The 2022/23 A-League Women’s season has been completed, and the final four have been determined. Melbourne Victory have scraped through on goal difference again. Canberra United and Perth Glory miss out, while Melbourne City, Western United and Sydney FC all ready themselves for a big final month of football.
The Round started off in dramatic fashion. Melbourne Victory took an early 2-0 lead away to Wellington Phoenix. Incredible solo strikes from Alana Murphy and Melina Ayres put Victory in control of a game they needed to win in order to guarantee finals.
On their home turf, Wellington can be deadly, and they fought back. Goals from Ava Pritchard and Grace Wisnewski levelled the scores in the dying moments. Victory looked devasted after the game, but will make finals nevertheless.
Western United had to win their final match to have any hope of an historic premiership. They did their part with a Hannah Keane Brace giving them a 2-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers. A goal from Sienna Saveska was not enough for the visitors, but is a sign of a bright future for the 17 year old attacker.
Perth Glory won their final game against Brisbane Roar. Gabby Coleman’s goal was the only difference between the sides. Later in the evening, two goals each from Mackenzie Hawkesby and Cortnee Vine delivered a 4-0 win and a third premiership to Sydney FC.
Holly McNamara scored once and set up two for Hannah Wilkinson and Rhianna Pollicina as Melbourne City drew 3-3 with Canberra United. Vesna Milivojevic scored a brace for the visitors, and Grace Jale once in the first half. The match itself was an exhibition of attacking football, but Canberra United were always playing catchup. The draw means that Canberra miss out on finals by goal difference.
Talking Points Week 20
This feels like Sydney’s Finals series to lose.
Sydney FC have won a third straight premiership. It was a result that this column (almost prematurely) called weeks ago. It has been an impressive season, but the Championship still eludes Anet Juric’s side during this dominant era.
They have never been better placed than this season. They are in better form than at any point this season, key players like Madison Haley have returned, and Deborah-Ann De La Harpe has deputized for Charlotte Mclean excellently.
Of the other finalists, all three are from Melbourne. Victory have once again made the finals on goal difference, but might be without Catherine Zimmerman. Although Western United and Melbourne City will be buoyed by the return of Chloe Logarzo and Holly McNamara respectively, Western United will have to travel to Sydney twice in order to win the Championship.
The Grand Final is guaranteed to be on their turf, they have some of the best players in the league, and will be brimming with confidence after being crowed as the premiers again.
There is a feeling on inevitability around Sydney FC this season.
Western United has made some of the season’s best signings.
The pre-season announcements of Jess McDonald and Chloe Logarzo brought fanfare to the new club, and it is fair to say both delivered. But some other signings, less heralded at the time, should be looked back on as some of the best of 2022/23.
Alana Cerne was Western United’s first signing. She was a local product and a star for Calder United in the NPLW. The progression to the A-League Women felt likely, but the ease of which she has adapted to life at the top level has been impressive.
Cerne has been a mainstay in Western United squad. Coach Mark Torcaso won every trophy available at Calder with Cerne as a creative or controlling midfielder. She scored in both n the Nike FC Cup final and in the NPLW Grand Final. At Western United, Cerne was surprisingly shifted to centre back.
This was a surprising move to most observers, but her passing from defence was as good as expected. What was not expected was that she would quickly emerge as one of the league’s best central defenders.
Cerne is able to read to game, is quicker than her previous midfield role suggested. Against Western Sydney’s attack of Sarina Bolden, and Sophie Harding, she was almost flawless. It was not the first time, in a very consistent season.
Up front they recruited Hannah Keane. This season’s Golden Boot winner was largely unknown in Australis when she arrived. Keane is tall, fast and technically excellent. The American striker has rarely had a dip in form, and has adapted in the absence of McDonald to establish herself as one of the league’s top strikers.
In goal, Hillary Beall has been incredible in her first A-League Women season. Her performances have been a huge part of why Western United has finished an incredible second place in their first season.
Beall is among the best goalkeepers in the country, and her crucial penalty save against Melbourne City in December has had a big impact on the final league table.
Western United have recruited from home and afar. Importantly, with the exception of McDonald, all of the international signings that started the season will finish it with the club. They will be disappointed not to win the premiership, but will enter the final weeks with a good chance of a Grand Final appearance. By any standard, this has been an impressive and encouraging first season from the league’s newest club.
Perth and Canberra
Just as they did last season, Perth Glory and Canberra United only just missed out on finals. It will be a hard end to the season for both clubs who will feel they had the ability to make an impact in the knockout stages.
Both are on the right track for success, but will likely need to make some adjustments next season.
Perth Glory enjoyed some improvements from their crop of rising stars. Hana Lowry, Sofia Sakalis and Alana Jancevski all produced their best seasons in the A-Leaguev Women so far. Before her injury, Bella Wallhead was also in career best form, and Sadie Lawrence combined with Ella Mastrantonio combined in midfield to prove it is not all about the kids.
Perth were undone by a slow start, a congested fixture that saw them play three times in the final week, and injuries to Gabby Coleman, Susan Phonsongkham and Milan Hammond.
Retaining as much of this squad as possible, will be the key, plus adding some more depth to midfield. Until Lawrence moved into midfield, they were missing the steel of Mie Leth Jans from last season, but Alex Epakis will need a backup in case of injury or suspension.
The retirement of Kim Carroll will have a big impact, but if they can keep Claudia Mihocic, and she regains full fitness it will be a big positive. The former Young Matilda did not play this season, but has the potential to step into the boots of a legend.
Not much needs to chance at Perth apart from their luck when it matters.
Canberra United miss the finals on goal difference. Although it was most likey a bad form blip, the two consecutive 5-0 losses to Wellington and Western United in January have proven costly.
Canberra will be frustrated by their season ending. They defeated Sydney FC in February and stand as the last side this season to do so.
Canberra have an abundance of attacking talent. Both full backs, Hayley Taylor-Young and Sasha Grove entered the league as wingers, or midfielders, and playmaking genius Grace Maher has moved to central defence. Scoring goals has been no problem for this side, but they conceded 30 times this season, more than any other side outside of the bottom three.
A slight tinkering of the game plan might be necessary. Some taller defenders to match the likes of Hannah Wilkinson and Hannah Keane would be helpful, and free up the likes of Grove or Taylor-Young to unleash their full talents, but overall Canberra are not missing much, only two goals separated them from an early exit and a finals position.
They were fun to watch, and a beacon of attacking football this season, Canberra United have a good mix of experience and youth. They will be back.
Game to watch in week one of finals
Western United will travel north to play Sydney FC. These have been the two best sides all season, and have split the honours over their two meetings so far. The winner will have a weeks rest and prepare for a Grand Final, while the defeated will face off against Melbourne Victory or City.
Sydney FC arrive in stronger form, but Western will have no doubt that they can get a result. While the premiers have a star studded squad, Western have a potential game breaker in they ranks. Will it be Vine Time, or Logarzo’s day?
Only one point separated them on the table. A moment of magic could separate them in the first final of 2023.
