The 2024 NPLW WA Night Series competition kicks off on Friday evening, and it promises to be one of the most open of the NPLW era, with a new club being promoted, three coaching changes, and probably the largest player movement the competition has seen.
With this being a pre-season tournament it would be unwise to use it as a guide as to how the season will progress, but it still serves as a useful indicator of the relative strengths of each team.
The competition has two group stages with the two leading teams from each group playing in the semi-finals. The winners meet in the final at the Sam Kerr Football Centre on March 23rd.
Group A consists of last season’s League and Top 4 winners Perth RedStar, State Cup champions Hyundai NTC, Balcatta Etna, and newly promoted UWA Nedlands; in group B there are last season’s Night Series champions and Top 4 runners up Perth SC, State Cup runners-up MUM FC, Fremantle City, and Subiaco AFC.
The opening round fixtures are as follows:
Friday 23 February
Perth RedStar vs Hyundai NTC
Balcatta Etna vs UWA Nedlands
Saturday 24 February
Fremantle City vs Subiaco AFC
Perth SC vs MUM FC
Group A
For UWA Nedlands this will be their first taste of NPLW competition having been promoted from Division 1 of the women’s league last season, at the expense of Curtin Uni, and coach Lawrence Lewis recognised that this is an important competition for his team to gauge where they are at.
“For UWA I think (the Night Series) is very important, especially being the new kids on the block. It gives us a chance to come up against the teams that we will be facing during the season and gives us a boost as we feel the speed of the league. Having competitive games like this before the season starts is important for us to plan our season effectively.”
As they will have a large number of players who will be experiencing NPLW football for the first time Lewis understands the importance of having some experienced players in his squad and they have also recruited from overseas with Morgan Springer and Michaela Thawley from the USA joining the squad.
Group A is probably the strongest of the two groups and UWA Nedlands will probably not get to the semi-final stage, but they will be hoping to show they can be competitive at this level.
As the only remaining foundation coach of the NPLW era, Hyundai NTC’s Ben Anderton has been in charge of the state’s finest talent and has overseen the likes of Abbey Green, Hana Lowry, Leticia and Tijan McKenna, Miranda Templeman, Isabella Wallhead, Georgia Cassidy, Grace Johnston, Ischia Brooking, Ruby Cuthbert, Tanika Lala and Mischa Anderson all make the step into A-League football.
His young teams always play possession-based football and are capable of beating any team on their day. This season they will be without a plethora of players from 2023 and will be heavily reliant on the U15 squad from 2023 making the step up into the older age bracket.
Such young players will still be technically proficient, but may well come unstuck against more experienced and physically stronger teams in the competition. They will be hard to play against, but may not have the game smarts to overcome the likes of Balcatta and RedStar in Group A.
Another of the new coaches for season 2024 is Pete Rakic at Balcatta Etna. He made the short trip from Perth SC at the end of the season and wasted no time in bringing in players to help him make Balcatta a genuine contender for trophies this season.
Following from Perth SC are rumoured to be Becky Bennett, Alyssa van Heurck, Monique Godding, Abbey Meakins, Liana Cook and Judy Connolly. He has also added veteran striker Kat Jukic and ex-Perth Glory player Jamie-Lee Gale from Fremantle City, whilst Lucy Jerram returns to the local game after playing over east.
“I’ve always valued Night Series for league preparation, it’s the perfect opportunity for new ideas that have been contemplated and visualised throughout the off-season, along with using the match fitness as forward momentum for the opening day,” Rakic said.
“I am thoroughly excited about our entire team roster as I think we have loads of potential to be competitive this year, and that confidence is inspired by the likes of Kat Jukic and Jamie-Lee Gale who signed earlier in the summer, as well as Lucy Jerram who we secured after her time playing over East.”
The bedding in of a new squad is always difficult, but Rakic has brought in many players he has worked with before from his time at Perth, MUM FC and Queens Park and they are all experienced and skilful. They should be highly competitive and he will be disappointed if they don’t get to the semi-final stage.
Perth RedStar will once again be one of the strongest teams in the competition and have reached the final in the last two seasons. They have a settled squad, and whilst they will be without last season’s skipper Jay Coleman – who has taken a year off from the game – they have bolstered their numbers, with former Perth Glory attacker Caitlin Doeglas signing on and Lauren Continibali returning to the club after two seasons with Balcatta Etna.
Coach Carlos Vega-Mena views the Night Series as an important part of his team’s pre-season preparation.
“It’s an important part of the preparation for the upcoming season. It gives us the chance to iron out any kinks and provides players the opportunity to prepare physically and mentally for the season ahead. It also allows us to give opportunities to younger players and expose them to the NPLW environment,” he said.
While the group they are in is a tough one, it’s hard to see them not making the semi-finals.
Group B
MUM FC’s Steve Atkins took over the reins at the end of last season and he has probably got the hardest job on his hands of the new coaches as his side has undergone some radical changes since they won the treble in 2021. Those changes have continued in the off-season with captain Charli Wainwright moving to Perth SC as well as goalkeeper Stacey Cavill. For Atkins, this all means new opportunities and he was upbeat and excited about the Night Series.
“The Night Series is important for MUMFC given that there have been significant changes within both the first team and 21’s squads. We have virtually a new first-team squad that has been formed over the last few months which has a good complement of experience and youth to work with. As anyone would know, the creation of a new squad takes time to gel players on and off the field however we have had some significant advances in this space and the girls are extremely excited about the new season, their teammates and a willingness to learn and develop over the coming season,” he said.
“The Night Series will be a good test to see where we are at, what we need to work on and finalise our preparations for the season. As a first-team coach, I can see the potential within the squad, the “we are one” attitude and am excited about what the girls can develop over the coming weeks.”
This will be a difficult campaign for Atkins and his team as they seek to develop as a squad and having lost influential players from last season, it’s hard to see them getting to the semi-final stage.
Greg Farrell’s Subiaco is a team that has improved in the two seasons he has been in charge, but they have yet to make a serious dent in games against teams that finish in the top four. This Night Series will provide him with a chance to see if the upward trend is continuing and to also have a look at some of his younger players in his U21s squad.
“It gives us a chance to see where we are with our pre-season levels, to try some things and give some opportunities to young players. In terms of performance and results it can also help to solidify messages and show what we are doing well and what still needs work,” he said.
His squad, like all the others, has seen changes and he was especially pleased to see Tayna Campos back in the fold after an ACL last season.
“She is back to full fitness following her ACL, so she’ll be like a new signing for us,” he said.
Subiaco continues to develop and will push some of the other teams in the group, but may fall just short of a semi-final spot.
Faye Chambers will again be in charge of Fremantle City and the port team will, as always, be contenders for honours. However, the loss of Jukic and Gale as well as the non-availability of Glory players, Tash Rigby, Abbey Green and Sarah Cain mean her squad is not as strong as in previous seasons. There is also a question mark about whether or not the 2023 Football West Gold Medal winner, Laura Waltman, will be suiting up again for them this season. There is still quality in the squad though and they will be favourites for a semi-final spot.
Perth SC have welcomed back Danielle Brogan as their head coach following the departure of Pete Rakic at the end of 2023.
With the loss of players to Balcatta, as well as Ellie LaMonte going to the Vic NPLW with Preston Lions and Gemma Craine not playing in 2024, Brogan has had to recruit heavily to bolster her squad and she has brought in several players from other clubs including Kim McCartney, Epril Nossent and Baxter Thew from Balcatta Etna; Charli Wainwright and Stacey Cavill from MUM FC; and Hanna Insch from Aberdeen.
These players will supplement the likes of Ella Lincoln to give Perth another strong squad. With the players now attending various training regimes 5 days a week, it will be very interesting to see how they go in the Night Series, and they should be strong contenders for a semi-final spot.
Predictions
Group A Semi-Finalists: Perth RedStar, Balcatta Etna
Group B Semi-Finalists: Perth SC, Fremantle City
Finalists: Perth RedStar, Balcatta Etna
