This week we take a different look at the NPLW in WA. With the season now at the halfway mark, it’s a good opportunity to reflect on what has happened so far and see how the rest of the season may play out.
League Ladder
| Position | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| 1 | Perth RedStar FC | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 5 | 41 | 33 |
| 2 | Perth SC | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 20 |
| 3 | Fremantle City FC | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 27 | 16 | 11 | 20 |
| 4 | Balcatta Etna FC | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 16 |
| 5 | Hyundai NTC | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 24 | -4 | 16 |
| 6 | MUM FC | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 14 | -2 | 12 |
| 7 | Subiaco AFC | 11 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 34 | -24 | 6 |
| 8 | Curtin University | 11 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 48 | -39 | 1 |
Mid-Season Review
PERTH REDSTAR FC
Current position 1st: P 11 W 11 D 0 L 0 GF 46 GA 5 GD 41 Pts 33
The new team in town are sweeping all before them. A 100% record in the first 11 games of the season has seen them beat every team in the league, scoring 46 goals in the process whilst conceding just five.
Across the park, there are strong performers everywhere. Striker Larissa Walsh is leading the Golden Boot race with an impressive 15 goal tally, and she has been ably supported by Sarah Carroll with nine goals of her own and ten assists.
The midfield three of Carla Bennett, Shawn Billam and Jay Coleman not only supply their forwards but also act as a hugely effective defensive shield, whilst the back four is superbly marshalled by the evergreen Kim Carroll and the vastly underrated Emily Dunn. Youngsters Olivia Wood, Grace Monteiro, Ruby Cohen, Jayna Ridley and Andi Teixeira have all flourished playing alongside their more experienced teammates.
Coach Carlos Vega Mena is obviously very happy with his team and had this to say about the season so far, opponents who have caught his eye and who he thinks will make the top 4.
“The team is doing very well this year and I think the results speak for themselves; we are this year’s Night Series champions and undefeated so far in the league. We are now seeing the results of the hard work and commitment that the players have been putting in since I became the coach. I came on board after the 2020 season and they had to adjust to not only a new playing style but my style as a coach. We have been working towards this for over 18 months and I couldn’t be prouder of the team and their achievements to date.
“We are playing a very clinical style of football, and prefer an attacking game. I believe we also hold a solid defensive record. We are now 11 for 11 and understand that we need to keep the momentum going if we are to dodge the target we have on our backs.
“There is some really good talent out there amongst the teams, but Van Heurck from Perth SC has stood out as a solid defender since the start of the season.
“It goes without saying that I believe RedStar will be in the top 4. The reality is that the race for the top 4 positions is tight and won’t be over until the very end of the competition. Anything can happen when you have such a spread of talent across the clubs. I think NTC, Fremantle, Perth, Balcatta and MUM FC will all be vying for a spot in the top 4.
PERTH SC
Current Position 2nd: P11 W 6 D 2 L 3 GF 19 GA 6 GD 13 Pts 20
With just three losses in the campaign so far, the Azzurri would normally be potential table toppers if it weren’t for the extraordinary form of Perth RedStar. Perth SC’s three losses have come against just two teams and their defensive record is excellent, having only conceded six times all season.
As with many teams, they have undergone a major rebuild from last season, and the squad for the game on Saturday had just seven players who were involved in the 2021 Top 4 Cup Final. They have also suffered long-term injuries to key players such as Gemma Craine and Jaymee Gibbons, whilst Caitlin Doeglas has still not fully recovered from the ACL injury she suffered last season.
Abbey Meakins has impressed in midfield and her five goal tally is only bettered by Jamie Duncanson, who has six to her name. The back four is resolute with Alyssa Van Heurck and Judy Connolly being backed up by Rebecca Bennett’s excellent goalkeeping.
They also have a new coach at the helm, with Pete Rakic in charge, and he had this to say about the campaign so far:
“It has been a tough start for sure when taking consistency into consideration, yet our position on the table still remains positive. Coming into this season with a lot of new players and implementing a specific type of football is certainly something that doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s a work in progress and there have been moments throughout our last 10 matches that have shown what we are capable of, and I remain confident that we will only get stronger as time continues to progress. We have a young squad with loads of potential, which is promising for the club’s future.”
In terms of the opposing teams, Rakic unsurprisingly picked RedStar as the team to try and catch.
“I think it’s clear now that Redstar has set the tone, and for me, there’s no surprise in that. For any team to go neck and neck with treble winners MUM FC last year and not lose any players in the process, it’s evident that they have only picked up from where their season was left last time. With the abundance of long-serving players and experience they currently possess, I believe that chemistry is their biggest strength.”
He singled out RedStar midfielder Jay Coleman as the opposition player who has impressed him the most.
“I think she’s the sort of midfielder that every team needs, calm on the ball and instrumental in Redstar’s build-up play, often finding herself on the score sheet as well. Players of this calibre make life easier for the attackers in front of them, and their goal difference is a telling tale of that.”
Rakic still retains hope for the title, and had this to say about who he thinks will make up the top 4.
“Redstar of course, and despite the 13 point gap, I still remain hopeful that anything can happen in football, and I have a lot of belief in my squad that we can continue to cause headaches for anyone around us. I’m expecting a tight battle with ourselves and Fremantle and that will most likely come down to any unexpected slip-ups. I think the fourth spot is probably the hardest to pick right now, as we are seeing inconsistencies across every team involved and it’s only going to become even more of a nail-biter towards the back end of the season. But I would say if Balcatta continues their recent run of form, they might prove too hard to catch for NTC and MUM FC.”
FREMANTLE CITY FC
Current Position 3rd: P11 W 6 D 2 L 3 GF 27 GA 16 GD 11 Pts 20
The port team loomed as pre-season favourites with some strong recruitment during the pre-season, complementing an existing core of highly experienced and talented players.
Their night series campaign came to an unexpected end at the hands of Balcatta Etna FC, and they then lost Tijan McKenna and Isabella Wallhead, who both moved east to play in the Victorian NPLW. There is no doubt those departures weakened the squad, but Fremantle have still managed to keep pace with the second spot on the ladder and only trail Perth SC on goal difference.
Mikayla Lyons is always a threat with her intelligent runs, and the acquisition of Jess Damargo from Curtin University has added even more bite to the front three. The form of Jamie-Lee Gale has also been very good, and she appears to be refreshed and enjoying the game again after taking a year break.
Tash Rigby continues to provide leadership and driving runs from her full-back position, whilst Laura Waltman rarely puts a foot wrong at the centre of the defence. Siobhan Longmore was proving to be a ferocious competitor on the left side of the backline, but she recently fractured her ankle in a cup game against MUM FC and she may well play no further part in the campaign.
Freo has also introduced a number of younger players into the squad and none have been more impressive than Kate Nolan, who has three goals to her name and shows some great skills on her wing.
Fremantle’s only losses have come against RedStar and Perth, and whilst the 13 point gap between them and RedStar is a big mountain to climb they will continue to be a major threat to any team they face.
BALCATTA ETNA FC
Current Position 4th: P10 W 5 D 1 L 4 GF 12 GA 8 GD 4 Pts 16
As finalists in the pre-season Night Series competition, Balcatta Etna had every right to look forward to the 2022 campaign with optimism. However, an ACL injury during that final robbed them of Kimberley McCartney’s services and they also had to endure a disruptive start to the campaign as COVID took its toll. Balcatta went long periods of time when they were playing a game only once every fortnight.
This hampered Balcatta’s attempts to build momentum, but they have started to turn things around and they now sit in fourth place, three points clear of fifth. Balcatta are four points behind Perth and Fremantle, holding a game in hand over both of them.
Skipper Gabby Dal Busco has been in outstanding form between the sticks, and her performances are a major reason for them only conceding eight goals. They are struggling a little at the other end of the pitch with just 12 goals in 10 games and their top scorer is Monique Prinsloo with five to her name, but no other player has scored more than once.
The team is resolute and compact when they don’t have the ball and they have conceded two or more goals on just two occasions so far.
Coach Steve Atkins reflected on the season to date:
“We’ve had a mixed start to the season having achieved a great start by reaching the Night Series Grand Final against Redbacks. Whilst we competed well in the Night Series Grand Final, we couldn’t get over the line and as a result, I believe our first two games in the league were quite flat and we struggled to regain our form. We then endured a series of COVID reschedules, long term injuries to key players which severely disrupted our squad and momentum by only playing three games in seven weeks and then followed up with three games in seven days so it was a particularly difficult period for us as a squad. However, we have over the past few games managed to secure some form and points and a successful win in the State Cup Round combined with League games has seen us on a mini-winning streak which has certainly regained the confidence and belief within the squad. We now look to build on our hard work into the next stage of the season.”
Atkins was another coach who singled out RedStar as the team to beat this season and he also provided his thoughts on who from the opposition has caught his eye, as well as his prediction for the Top 4.
“The obvious team at this stage of the season is Redstar who has had a phenomenal start to the year and is really setting the pace and standard for the league. However, I feel there are other teams gaining momentum and form such as Fremantle, Perth and of course Balcatta. MUM FC are also starting to gain some points so it will no doubt be an interesting run-in at the end of the season.
“Larissa Walsh is obviously having a great season and can’t seem to miss at the moment and is building a huge goal tally, she is certainly one to watch. Other players that have impressed I believe are Jamie Lee Gale at Fremantle in her come-back season and is always a threat and of course Zoee (Spadano) at Perth who is also having a great season and really holding the Perth midfield together.
For the Top 4, it would have to be Redstar, Fremantle, Perth and Balcatta!”
HYUNDAI NTC WOMEN
Current Position 5th: P11 W 3 D 4 L 4 GF 13 GA 24 GD 4 Pts 13
Coaching the NTC must be one of the most challenging tasks in the league, as the only consistent thing about them is their inconsistency.
They have managed to beat second-placed Perth SC twice, but have failed to beat second-from-bottom Subiaco in their two encounters. NTC have scored more goals than all but the top three, and have conceded more than all but the bottom two.
There is no doubt they are highly talented individuals and can, on their day, match it with any team in the league but the lack of experience and strong leadership on the field often leads to their undoing.
NTC are particularly prone to conceding from set pieces and have the worst record in the league for this, having let in 13 goals from corners, free kicks and penalties. Fremantle City is behind NTC in this respect but they have only conceded six.
They move the ball very well though, and NTC’s short passing game is one of the best in the league. The average distance of their passing is the smallest in the league at 16.9 m compared to the league average of 18 m.
Up front, they have one of the most exciting young strikers in the league. Tanika Lala has now netted five times this campaign, and she is easily the highest scorer for her team.
The challenge for the NTC if they are to make the top four is to try and have a level of consistency that matches their individual skills. With various national tournaments taking place at the back end of the season there is always the risk of players potentially switching their attention to those rather than the league, which makes getting into the top 4 that much harder.
MUM FC
Current Position 6th: P11 W 3 D 3 L 5 GF 12 GA 14 GD -2 Pts 12
Last season’s treble winners have probably suffered the highest turnaround of players in the whole league. There are only a handful of players remaining from their all-conquering side of last season, and the squad is very young.
Poppie Hooks and Charli Wainwright are the two most notable players remaining from season 2021, but MUM FC have recently seen Sadie Lawrence and Grace Betti return, as well as Katy Schubert.
The huge loss of players has resulted in the team struggling to assert dominance like they did for the first two seasons of the NPLW. The five games MUM FC have lost in 2022 are more than they have lost in the previous two seasons combined.
Defensively they are still quite solid, but the lack of firepower up front means they struggle to win games if they fall behind.
Hooks and Wainwright are still influential and industrious in midfield but they are not able to apply a clinical finish to any build-up play. Wainwright leads the league in terms of challenges and there is certainly a physical intensity to the game that MUM play.
With Lawrence, Betti and Schubert now coming back into the squad, as well as Penelope Clayton and Andrea Priato recently joining them, there is more experience and this may well help them in their push to get into the top 4. They need to score more goals in order to do this though, whilst continuing to be a difficult team to break down.
SUBIACO AFC
Current Position 7th: P11 W 1 D 3 L 7 GF 10 GA 34 GD -24 Pts 6
Subiaco’s pre-season was nothing short of disastrous, with no wins in the pre-season Night Series competition and their coach quitting on the eve of the league season. With a poor history in the NPLW, there were some serious concerns about the ability of the club to compete in this season’s competition. However, Subiaco have been able to steady the ship with the appointment of ex-Northern Redbacks and Beckenham Angels coach Greg Farrell.
Farrell wasted little time in changing things around, earning a point in his first game as head coach with a 0-0 draw away to MUM FC. He has brought in a new style of play and this has led to some huge swings in performance, including a 9-0 mauling at the hands of RedStar and a 2-0 win against NTC. Amongst these wild swings has been the excellent form of goalkeeper Zara Board who, despite her young years, has been the stand-out player for them this season.
Farrell had this to say about how the season has been going, the teams he has been impressed by, the players that have caught his eye and who he sees finishing in the top 4.
“The season has been tough in terms of results and availability of players, but the improvement across the three senior teams (18s who now play Amateur 2, NPLW 21s and NPLW team) in terms of the style of football has still been very pleasing. When I was approached by Subiaco I said that it would have to be with a view to having a shift in the culture within the female side of the club away from one of participation and towards a committed, total football mentality. I’ve told the players that we will continue to play this way, regardless of who we are playing against, and at some point, we will be good enough that we will start to not just be competitive, but to beat teams convincingly with comfortable possession-based football, but to do that, it will be a tough road with mistakes and learning along the way.
CURTIN UNIVERSITY FC
Current Position 8th: P10 W 0 D 1 L 10 GF 9 GA 41 GD -32 Pts 1
This has been a very difficult season for Curtin, and it’s hard to see things getting much better for them as we move into the second half of the campaign.
They are on their third coach of the season and are struggling on the pitch. Curtin’s only point was earned after one of the most bizarre games in NPLW history when they drew 4-4 against Subiaco, but apart from that they have had little to cheer about. In the recent 2-0 home loss to Balcatta there was a shot count of 21 to 7 in favour of Balcatta Etna, and Curtin made just one cross, compared to 23 for Balcatta.
Like a lot of clubs, they lost players in pre-season, and it must be frustrating to know that Jess Darmargo, Alyssa Van Heurck and Tanya Campos are all enjoying good seasons with Fremantle, Perth and Balcatta respectively.
Players such as Stacey Cavill, Kathleen Waycott and Nina Boorman are vital to the club if they are to have any chance of avoiding the wooden spoon. However, Curtin’s U21 team props up the table with a solitary point, while their only other teams are in the Football West Metro league (two tiers below NPLW) and Under-12s. It’s impossible to see where they could turn to for replacements if they were to lose one of those three for an extended period of time.
NOTE: Coaches from all teams were approached for their comments, but at the time of publication the only responses were from Perth RedStar, Perth SC, Balcatta and Subiaco AFC.
