The League Is Completely Different From Last Season
With any new season, there are always changes, but this season almost feels like a completely new league has started. There were no fewer than 4 new coaches in the dugouts for round 1, a brand-new team (albeit a re-badged one), a new name for one of the teams, a new venue, and a new level of matchday coverage via NPL TV. All of these changes have given a completely fresh feel to the league.
MUM FC Are A New Team
The dominant force in the NPLW for the last two seasons has undergone an almost complete transformation to its triple winning playing group, with nearly the whole of their first XI from last seasons all-conquering starting line-up gone. Katarina Jukic, Marianna Tabain, Sadie Lawrence, Abbey Green, Grace Betti, Thalia Organ, Jaymee Gibbons, Ellie La Monte, Baxter Thew and goalkeeper Danelle Cornish have all left the club, and they also lost last season’s NPLW player of the year and joint Golden Boot winner, Tia Stonehill, to a long term injury during the pre-season night series competition. Even their new recruit from the NTC, Cameron Barreiro, left before the season started. New coach Luke Thompson was so short of player options for the opening game that he was forced to play outfield player Samantha Mathers in goal.
Subiaco Are Evolving
In the last 2 seasons, Subiaco has been wooden spooners and has been renowned for their physically robust approach to the game, typically picking players with pace and power. New coach Greg Farrell has only been with the club for a week, but his influence is already clear to see as his side was looking to play out from the back and be more patient with their build-up play. With a little more composure in front of the goal, they may even have won the 3 points against MUM FC, but the signs are there that they will be a different team to play against than in previous seasons.
Perth RedStar FC Have Arrived
An ongoing story last season was the future of the sole female-only team in the NPLW, Northern Redbacks. At the beginning of the year that speculation was finally laid to rest as the club merged with ECU Joondalup from the men’s NPL to form Perth RedStar FC. Any fears that this merger may have an impact on a team that has been perennial title challengers were quickly laid to rest with a dominant performance on Saturday. With their core group of experienced players being supplemented by youth players coming up from the U21’s the side appears to be one of the most settled in the league.
New Players Are Everywhere
The movement of so many players to NPLW leagues in other states, to new teams in WA, retiring, or dropping down to lower levels has been one of the largest ever seen in the short history of the league and has left large holes in a number of teams. MUM FC has lost 10 of its team from last season, and Curtin had nearly 13 players making their debut on Sunday. There have also been some big movements at Balcatta Etna, Subiaco and Perth whilst Fremantle has seen a significant number of players depart from their highly successful U21 team of the last 2 seasons. All of this has opened the door for many players and it will be fascinating to see just how the youngsters and players not used to playing at the NPLW level shape up as the season progresses.
Results
MUM FC 0 – 0 SUBIACO AFC
PERTH SC 2 – 0 BALCATTA ETNA
PERTH REDSTAR FC 5 – 0 HYUNDAI NTC
FREMANTLE CITY FC 2 – 0 CURTIN UNIVERSITY
