Canberra United fans were worried after a rocky off-season, but with the team perched just outside the top six at the halfway mark, there are many reasons to be optimistic.
Position after 12 rounds: 7th, 5 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses, 13 goals scored, 15 conceded (not including abandoned game against Sydney)
Match Record
R1: Canberra United 3-2 Brisbane Roar
R2: Wellington Phoenix 0-1 Canberra United
R3: Canberra United 0-2 Adelaide United
R4: Canberra United 1-1 Perth Glory
R5: Central Coast Mariners 2-1 Canberra United
R6: Melbourne City 4-2 Canberra United
R7: Canberra United 0-2 Melbourne Victory
R8: Canberra United 0-0 Newcastle Jets
R10: Brisbane Roar 1-2 Canberra United
R11: Canberra United 2-1 Western United
R9: Sydney FC 2-0 Canberra United (game abandoned 55′)
R12: Canberra United 1-0 Western Sydney Wanderers
Canberra United’s participation in season 17 remained in doubt for part of 2024, with owners Capital Football awaiting word of an A-League Men’s team announcement which would overhaul the entire Canberra A-League set-up. The situation remains unresolved, and during this period of uncertainty the club saw local favourites Emma Ilijoski (Hearts, on loan to Aberdeen), Sasha Grove (Western United), Chloe Lincoln (Western United), and Nickoletta Flannery (Melbourne Victory) secure contracts elsewhere.
Concerned fans, led by the University of Canberra’s Mikaela Danvers, convener of the Play On! exhibition, as well as ex-Matilda Sue Read, established the Save Canberra United fund, raising over $80,000. When the ACT government extended an in-advance funding olive branch, Capital Football confirmed they would assure Canberra United’s participation for another season.
2023-24 assistant coach Antoni Jagarinec was appointed head coach for 2024-25 and the first rays of hope for fans started emerging. Even before announcing any players, Jagarinec expressed quiet confidence in an interview about the makeup of his squad. New Capital Football CEO Samantha Farrow announced that the full salary cap would be made available. When the iconic Michelle Heyman was announced as captain, the city breathed a sigh of collective relief.
Although one of the youngest squads in the league, a shrewd array of talents has been assembled. The experienced pair of Football Fern Liz Anton (ex-Perth Glory), and Emma Robers (Melbourne Victory/Western United) slot into the team’s spine. With around 40 A-League games behind her, Bethany Gordon (Canberra United/Newcastle Jets/Western Sydney Wanderers) provides Laura Hughes-esque starch to the midfield.
These three have been supplemented by players in search of increased A-League game time. Sally James is back in the nation’s capital after stints at Melbourne City and Perth, Maja Markovski has returned to the league after previously playing for Melbourne Victory, while the trio of Darcey Malone, Aideen Keane, and Jynaya dos Santos have all arrived from Sydney. The desire to make a name for themselves has provided a hunger and spirit which has served the team in green well.
The complete squad list can be found here.
Adrenaline was running high for the new squad in their first two games, benefiting their pressing game. Two wins from two, with Maja Markovski, Mary Stanic-Floody, and Sally James prominent, and they were flying.
The rigours of the return from Wellington and the loss of Aideen Keane kicked off a run of losses, with one draw against Perth Glory breaking up the losses. During this time the coaching staff worked hard with the squad to overcome a couple of unwanted emerging trends. As the weather warmed, the press was proving difficult to sustain at the back end of games. Just as concerning was a dropoff in quality and cohesion, coinciding with substitutions.
Coach Jagarinec began rotating the squad more on matchdays, with few guaranteed starting positions. This has seemingly lifted levels of consistency and cohesion. The arrival of Houston Dash central defender Madison Ayson and Gordon’s availability have also solidified the squad’s matchday performances.
There were good signs in the Round 8 draw against the Jets, with an attacking mindset, fewer errant passes, and a sustained press no matter who was on the field at any stage of the game. This uplift affords Jagarinec tactical flexibility, as was seen with a back five-come-three in the surprise away win against Brisbane Roar.
Last week’s game against Sydney FC was abandoned just after half-time, with the Canberra side outclassed and lacking energy in the high humidity before the storm. The following 1-0 win at home against the Wanderers was a ‘got the job done’ affair. The team slowly increased in confidence as the game wore on, despite Heyman’s late withdrawal and Ayson’s unavailability. Sofia Christopherson’s header (set up by Malone and Robers) which led to the Sham Khamis own goal was another moment of quality from one of the hardest-working players in the league.
Fans of the team in green can look forward with excitement to the second half of the season. Passages of entertainment from evergreen Heyman, Hayley Taylor-Young, Markovski, Stanic-Floody, James, Christopherson, and Malone catch the eye. There is also much to appreciate in the consistent and important work from the likes of Anton, Ayson, Robers, and Gordon.
