Canberra Olympic are out to retain their double of League Championship and Grand Final success when the 2024 Women’s National Premier League season commences, and the question is who can stop the Dark Blue titans from going all the way again in 2024? Here, we take a look at each of the seven competing teams ahead of what promises to be an absorbing new season.
ANU WFC
Ground: ANU South Oval
Head Coach: Tom Crossley
2023 League Placing: 6th
Finals: Did Not Qualify
Federation Cup: Quarter Finals
It’s always difficult to know what to expect from ANU WFC, the team who emerged from the Capital Football State League to put in a series of top-class performances on their debut season in the NPL last time out. A final placing of sixth was probably better than many would have expected, but Tom Crossley, as is his wont, unearthed some diamonds to create an exciting, hard to beat, outfit. As might be expected though, those performances attracted the interest of other clubs and ANU have lost several key performers from their roster. On the other hand, the recruitment base from which they can select is like no other, and you never know what ANU WFC might unearth from the newest crop of students to land in the National Capital. Crossley has put a lot of trust in promoting some talented Stat e League players and, what we can be sure of is that the ANU WFC boss will have an organised, well-drilled, unit who will be no pushovers for any opponent.
In: Eliza BAKER, Sophia BISSELL, Alana BREED (Promoted), Caitie CHECKERFIELD, Ash COOK (Promoted), Nikita CRABB, Madeleine DOVE (Promoted), Rebecca FAURBY (Promoted), Ash FIENE (Promoted), Chloe GRAY (Promoted), Krysta GREGORY (White Eagles), Taylar HOADLEY (Promoted), Julia HOGAN (Promoted), Jane MAHAR, Briana MAGUIRE, Vanessa RITCHIE (Promoted), Gemma SALIBA (Promoted), Fahri SHANLI, Margaux SIEB (Promoted), Rennae SILLETT (West Canberra Wanderers), Marguerite SIROIS (Tuggeranong United U17), Joanne SOUTHAM (Gungahlin United U17)
Out: Liliana AZARA (Canberra Olympic), Anna BERRELL (Sabbatical), Grace DAVEY (Sabbatical), Emma DOUGLAS-OLIVIERA (Overseas), Amalia EDEVANE (Injured), Annaliese GROVE (USA College), Isabella HOPKINS (Canberra Olympic), Linley JENKINS (Sabbatical), Pascale LA HEI (Belconnen United), Aoibheann MACLOCHLAINN (Sabbatical), Georgie MCARDLE (Exchange), Ailish MCDONAGH (Belconnen United), Alice MCNEILL (Overseas), Tiana MALNAR (Canberra Olympic), Alexandra SERRAS (Interstate), Roxie SWART (Coaching), Shayma TAWEEL (Injured), Isabella TOBIANO (Sabbatical), Juliet WILLIAMS (Exchange)
BELCONNEN UNITED
Ground: McKellar Park
Head Coach: Scott Conlon
2023 League Placing: 2nd
Finals: Runners-Up
Federation Cup: Winners
The Blue Devils momentum is gathering pace and Scott Conlon is busy building on the foundations that have been set over the previous two campaigns where the team from McKellar Park have remerged as a dominant force in the competition. Runners-up in both the League Championship chase, and the Grand Final, both times to Canberra Olympic, Conlon has wasted no time in adding to the raft of talent in his young roster. Classy creator Alyssa Di-Campli joins the talents of Alyse Jensen in adding to the midfield stocks at Belconnen, whilst the recruitment of stylish central defender Alilish McDonough from ANU WFC, where they were in magnificent form last term, is quite the coup. Their movement in and out has been, by design, limited, as Conlon seeks to add to the Federation Cup won with victory over Gungahlin United at Deakin Stadium. It’s a formidable looking group wearing the Sky Blue, and they might be set for a league title charge.
In: Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Canberra United Academy), Alyse JENSEN (West Canberra Wanderers), Pascale LA HEI (ANU WFC), Ailish MCDONAGH (ANU WFC), Monique PINKIEWICZ (Clarence Zebras), Bronte PYKE (Illawarra Stingrays)
Out: Emily DANIEL (Gungahlin United), Mya MCGLYNN, Ella PALFRAMAN (Canberra Croatia), Bessie RIETHMULLER (Canberra Olympic), Ellie SUMMERS (Canberra Croatia)
CANBERRA CROATIA
Ground: Deakin Stadium
Head Coach: Zoran Glavinic
2023 League Placing: 3rd
Finals: Preliminary Final
Federation Cup: Quarter Finals
Charity Shield: Winners
There are plenty of new faces in the Canberra Croatia line-up for the 2024 season, yet again under the tutelage of Zoran Glavinic, as the former champions seek to reinstate themselves as the team to beat. The last two years have seen Croatia slip behind both Canberra Olympic and Belconnen United in the pecking order, but a new look team, with plenty of young talent, has been attracted to Deakin Stadium as the red machine seeks a return to the top table. Glavinic has signed a host of former Canberra United Academy starlets including dynamic defender Nadia Zakman. Alongside these new arrivals are incoming attackers Arusha Chew, a powerful young forward with an eye for goal, and poacher Ella Palframan, swiped from Belconnen United. When you add in the silky skilled Isabella Barac, and the frighteningly prolific Brittany Palombi and Croatia won’t lack for goals. Defender Eliza-Jane Norris offers pace and tenacity, whilst talented young custodian Ellie Summers comes into the squad between the posts.
In: Lara AGNEW (Sabbatical), Angelina BABIC (Canberra United Academy), Latisha BABIC (Canberra United Academy), Arusha CHEW (Canberra Olympic), Josie DUBBERT (West Canberra Wanderers), Angelina JUKIC (Canberra United Academy), Holly MCPHERSON (Canberra United Academy), Eliza-Jane NORRIS (West Canberra Wanderers), Ella PALFRAMAN (Belconnen United), Ellie SUMMERS (Belconnen United), Nadia ZAKMAN (Canberra United Academy)
Out: Emma BARRY (Sydney University), Sienna BIRNIE (Canberra Olympic), Mikaela COX, Mia GIORGI, Chloe LINCOLN, Brandy NICHOLSON (Interstate), Nikita PERRY (Canberra Olympic), Anna ROSS, Freya SANDEMAN, Elise SIMPSON, Isabella TAMMARO
CANBERRA OLYMPIC
Ground: O’Connor Enclosed
Head Coach: Frank Cachia
2023 League Placing: 1st
Finals: Winners
Federation Cup: Semi-Finals
Runners-Up: Winners
The reigning League Champions and Grand Final winners are undoubtedly the team to beat despite losing their renowned Head Coach Nicole Begg. Stepping into the breach is none other than former Olympic men’s head honcho Frank Cachia, and his wealth of experience and game knowledge will be welcomed. It may be that Cachia’s transition to the Women’s game, and how quickly that eventuates, will be as important to Olympic’s ambitions as the admirable recruitment that they have made. Strengthening a champion side is always a tough prospect, evolution the key to sustained success, and Cachia has shored up the defence, added extra nous in the middle, and more firepower up top. Jaya Bowman is an exceptional signing, whilst Siena Birnie and Nikita Perry step across from Canberra Croatia swapping red for blue. Goalscorer Bessie Riethmuller will add more ammunition, and with the majority of the 2023 Double-Winners sill in the pack, Olympic will be heavily backed.
In: Liliana AZARA (ANU WFC), Ella BROWN (Gungahlin United), Sienna BIRNIE (Canberra Croatia), Jaya BOWMAN (Canberra United Academy), Isabella HOPKINS (ANU WFC), Abbey HURMAN (Tuggeranong United), Tiana MALNAR (ANU WFC), Uma OSBORNE (Canberra United Academy), Nikita PERRY (Canberra Croatia), Bessie RIETHMULLER (Belconnen United)
Out: Elke AITOLU, Laura BERRY, Arusha CHEW (Canberra Croatia), Kiara GASPARI, Olivia GURNEY, Vanessa RYAN (Sabbatical), Ann-Marie SYMMS, Isabella WALLACE, Isabella WILLIAMS, Jasmine ZABEL (Injured)
GUNGAHLIN UNITED
Ground: Gungahlin Enclosed
Head Coach: Nick Van Aalst
2023 League Placing: 4th
Finals: Elimination Final
Federation Cup: Runners-Up
A new season, and a new Head Coach for Gungahlin United who welcome Nick Van Aalst into the top job after years of sterling service from Andrew Woodman. Van Aalst knows the club, and its talented roster, and therefore the transition should be seamless. Several key departures have opened the door for the Gunners to recruit where they need to, adding more goals to the party a particular priority, which means that the addition of Emily Daniel from Belconnen United is most welcome. As usual, Gungahlin have raided the US College market and brought in Corinne Denton, a former Canberra Croatia player returning to the Capital, whilst the signing of Alexandra Nealand, a strong-running, tireless, wide defender or midfielder, will be welcomed by the black and white faithful. Bonnie Young and Alissa Barbour also move from the Canberra United Academy, alongside Nealand, adding a youthful zest to a team that was close to breaking into the top trio last season.
In: Alissa BARBOUR (Canberra United Academy), Emily DANIEL (Belconnen United), Corinne DENTON (USA College), Matilde LAUREL (promoted), Alex MARTENS (White Eagles), Alexandra NEALAND (Canberra United Academy), Bonnie YOUNG (Canberra United Academy)
Out: Ella BROWN (Canberra Olympic), Kellie BROWN (Interstate), Adele CHOY, Sarah CORBETT, Emily KELLY (Overseas), Cassia MCGLASHAN (Injured), Abby NOLAN-HODGES (Interstate), Kailey TONINI (Sabbatical), Breea WATERS (West Canberra Wanderers), Michelle WIENECKE (Overseas)
TUGGERANONG UNITED
Ground: Kambah 2
Head Coach: Sarah West
2023 League Placing: 7th
Finals: Did Not Qualify
Federation Cup: Quarter Finals
Tuggeranong United did just enough in the 2023 season to keep themselves off the foot of the league table, largely thanks to better head-to-head record with West Canberra Wanderers, but little else in what was a disappointing season. The team lacked an identity, and Tuggeranong have sleeked to remedy that with the inclusion of the highly regarded Sarah West as Head Coach, working alongside the technically astute Vanh Manthongsy. As seems to always be the norm at Kambah 2, there has been significant movement in both the arrivals and departures lounge, with the addition of Lena Christopherson and Lauren Watt, both scorers in a pre-season win at Camden United, a big boost. The loss of their midfield general Rainey Niles back to the USA, and hard-running forward Abbey Hurman, will hurt, but a new era, led by a raft of exciting young signings, might be dawning at United.
In: Abriana ALBERT (Canberra Olympic), Clare BUNDY (Bella Monaro), Lena CHRISTOPHERSON (ANU WFC), Chloe DE MEYER (Belconnen United), Helena DE MOURA (Canberra Croatia), Elizabeth EDWARDS (UC Stars), Amelia HACKETT (Wagga City Wanderers), Claire KENNEDY-SPENCER (UC Stars), Elvein IBRAHIM (Wagga City Wanderers), Ella LISTER (West Canberra Wanderers), Tarah MANTHONGSY (Sabbatical), Emily PEARCE (West Canberra Wanderers), Ebonee RUSSO (Sabbatical), Jemma TOMS (Brindabella Blues), Lauren WATT (Gungahlin United), Matylda WELLS-SHEATHER (Canberra Croatia)
Out: Katelyn HEWEN (UC Stars), Olivia HICKS (West Canberra Wanderers), Abbey HURMAN (Canberra Olympic), Rainey NILES (Overseas), Adela RUSSELL (Woden Valley), Ashleigh SULLIVAN (Canberra Olympic), Emily WARREN (UC Stars), Amy WIGGAN (West Canberra Wanderers)
WEST CANBERRA WANDERERS
Ground: Melrose Synthetic
Head Coach: Steve Rohan-Jones
2023 League Placing: 8th
Finals: Did Not Qualify
Federation Cup: Quarter Finals
Offered a reprieve at the National Premier League level with the league reduced in numbers due to the shutting of the Canberra United Academy and Wagga City Wanderers not taking up the position offered by dint of winning the Women’s State League, West Canberra Wanderers head into the new year under new leadership as Steve Rohan-Jones takes the Head Coach seat at Melrose Synthetic. Always difficult to defeat at home, as Canberra Olympic found in 2023, the Wanderers have recruited some interesting new talent ahead of the kick-off, notably raiding Southside rivals Tuggeranong United for talented central-defender Olivia Hicks and goalkeeper Amy Wiggan. Alexandra Gidis heads to Woden from the Academy whilst the inclusion of Audey McLaren, a skilful midfield orchestrator snapped up from APIA Leichhardt should add much-needed authority in the central areas.
In: Alexandra GIDIS (Sabbatical), Olivia HICKS (Tuggeranong United), Audrey MCLAREN (APIA Leichhardt), Raffaella PULI (TBC), Breea WATERS (Gungahlin United), Amy WIGGAN (Tuggeranong United)
Out: Imogen BADHAM, Samantha BRIGGS (Sabbatical), Ellen BROWN, Kaitlyn COLWILL (Illawarra Stingrays), Josie DUBBERT (Canberra Croatia), Tayla GROBBELAAR, Alyse JENSEN (Belconnen United), Emily PEARCE (Tuggeranong United), Eliza-Jane NORRIS (Canberra Croatia), Melinda O’CALLAGHAN (Interstate), Renae SILLETT, Sonja TOMANOVITS, Julia TRINCA-TALALIN
*Team In and Out are subject to confirmation and are compiled utilising the player’s club from 2023. If there is no destination next to the players name, their club or whereabouts for 2024 are unknown.
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