michelle Heyman’s vital role in proceedings. With four goals and two assists, Heyman is not far from the top in both goals scored and assists provided. Hawkins has settled in well and has been selected for the last few games as Heyman’s attacking partner in the 3-5-2 formation, sharing the role with Dale.
With Canberra perched at the top and not having looked this assured for some time, there is a real sense of excitement among fans for the remainder of the season. That excitement is tempered by ownership-related angst for the 2026-27 season, with Capital Football reiterating early this year that they cannot continue as owners. The one saving grace is that the team’s success and the brand of attractive football they play make them even more appealing to prospective owners. We, the team, and the entire league, live in hope.
