NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 16: Hana Lowry of Perth Glory waits for a corner during the round seven A-League Women's match between Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory at Newcastle No.2 Sportsground, on January 16, 2022, in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

With the Asian Cup now in full swing, this is a good point for us to assess how the A-League Women teams have gone so far. Here is our review of the mid-table teams – can they push for finals places?

 

5th: Perth Glory

(by Neil Bennett)

Last season’s wooden spooners embarked on a major rebuild during the pre-season, as coach Alex Epakis sought to restore some much-needed pride back to the club, and it was a completely rejuvenated Glory side that took to the field in the season opener against Brisbane Roar.

Despite a lot of hard work, they looked destined to lose that game until a remarkable final 5 minutes saw them overturn a one-goal deficit to win 2-1. They also managed to repeat the trick in their next game against the same opposition, somehow claiming a 1-0 win despite being under the cosh for much of the game.

Any sense of momentum was then cruelly shattered as the harsh realities of the COVID border restrictions imposed by the WA Government took hold, and the team then went 3 weeks without a game. They next played in Adelaide, before moving to Sydney for what was initially just for January, but is now looking likely to be their home for the rest of the season.

This dislocation has been difficult to adjust to and they have also had to contend with COVID cases and injuries. Not surprisingly this has been difficult to cope with – they have only won two of their last five games and were comprehensively beaten by Sydney FC in that run.

That defeat, plus injuries and COVID cases, forced a major re-shuffle by Epakis and he now seems to have settled on a more experienced lineup with Kim Carroll, Tash Rigby, Mie Leth Jans, Sadie Lawrence, Lisa De Vanna and injury replacement Leena Khamis all playing major roles since then. This has signalled a change in their form, with Perth earning a draw and a win in their last two games.

The excellent Liz Anton, who leads the league in clearances per game, has formed a formidable centre back pairing with the evergreen Carroll and they provide a solid foundation from which the team can utilise the exciting talents of Hana Lowry, Sofia Sakalis and Deborah-Anne De La Harpe.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Question marks remain about their ruthlessness in front of goals, but their resilience is unquestioned and they are still capable of pushing on into the top four, as long they can keep their sense of unity and avoid any injuries to their more experienced players. 

 

6th: Newcastle United Jets

(by Eric Subijano)

So far, it’s a case of “could be worse, could be better” for the Hunter Valley side.

Newcastle are sitting in a decent position: four points off a finals place, with at least one game in hand on the teams above them. They are the only side to have scored against Sydney FC (courtesy of Lauren Allan’s opportunistic strike in Round 1), and that opening round clash is the only time Ash Wilson’s side have tasted defeat this season.

The core of experienced players means Jets fans have good reason to be optimistic. Elizabeth Eddy has been a fantastic recruit, adding a great deal of energy and the ability to stand out in both defence and midfield, as well as a vital equaliser in their most recent game against Perth. While the sugar hit of Emily Van Egmond’s short term loan may have subsided, Newcastle can still rely on the usual suspects (Cassidy Davis, Tara Andrews & Hannah Brewer) as they push for the club’s first finals appearance since 2018.

A cast of gifted youngsters supports those Jets veterans. Tiana Jaber’s progress since last season has been rapid and the 21 year old is now a regular starter, while fellow defender Kirsty Fenton is living up to the promise she has shown for the Emerging Jets Academy over the last few years. Now that Bethany Gordon is back from the unlucky injury she suffered in Round 1, expect the combative former Young Matilda to make the Jets midfield an even tougher proposition.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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However, it must be noted that six of their eight points and five of their nine goals have come against bottom side Wellington. Newcastle’s fate will be decided by upcoming games against each of the top four and two games against a highly talented Brisbane Roar outfit. The postponement of three games (more than any other side) adds to the challenge, with fixture congestion an inevitable part of their run home.

 

7th: Brisbane Roar

(by Kerri-Anne Dove)

There was always a question mark for how Brisbane Roar’s selection of players made up mostly from the local NPLW competition was going to translate to the A-League Women’s stage, and at the halfway point of the season their results suggest the answer is “not that well”.

However, if you watch all of Brisbane’s games, you don’t get the impression that this team is being out-classed. Statistically, the Roar has taken the most shots, has the second-highest shots on target per game (behind Sydney FC), and at an individual level, Shea Connors is second only to current golden boot Hannah Wilkinson for shots on target. Brisbane also has the second-highest number of crosses per game. These numbers back up the feeling that the chances are coming thick and fast, and the potential is there for better results.

Looking at specific players, it has been exciting to see how Katrina Gorry has found her way returning to football post-pregnancy. She’s now playing full games, scoring some bangers, creating chances and covering the entire field. The Brisbane midfield of Gorry, Ayesha Norrie and Mariel Hecher has shown outstanding chemistry on the pitch, with Norrie having arguably the best season of her career. Jessie Rasschaert had big shoes to fill in the centre of defence and has performed admirably well on most occasions. Another player we were going to keep an eye on at the start of the season was Jamilla Rankin, who is leading the competition in interceptions and is second in successful tackles, good form from the young left back.

The rest of the season will put even more challenges in front of Brisbane. They are still to face Melbourne City twice, as well as Adelaide United and Sydney in upcoming matches. All of these teams are already demonstrating the form, whereas Brisbane has so far only shown the potential.

Neil Bennett
Neil Bennett
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