Under “normal” circumstances, the NSW NPL competition would have completed its finals series last month. Even though we could only get a partial season, there was still plenty of fantastic football and we think it’s important to recognise the players who (in our humble opinions) impressed us the most in 2021.
The rules are the same as last year: a starting XI, five subs, a coach and a maximum of three players from any one team. It was a monumental task to whittle the dozens of talented players in the league down to just 16, but we finally did it, so here is Beyond 90’s 2021 NSW NPL Team of the Year!
Goalkeeper: Jada Whyman (Sydney Olympic)
It’s great to see that Whyman is finally over the injury troubles of the last few years (fingers crossed). The shot stopper showed all the qualities we’ve come to know and love while between the sticks for Olympic: cat-like reflexes, spectacular levels of agility and a secure pair of hands. Whyman kept five clean sheets in eleven appearances, and Sydney FC fans will no doubt be delighted that she is back with the Sky Blues for another A-League Women season.
Left back: Deborah-Anne De La Harpe (APIA Leichhardt)
De La Harpe is capable of dominating an entire side of the field by herself, so it’s easy to see why Perth Glory coach Alex Epakis moved quickly to re-sign the flying wingback for the upcoming A-League Women campaign. The 21-year-old has everything you want from a wide player: speed, defensive ability, skill and an incredible work rate. Thanks to De La Harpe, APIA often found joy with building attacks down the left side of the field, and the former Young Matilda is also proficient at taking corners.
Centre back: Matilda McNamara (Sydney Olympic)
McNamara followed a breakout A-League Women season with great performances in her first NSW NPL campaign, playing in every game. The centre back brought the poise and technique that Adelaide United fans are familiar with to Sydney Olympic’s defence, giving them a much needed sense of security as well as the ability to play out from the back. McNamara’s bravery is clear to see, especially in aerial challenges, and Olympic would often aim for the South Australian at their attacking set pieces.
Centre back: Winonah Heatley (Northern Tigers)
Our other centre back also moved to the NSW NPL competition from interstate. After excelling as Brisbane Roar’s right back during the last A-League Women season, Heatley demonstrated her versatility by becoming a central defensive rock for Northern Tigers, going a long way towards fillling the void caused by Ellie Brush’s unfortunate ACL injury. The 20-year-old showed composure beyond her years in a highly competitive league, making ten appearances and scoring once. Her performances were enough to earn a move to Swedish Damallsvenskan side Växjö after the NSW lockdown.
Right back: Lauren Keir (Macarthur Rams)
The right side of our defence is occupied by someone familiar to Canberra United fans. Keir was an important part of Macarthur’s rise back to the upper reaches of the table and in her eight appearances the Rams kept three clean sheets. The former Belconnen United captain, who can also play in central defence, usually won her battles with opposing attackers thanks to her strong tackling and game awareness, while her teammates were the beneficiaries of accurate lofted passes that helped build passing moves.
Central midfield: Grace Maher (APIA Leichhardt)
It feels like Maher has been around forever so it may be hard for some to believe that she is still only 22 years old. The former Young Matildas captain graced (pun intended) APIA’s midfield with her creativity and touch, while also chipping in with three goals in 11 appearances, including this neat strike in Round 10. Maher’s passing range was invaluable for APIA (see her assist for the game winner in Round 11) and it’s quite telling that they were only kept scoreless once this season.
Central midfield: Rosie Galea (Blacktown Spartans)
Despite being only 20 years old, Galea was named as Blacktown Spartans captain for the 2021 season. She repaid the club’s faith with a series of strong performances, particularly in the early weeks of the season when other A-League Women players hadn’t joined up with the squad, and scored five times in 11 games, including this incredible free kick in Round 7. Being a Spartan means playing literally next door to Western Sydney Wanderers HQ, and unsurprisingly the red & black were quick to re-sign Galea for the upcoming A-League Women campaign.
Attacking midfield: Mackenzie Hawkesby (Sydney Olympic)
Hawkesby carried her Sydney FC form into the 2021 NSW NPL campaign, providing great impetus to Sydney Olympic with her energy and driving runs. Her record of six goals in 12 games is excellent for a player that usually operated in midfield, and Hawkesby could hurt defences in different ways – sometimes with long range strikes, sometimes by using her pace to outrun opponents. With this player pulling the strings from the centre of the park, it’s no wonder Olympic were the league’s highest scoring team in 2021.
Left wing: Lauren Allan (Northern Tigers)
Fans from Sydney’s northern suburbs are now very familiar with Allan’s darting runs toward goal. The 24-year-old replicated her 2020 goal scoring record by netting seven times in 12 appearances, and was a constant menace for opponents thanks to her speed and willingness to run at defenders. Allan isn’t just a tough opponent when the Tigers have possession – she is very much a team player and her defensive work rate makes it difficult for opposition fullbacks to find space.
Centre forward: Michelle Carney (Illawarra Stingrays)
Death, taxes and Michelle Carney banging in the goals for Illawarra Stingrays. The NSW NPL competition just wouldn’t be the same without Carney’s scoring feats, and the South Coast side were once again the beneficiaries as she scored nine goals in 12 games to be the league’s top scorer at the time of lockdown. Some of her goals may seem straightforward, but it’s always impressive when a player has the knack for being in the right place at the right time, and Carney’s gift for finding space in the penalty area means opponents can’t relax when they play against her.
Right wing: Kaitlyn Torpey (Sydney University)
Just like others in this team, Torpey excelled in her first NSW NPL campaign. Some fans may know Torpey as a defender from her time at Brisbane Roar, but in her first season with the Students Torpey played as an attacker and scored seven goals in 11 games. The 21-year-old’s clinical finishing was vital for Uni, especially after their slow start to the season, (see this goal in Round 12 for an example) and Torpey’s interstate journey will continue in the summer when she links up with Melbourne City for the next A-League Women season.
Substitutes
Goalkeeper: Sophie Emery (Illawarra Stingrays)
It can be tough for a goalkeeper when they move up to 1st Grade, but Emery allayed any worries Illawarra fans may have had with outstanding performances in the Stingrays goal. She was a constant between the sticks, appearing in all 12 games and making some jaw-dropping saves – such as this low save in Round 7 and this one-on-one stop in Round 11. Emery was playing in U17s only two years ago, so when you combine her youth with her exploits in 2021 the future definitely looks bright.
Defender: Tori Tumeth (APIA Leichhardt)
Tumeth is the first player to be named in a B90 Team of the Year three times, and if you’ve seen her play this won’t surprise you at all. She slotted in to APIA’s backline after joining the club from Sydney University, and didn’t look out of place even alongside experienced campaigners such as Georgia Yeoman-Dale and Liz Ralston. The tough tackling 20-year-old was more than just a defender and displayed her sense of adventure with some thrilling forward runs, so it’s no wonder that Melbourne City rewarded her with a contract for the next two A-League Women seasons.
Midfielder: Hana Lowry (Blacktown Spartans)
Lowry was one of the interstate contingent at Spartans and her arrival gave their midfield a new dimension. The 18-year-old showed exactly why she is one of the most highly rated young players in the country with some eye catching performances, and her vision provided a massive boost to the Spartans passing game. Lowry’s skill made her hard to tackle (watch out for those dragbacks!) and her shooting was always dangerous – see this glorious long range strike in Round 10 for an example.
Winger: Talitha Kramer (Illawarra Stingrays)
Kramer’s return to the Stingrays after a year away is matched by a return to our NSW NPL Team of the Year. While in 2019 her play at left back caught the eye, this year it was her energetic displays in the Illawarra attack, and a record of five goals in 12 games as a left winger helped the team in pink to a competitive league position. Kramer is adept at using both feet and can always be relied upon to put in a shift, so you can’t blame opposition fullbacks for finding it difficult to stop her.
Forward: Leena Khamis (Macarthur Rams)
Opposition defenders know that they’ve been in a battle after they’ve played against Leena Khamis. She scored seven goals in eleven games to be the top scorer for the Rams and her penalty box instincts were on show throughout the season as she constantly made life difficult for anyone trying to mark her. Khamis’s value isn’t just shown in her goal scoring record – she can hold up possession to bring teammates into the play and is fantastic at guiding the younger players around her.
Coach: Stephen Peters (Macarthur Rams)
After Macarthur’s struggles in 2019 and 2020, Peters took as over as head coach and brought the good times back to Lynwood Park, with the Rams sitting in third at the time of lockdown. The recruitment of Lauren Keir, Hayley Taylor-Young and Holly Williams (among others) proved to be wise, and the new faces slotted in with the Rams stalwarts to create a unit that was difficult to beat. Peters deserves special credit for fixing the Rams defence: this year they kept six clean sheets in twelve games after only keeping one clean sheet in 2020 and none in 2019.
