The 2021 Capital Football NPLW1 season commences April 10th, and the eight teams in this instalment of the competition have three full rounds to look forward to.
Previous instalments:
Belconnen United
Canberra Croatia
Canberra Olympic
Canberra United Academy
Gungahlin United
West Canberra FC
Here’s how Wagga City Wanderers and Tuggeranong United are shaping in 2021. The teams finished the 2020 season in ladder positions 7 and 8 respectively.
Some information in this preview article can be found in Jeremy Magan’s NPLW preview for Capital Football, with other details courtesy of the below M&M Podcast episode. Both are recommended to any fan wanting to know more about the commencement of the 2021 Capital Football NPLW competition.
Canberra Football Show – Episode 22 – NPLW Preview 2021 https://t.co/rVoEXleGNA with @lepresident2t #NPL #NPL1 #NPLW #NPL2 #NPLCF #NPLACT #CapitalFootball #Canberra #canberrasport #football #soccer #localgame
— M&M Podasts (@mandmpodcasts) April 7, 2021
Team news – Wagga City Wanderers
NPLW1 Coaching team for season 2021:
Head Coach – Sam Gray
NPLW1 squad – players gained:
Christina Grauer-Kompos – Canberra Croatia
Kirrilee Cameron – Cootamundra, ex-Macarthur Rams
Ashley Garrett
Ashley Holder – Cootamundra
Siena Graham – Tumut
Bonny McKean – promoted
Maree Matthew – promoted
Abby Nolan-Hodges – Western NSW FC
NPLW1 squad – players lost:
Miranda Walker
Lisa Cary
Madeline Harris
Kerri-Anne Byrne
Stacey Collins
Tess Vaccari – injured
With a prodigiously talented three-prong forward line in 2020, coach Sam Gray asked his team to play a relentless high defensive line and press throughout the season. This tactic proved to be effective for a time in many games but difficult to sustain for 90 minutes. It will be interesting to see if Gray maintains the same style in 2021, and if so whether the team is able to maintain that kind of pressure for longer periods of each game.
The injury to winger and goal-scorer Vaccari and loss of midfield engines and attacking link players Maddie Harris and Miranda Walker will be felt, but there is unseen talent (for Canberra based fans of the league) coming into the Wagga City team which will be exciting to witness, and intriguing for how they are able to mesh with their new teammates.
The news that three Wagga City players have just taken part in a Young Matildas trial match in the last week will no doubt provide a timely confidence boost for the start of the season.
See below for a Sandybay media chat with coach Sam Gray about Wagga City’s lead into Round 1.
Team news – Tuggeranong United
NPLW1 Coaching team for season 2021:
Currently unknown
NPLW1 squad – players gained:
Kass Guglielmin – Monaro Panthers
Kenzie Ostruszka – Monaro Panthers
Sophie Rolfe – hiatus
Ashley Conlon
NPLW1 squad – players lost:
Bella Sanzari
Sofia Furlanetto
Emma Stanbury – West Canberra
Michael Aldred (Head Coach for the last five years) recently stood down from his role, leaving the Tuggeranong United NPLW programme in a state of uncertainty leading into season 2021. Sophie Rolfe (ex-Gungahlin United) dons the gloves vacated by Bella Sanzari, and Kenzie Ostruszka’s speed will be a welcome asset in attack. The squad otherwise maintains a high level of consistency in personnel from 2020 and a platform from which to grow upon in 2021.
Follow all our ACT NPLW coverage.
