With the 2024 pre-season Night Series competition done and dusted, it’s time to turn our attention to the main event and make our predictions for season 2024.
BALCATTA ETNA
A huge recruitment campaign by new coach Peter Rakic since his arrival at Balcatta in the off-season has transformed the team completely from 2023. He has brought in a large contingent of players from Perth SC, plus Kat Jukic and Jamie-Lee Gale from Fremantle and Lucy Jerram, who returns to WA after a stint in NSW.
An illustration of just how big this turnover has been is the fact that Carys Davis was the only player in the Night Series Final starting XI who was also in the Balcatta starting XI in the last league game of 2023. They have also retained the services of Monique Prinsloo, whose pace caused NPLW defences in 2023 many problems.
Despite all the changes, the results from the Night Series augur well for this new team, as they marched to the final with some impressive football. The 4-1 loss in the final did not sit well with Rakic and he will undoubtedly be re-doubling his efforts to ensure his team win the league.
The rumoured returns of 2023’s Golden Boot winner, Tia Stonehill, and Sadie Lawrence from Perth Glory duties, will further strengthen an already impressive squad. It’s unlikely there will be a quicker front three than Stonehill, Jerram and Prinsloo in the league. The depth of resources at Rakic’s disposal is second to none and they loom as the biggest and most dangerous challenger to Perth RedStar for the title.
Tip: 2nd
FREMANTLE CITY
3rd place in 2023 for the port side continued their impressive record of appearing in the top 4 in every season of the NPLW, but this season could see them miss out.
The loss of Jukic and Gale to Balcatta has stripped the team of two of its most experienced campaigners. This will place even more expectations on the shoulders of last season’s NPLW Gold Medal winner, Laura Waltman. Coach Faye Chambers will be looking to Waltman to be the focal point of her team even more so this season, although the potential return of A-League players Tash Rigby and Abbey Green may lessen the burden on her. Nina Boorman will also be important as she is one of the more experienced players, and the influence of goalkeeper Dayle Schroeder will also be vital if they are to finish in the top 4.
They struggled a little in the Night Series with one win and two draws, but pushed Balcatta hard in the semi-finals before going down 2-0, showing they will not be an easy team to beat. However, it’s the lack of real depth in the squad that is likely to see them struggle to maintain their top 4 record.
Tip: 5th
HYUNDAI NTC
Ben Anderton’s 2023 NTC side was one of the most attractive footballing sides to have played in the NPLW since its inception. From front to back, they had players of skill and composure, so it was no real surprise when Lilly Bailey, Mischa Anderson, Ruby Cuthbert, Ischia Brooking, Georgia Cassidy, Grace Johnston and Tanika Lala were all awarded A-League contracts or scholarships.
Replacing this group of players is going to be next to impossible and despite the undeniable levels of skill that all NTC players possess, it’s hard to see this team emulating the 2023 squad’s top 4 position.
Youth players are prone to inconsistency and this was clearly illustrated in the Night Series with the team holding Perth RedStar 1-1 in the opening game of the group stages, losing 4-1 to Balcatta and drawing 3-3 with UWA after going three goals down in that game.
The bigger picture for NTC is always player development, and this will be uppermost in Anderton’s thoughts, but he will still want his side to be competitive. They are certainly capable of playing great football and will pose a threat to every team in the league, but they are such a young side it’s hard to see them playing at a consistent level for 21 games.
Tip: 6th
MUM FC
When Steve Atkins was appointed as the new coach at MUM FC in the off-season, he became the 5th coach at the club, with not one coach lasting more than a season.
This turnover of coaches is not healthy and the 2021 Treble-winning side is now a distant memory. Charli Wainwright, Katy Schubert, Sam Mathers and Clara Hoarau were the sole survivors from that squad last season, but Wainwright and Mathers have now left to join Perth SC, Schubert has gone to UWA and it’s unclear if Hoarau will return after her Perth Glory season finishes.
Goalkeeper Stacey Cavill also left in the off-season – the Philippines international has followed Wainwright and Mathers to Perth. Sophie Meaden has moved to Fremantle City along with Andrea Preiato, and Jessica Johnson has gone to the NTC. Johnson and Mathers accounted for 25 of the 54 goals scored by MUM FC last season and their loss is significant.
The Night Series results were not encouraging. MUM FC lost all three games by an aggregate score of 11-1 and they could not have asked for a tougher opening game when they face Balcatta Etna on Thursday evening.
Atkins has an enormous task on his hands to steady the ship, whilst integrating a raft of inexperienced players, many of whom are playing NPLW-level football for the first time. He will be helped by having Tiana Botha as his on-field eyes and ears. Atkins is an experienced coach and the side will undoubtedly improve as the season progresses, but it’s hard to see them being anything other than a side trying to avoid relegation.
Tip: 8th
PERTH REDSTAR
The 2023 Champions have already earned the first piece of silverware for 2024 with a 4-1 win against Balcatta in the Night Series Final. Coach Carlos Vega Mena’s team served notice in that game that they will, once again, be the team to beat if others want to win the title.
The squad has undergone changes from 2023, with captain Jay Coleman and ex-Matilda Kim Carroll taking time out from the game, while winger Chiori Ikeda moved on and they lost Sophia Neal to an ACL injury during the Night Series. Replacing them are ex-Perth Glory players Caitlin Doeglas and Gabby Dal Busco, as well as Lauren Continibali, the latter returning after two seasons with Balcatta Etna. They are also waiting on the return to full fitness of veteran midfielder Carla Bennett, after her ACL injury last season.
Doeglas has already shown she will have a big impact on the league this season with six goals in the Night Series and a player-of-the-match performance in the Final. Last season’s RedStar player of the year, Reina Kagami, played just one game in the Night Series, and it will be exciting to see how she combines with Doeglas.
The strength in depth of the RedStar squad is also impressive, with several U21 players being used during the Night Series, and this bodes well for the upcoming season. There are also rumours of more player arrivals coming soon, and it’s probably safe to say that those new players will not be coming to warm the bench.
Tip: 1st
PERTH SC
Last season, Perth SC finished runners-up in the league and Top 4, and were winners of the Night Series. However, a dramatic off-season saw the coach and the vast majority of the side leave for Balcatta. Ellie La Monte moved to Preston Lions in the Victorian NPLW, while Gemma Craine has taken time off from the game. This forced the Azzurri to find a new coach and essentially build a new team almost from scratch.
To replace Peter Rakic, Perth have brought back their foundation coach Danielle Holtham (nee Brogan) and she immediately went to work, recruiting new players to replace those who left. Holtham has done this very successfully and the squad that has been assembled is impressive. Charli Wainwright, Sam Mathers (MUM FC) and Baxter Thew (Balcatta) will be hugely influential in the team. However, an injury to Thew during the Night Series dampened what was a successful campaign as they made it to the semi-finals.
Kim McCartney and Epril Nossent from Balcatta add experience and steel to the back line. In Stacey Cavill (MUM FC), they have added a goalkeeper who instils confidence amongst those in front of her. Perth have also retained the services of the dangerous Ella Lincoln, who scored 14 goals last season.
They may not reach the heights of last season, but Perth will be a stern test for any team and will surely be in the mix for end-of-season honours.
Tip: 3rd
SUBIACO AFC
Coach Greg Farrell has quietly been going about a rebuild of the Subiaco squad since he took over in 2022, and this is slowly beginning to bear fruit.
From being the easy beats of the first two seasons, Subiaco have slowly made themselves more competitive and will be keen to improve further in 2024.
Marianna Tabain is the key for them, with the ex-Young Matilda providing 14 of their 40 goals in the last campaign. Farrell will be hopeful that their recruit from Perth SC, Stella Zampogna, will continue her goalscoring form from the Night Series into the league, to help spread the attacking load. Sara Kifayatullah is another addition from Perth RedStar U21s who may provide more firepower.
Last season, Subiaco suffered terrible injury luck with their goalkeepers and the squad will be hopeful that Ashleigh Riddle can have a full season this time. Cassandra Harvey’s return to NPLW football will also bolster Farrell’s squad.
The fight for the 4th position will be tight all season between Subiaco, Fremantle & NTC and there may only be a point or two separating 4th from 6th, but Subiaco has already shown they won’t be an easy three-point game for opponents and could well push for finals football.
Tip: 4th
UWA
The first new team in the NPLW since its inception, UWA will be keen to avoid going straight back to Division 1, and coach Lawrence Lewis will be working hard to ensure that doesn’t happen.
Their Night Series campaign was encouraging, even though they failed to win, as they were competitive against Balcatta & Perth RedStar, and also took a point from the NTC.
The gap from League 1 to NPLW is large, but by being solid and compact in the Night Series, UWA has already shown they won’t be pushovers, which augurs well for the upcoming campaign.
There is little likelihood of them making any serious push for a top 4 spot, but their season will be determined by their three games against MUM FC. If they can take more points than their opponents from those games, and then eke out draws and even the odd win against other teams, they should avoid finishing in 8th and avoid relegation. The experience of Katy Schubert from MUM FC will be crucial and Lewis will be keeping his fingers crossed that she remains injury-free this campaign.
There are, however, massive question marks about their strength in depth and their U21 team has an even bigger step up to make than their 1st team counterparts, so a healthy and fit squad will be vital for them if they are to beat the drop.
Tip: 7th
ROUND 1 FIXTURES
Thu 28th Mar
MUM FC vs BALCATTA ETNA – Besteam Stadium 7pm WST
Sat 30th Mar
PERTH SC vs FREMANTLE CITY FC – Dorrien Gardens 5pm WST
Sun 31st Mar
UWA NEDLANDS FC vs HYUNDAI NTC – UWA Sports Park 1pm WST
PERTH REDSTAR vs SUBIACO AFC – RedStar Arena 3pm WST
