The battle for supremacy in the NPLW starts afresh with a new addition in Majura FC and a host of new faces at most clubs as the chasing pack seek to topple Canberra Olympic from their perch. Here we take a look at what to expect in the 2025 NPLW.
ANU WFC
Home Ground: ANU South Oval
Last Season (NPL): 6th
Last Season (Cup): Quarter Finals
Head Coach: Amalia EDEVANE
Finishing in sixth place in the NPLW in 2024 can be classified as something of a win for ANU WFC who saw their team ravaged by departures ahead of the last campaign, a symptom that has repeated prior to 2025, but such is the nature of the University set-up, that the coaching staff are often left in the dark until the last minute as to who might kit up for the new season. What we do know is that long-term Coach Tom Crossley has passed on the reigns to Amalia Edevane, the first-year Head Coach tasked with pushing the team towards a potential top-four placing. The loss of several regulars from that squad will hurt, but as noted, this is not new for the club. The team were competitive in many matches during the 2024 campaign, a pair of narrow losses to Canberra Croatia indicative of that, however they will need to tighten up defensively and add more firepower in the front third if they are to challenge the top four.
In: Rose BERGE, Connie BISHOP, Holly DALTON, Charlotte DOLDISSEN, Anika FISHER, Charleze GIRDLER, Ariella GOULD, Josie HOLT, Indiana HUNTER, Lauren HYDE, Kilkie LETEN, Katie MAGOFFIN, Emily MITCHELL, Georgia MOFFIT, Matilda MOORMAN, Sienna PRICE, Lucy PRIME, Shayma TAWEEL, Aliena VAN DEN BOOGAARD, Annabelle YARIYARI
Out: Angelina BABIC (Canberra Croatia), Latisha BABIC (Canberra Croatia), Eliza BAKER (Majura FC), Sofia CHAVERRA (Illawarra Stingrays), Catie CHECKERSFIELD, Ash COOK, Callie FOREST, Sofia FURLANETTO (Majura FC), Taylor HOADLEY, Alice JOHANSSON-CRANFIELD, Olivia KENT, Briana MAGUIRE (Illawarra Stingrays), Sheridan MCELLIGOTT (Majura FC), Millicent MOODY, Abby IGELSIAS, Vanessa RITCHIE (Majura FC), Chelsea ROLLS (Majura FC), Vanessa SOPHCOLI (Majura FC), Joanne SOUTHAM
BELCONNEN UNITED
Home Ground: McKellar Park
Last Season (NPL): 2nd, Grand Final Runners-Up, Charity Shield Runners-Up
Last Season (Cup): Winners
Head Coach: Scott CONLON
Perennial challengers over the past few seasons, the League Championship title has remained frustratingly elusive for Belconnen United, forced to watch on as the silverware slipped out of their grasp due to the unrelenting nature of the opposition. However, expectation is still high that this might be the season that the Blue Devils finally get over that hurdle, with Scott Conlon’s charges a year older and wiser, and having already proved that on their day they can mix it with anyone. A pair of back-to-back federation Cups prove that they have the mettle on the big occasion. There is a change in goal as Monique Pinkiewicz returns interstate, Matilde Laurel-Tighe heading across the North from Gungahlin United to McKellar Park, a journey that was replicated by Alex Martens, a midfielder with a strong engine, an eye for a pass, and who weighs in on the scoresheet. A handful of departures appears to have left Belconnen a little light, but the acquisition of the impressive Anneke Corry, and the continued production line of young talent should mean another title push.
In: Anneke CORRY (Macarthur FC), Matilde LAUREL-TIGHE (Gungahlin United), Alex MARTENS (Gungahlin United), Emily PEARCE (Tuggeranong United), Maddison SAWKINS (Gungahlin United)
Out: Luella COLEMAN (Canberra Croatia), Sophia DOUMOS (Overseas), Brooke EMMS (Sabbatical), Jade EMMS (Sabbatical), Tara HOWARTH (TBC), Alyse JENSEN (Canberra Olympic), Sofia PALYWODA (Box Hill United), Monique PINKIEWICZ (Interstate), Isabella SHEA (Sabbatical), Pearl TEIN (Overseas), Reilly YUEN (Sabbatical)
CANBERRA CROATIA
Home Ground: Deakin Stadium
Last Season (NPL): 4th, lost in Preliminary Final
Last Season (Cup): Runners-Up
Head Coach: Musie ELONGO
Fourth place and a loss in the Preliminary Final would be a good return for most teams, especially when you add-in a runners-up spot in the Federation Cup Final, however the expectation at Deakin Stadium has their sights set much higher than that and, as a result, 2024 would have been something of a disappointment for the board of this illustrious outfit. There’s a major change in the dugout as Musie Elongo takes centre-stage, assisted by former head honcho Nik Brozinic, and the pair have been busy assembling what looks to a strong squad for 2025. The signing of Michaela Thornton, cajoled from league champions Canberra Olympic, leads the way, with the return of stalwarts Sofia Merkoureas, and former Canberra United player Ellie Raymond potentially a massive boost. Angelina and Latisha Babic have moved over from ANU WFC, and there is the welcome injection of youth provided by Tiana Boots, returning to the capital from a stint in Western Australia, and Luella Coleman, attracted from Belconnen United. Nothing less than a push for the title will do for the Deakin faithful, and they might have the roster to do just that.
In: Angelina BABIC (ANU WFC), Latisha BABIC (ANU WFC), Hannah BOURKE (Interstate), Tiana BOOTS (Interstate), Luella COLEMAN (Belconnen United), Sofia MERKOUREAS (Sabbatical), Ellie RAYMOND (Sabbatical), Vanessa RYAN (Sabbatical), Michaela THORNTON (Canberra Olympic)
Out: Megan CASTLE (Gungahlin United), Josie DUBBERT (Interstate), Alyssa HAIR (Released), Tatum MAZIS (Canberra Olympic), Holly MCPHERSON (Released), Ella PALFRAMAN (Overseas), Zoe SOBCZAK (Interstate), Dianne WILSON (Interstate)
CANBERRA OLYMPIC
Home Ground: O’Connor Enclosed
Last Season (NPL): 1st, Grand Final Winners, Charity Shield Winners
Last Season (Cup): Quarter Finals
Head Coach: Frank CACHIA
Going back-to-back, retaining the Grand Final and the Charity Shield trophies, and adding the Federation Cup might be a tall order, but unbelievably, that is the only way that the title holders can improve on their 2024 season. Should they reclaim the league, it would be a third successive crown for the team from O’Connor Enclosed. In order to push on all fronts in 2025, Frank Cachia, in his second season at the helm has held onto the majority of his treble-winning squad, enhancing certain areas with some astute acquisitions. Olivia Gurney makes a welcome return from a break, and the attacking stocks have been replenished with Tatum Mazis switching red for blue and Alyse Jensen bolstering the middle of the park. Significantly, Corinne Denton arrives as another choice in central defence, potentially forming a formidable partnership with Elke Aitolu. Cachia has also acquired some exciting young talent, Sienna Dy-Mortimer and Georgia Choundary swapping Deakin for O’Connor, and Natalia Cerne arriving from the Blue Devils. It looks a balanced, and deep squad, capable of challenging on all fronts once more.
In: Natalia CERNE (Belconnen United NPL17), Georgia CHOUNDARY (Canberra Croatia NPLB), Corinne DENTON (Gungahlin United), Sienna DY-MORTIMER (Canberra Croatia NPL17), Brittany FIORESE (Sabbatical), Olivia GURNEY (Sabbatical), Tayla HAMPSON (Sydney Olympic), Alyse JENSEN (Belconnen United), Tatum MAZIS (Canberra Croatia)
Out: Lillian AZARA (Released), Lucy CAMERON (Central Coast Mariners), Cara CERUTI (Overseas), Nicole JALOCHA (Coaching), Tiana MALNAR (Released), Uma OSBORNE (Central Coast Mariners), Michaela THORNTON (Canberra Croatia)
GUNGAHLIN UNITED
Home Ground: Gungahlin Enclosed
Last Season (NPL): 3rd, lost in Elimination Final
Last Season (Cup): Semi-Finalists
Head Coach: Marcial MUNOZ
A streamlined squad for Gungahlin United in 2025 has seen a myriad of departures including goalkeeper Matilde Laurel-Tighe, defenders Corinne Denton and Alex Nealand, and midfielder Alex Martens, as well as several players who made the odd appearance off the bench last term. The Gunners are still left with a strong squad, albeit one a little slimmer around the edges, the retention of the De Marco’s, Stella and Natalie, and the dead-ball prowess of Ginger Oliver, a major plus for the team being looked after by interim Head Coach Marical Munoz. Interestingly for a club with ambitions of pushing towards the summit, there has been a distinct lack of movement at the arrivals gate, only Megan Castle arriving from Canberra Croatia, the squad streamlined from 2024 with a reliance on a core group of players to get the job done. The Gunners have faith in their youth production line though, so perhaps we will see the emergence of some new talent in the black and white stripes.
In: Megan CASTLE (Canberra Croatia)
Out: Alissa BARBOUR (Interstate), Jade BROWN (Overseas), Sophie BURNS (Overseas), Corinne DENTON (Canberra Olympic), Shanaya JESSY (Interstate), Jada LAMOND (Overseas), Matilde LAUREL-TIGHE (Belconnen United), Alex MARTENS (Belconnen United), Alex NEALAND (interstate), Gabrielle O’BRIEN (West Canberra Wanderers), Erika PENNYFIELD (Retired), Maddison SAWKINS (Belconnen United), Alison SEENEY (Sabbatical), Juliana STAUFFACHER (Interstate), Ariadne STERGIOU (Sabbatical)
TUGGERANONG UNITED
Home Ground: Kambah 2
Last Season (NPL): 7th
Last Season (Cup): Quarter Finals
Head Coach: Ian TOMS
There are changes afoot at Kambah 2 as Tuggeranong United welcome in a new Head Coach in the shape of Ian Toms and, with his appointment, a change in style, the Southsiders reverting to what they hope will be a more possession-based game in 2025. Too often last season United turned over ball very cheaply and quickly when in possession, and rectifying that has been the modus operandi of pre-season. With that in mind, Toms has extended the net to attract some new talent into the ranks, Isla Allaway coming in as goalkeeper, and Mollie Jonsson, in particular, looking good in midfield during their early season hit-outs. Conceding too many was an issue in 2024 and stymying that flow of goals will be paramount. The old adage of ‘if you have the ball, the opposition can’t score,’ has never rung truer. Tuggeranong have seen a handful of players depart, including industrious striker Sarah Matthews, but have returned impressive defenders Lara Mustaine and Jess Mitchell, a partnership around which they can lay a solid foundation.
In: Isla ALLAWAY, Esperance ANDERSON (Sabbatical), Charlotte EVANS, Rhianna GOLDSTEIN (West Canberra Wanderers), Mollie JONSSON, Brianna LAZZARI, Emily TRINICK
Out: Chloe DE MEYER, Elvein KHALEEL (West Canberra Wanderers), Sarah MATTHEWS (Sabbatical), Sarah METCALF, Emily PEARCE (Belconnen United), Tiana PHILLIPS-MAYNARD, Ashle SMITH-ROBERTS
MAJURA FC
Home Ground: Ainslie Oval
Last Season (NPL): Did Not Compete
Last Season (Cup): Did Not Compete
Head Coach: David RUBERTO
A first-season in the NPLW top-flight beckons for Majura FC, a club long associated with success in the junior ranks and perhaps best known for producing Ninja A-League stars Sally James and Grace Maher. It’s a brave step-up into the elite level of the local Women’s game for the club who will start their life as a senior entity with a Federation Cup Qualifying tie against White Eagles. Last year the highest level a senior team played at the club was Capital League Division 1, so to make the leap into the top tier, having finished second behind South Canberra, is a big task for all involved. They are led by David Ruberto, a coach who is well versed in promoting youth talent, and it will be interesting to note how many of the team that starts their first ever foray into the elite level in Round 1 have come through the club’s extensive youth ranks. Pre-season has seen the team in building mode, but some competitive results against fellow NPLW teams potentially bodes well for the new era.
In: Eliza BAKER (ANU WFC), Ingrid LAURSEN (Promoted), Sofia FURLANETTO (ANU WFC), Sheridan MCELLIGOTT (ANU WFC), Vanessa RITCHIE (ANU WFC), Chelsea ROLLS (ANU WFC), Vanessa SOPHCOLI (ANU WFC)
Out: None
WEST CANBERRA WANDERERS
Home Ground: Melrose Synthetic
Last Season (NPL): 6th
Last Season (Cup): Quarter Finals
Head Coach: Steve ROHAN-JONES
A sixth-place finish highlighted a much-improved West Canberra Wanderers in 2024, the team from Melrose Synthetic proving to be stubborn opposition, especially on their home patch. Building on that form will be the key for Steve Rohan-Jones and his team this term and, based on the recruitment and what we have seen in pre-season, there is every chance that they could push for a place in the top four, and the potential of finals football. The addition of exciting front-runner Tamara Cochrane will likely add more threat up top, and more goals, an area in which the Wanderers have struggled in recent seasons, whilst the squad has been bolstered by the arrival of Ellen Brown and Amy Birkett from interstate, and the addition of English defender/midfielder Abigail Moss. Blending the new arrivals into a team that have potential across the park will be key, and getting off to a successful start to the season might build the momentum required to push last season’s top four even closer.
In: Amy BIRKETT (Goulburn), Suzannah BROUGH (Promoted), Ellen BROWN (Interstate), Tamara COCHRANE (Interstate), Sophie COULDRICK (State League), Elvein KHALEEL (Tuggeranong United), Abigail MOSS (Overseas), Gabrielle O’BRIEN (Gungahlin United), Sonja TOMANOVITS (Sabbatical), Cassandra WATSON (State League)
Out: Elizabeth BARTONE, Lauren HALL (Interstate), Rhianna GOLDSTEIN (Tuggeranong United), Charlotte HYETT, Mia LO, Freya MCLAUGHLIN, Raffaella PULI (Interstate), Sabrina TOUFEXIS, Sarah WHITFIELD
