Canberra Olympic, now second, is back on the pitch this Sunday. With Belconnen United not playing, they need to avoid an upset at home to take back the top spot. Canberra Croatia and Gungahlin United in the meantime will work towards building momentum, a month before the Finals start.
West Canberra Wanderers and Canberra Croatia meet at Melrose Synthetic to kick off Sunday’s festivities. The Deakin side scored four times during the two previous encounters between the two this season, suggesting that the Wanderers have their work cut out for them.
Steve Rohan-Jones’ players came close to getting a result against Gungahlin United last week, with only a goal separating the two outfits. The Wanderers have been close to causing upset against three of the top four this season, with Croatia being the exception. A result on Sunday would not be undeserved for a team that has steadily improved throughout 2024.
The Croatia players’ body language said it all at the end of last week’s game. Bemused, they did not know how they left Deakin without a point against Belconnen. Zoran Glavinic and his troops have only two games left to play before it is Finals time, and getting six points would be the best way to bounce back and prepare for a complicated road to the Grand Final.
Gungahlin United hosts ANU WFC with the same desire to end a great season well. At Ainslie, the Gunners play their penultimate game before September’s Finals.
Nick Van Aalst had some positives to take out of a hard-fought battle at home last week. Besides the defensive prowess of his backline and keeper, he saw a team rallying up to score and keep the lead despite being a player down for almost 20 minutes.
Facing ANU will be another test of the team’s ability to strike when it counts, and hopefully for their fans, they won’t wait to be ten on the field to score this time. The University Club missed a chance to get a second success of the season last week against an inspired Tuggeranong team.
Playing Gungahlin, a team they conceded a total of seventeen goals against this season, will feel a daunting task when added the fact that they are yet to score against the Gunners. Streaks are meant to be broken, and the ANU will try and end these two.
Canberra Olympic has a lot to lose against Tuggeranong United on Sunday. Two weeks before the potential Premiership-deciding duel with Belconnen United, Frank Cachia’s team need to focus on getting the job done against the outsiders.
During their break, Olympic saw the Blue Devils overtaking them, courtesy of a better goal difference. A draw would technically be enough on Sunday to take the position back. A team with the talent of Olympic is expected to win however, and it is a position in which the best teams have been surprised in recent years. Cachia will have his team ready not to repeat history.
Tuggeranong showed they could perform despite the absence of some key elements last weekend. The draw away at Hawker Football Centre against ANU WFC showed the depth of talent in Kambah, with yet another keeper out of the white and yellow rank, and an overall solid defensive display.
Bringing a point back from O’Connor Enlcosed would be a different situation and warrant louder celebrations. Sarah West’s team needs a near-perfect performance to resist the reigning champions.
FIXTURES
ROUND 18
Sunday 11 August
West Canberra Wanderers v Canberra Croatia (Melrose Synthetic, 12:45)
Gungahlin United v ANU WFC (Gungahlin Enclosed, 14:00)
Canberra Olympic v Tuggeranong United (O’Connor Enclosed, 14:00)
All matches are streamed live on BarTV Sports.
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Belconnen United | 15 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 57 | 15 | +42 | 37 |
| 2 | Canberra Olympic | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 11 | +25 | 37 |
| 3 | Gungahlin United | 16 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 36 | 21 | +15 | 32 |
| 4 | Canberra Croatia | 16 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 37 | 28 | +9 | 23 |
| 5 | West Canberra Wanderers | 15 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 16 | 32 | -16 | 11 |
| 6 | ANU WFC | 14 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 46 | -37 | 6 |
| 7 | Tuggeranong United | 14 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 42 | -38 | 3 |
TOP SCORERS
14: Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Belconnen United)
11: Brittany PALOMBI (Canberra Croatia)
10: Madelyn WHITTALL (Canberra Olympic), Reilly YUEN (Belconnen United)
7: Hattie CRAM (Belconnen United), Ginger OLIVER (Gungahlin United)
6: Madison CACHIA (Canberra Olympic), Alex MARTENS (Gungahlin United)
5: Keira BOBBIN (Belconnen United), Megan CASTLE (Canberra Croatia), Arusha CHEW (Canberra Croatia), Tatum MAZIS (Canberra Croatia), Katrina PERIC (Canberra Olympic), Darby WHITELEY (Gungahlin United), Sarah WHITFIELD (West Canberra Wanderers)
4: Alyse JENSEN (Belconnen United), Tianah MIRO (Canberra Olympic), Alex NEALAND (Gungahlin United), Alina ROBERTS (Belconnen United)
3: Ella BROWN (Canberra Olympic), Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Isabella HINDMARSH (Belconnen United), Sheridan MCELLIGOTT (ANU WFC), Madeliene PERCEVAL (Gungahlin United), Own GOALS
2: Isabella BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Jamie BERKELEY (Canberra Croatia), Jaya BOWMAN (Canberra Olympic), Olivia BUYTEWEG (Gungahlin United), Sharon CHAO (Gungahlin United), Alexandra GIDIS (West Canberra Wanderers), Olivia HICKS (West Canberra Wanderers), Nicole JALOCHA (Canberra Olympic), Pascale LA HEI (Belconnen United), Saskia NEWMAN (ANU WFC), Ella PALFRAMAN (Canberra Croatia), Sofia PALYWODA (Belconnen United), Allegra SENTI (West Canberra Wanderers)
1: Tehya ASPLAND (Canberra Olympic), Angelina BABIC (ANU WFC), Eliza BAKER (ANU WFC), Leila BILLINGTON (Belconnen United), Amy BONGIORNO (Canberra Croatia), Sofia CHAVERRA (ANU WFC), Stella DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Corinne DENTON (Gungahlin United), Jade EMMS (Belconnen United), Rhiannon FENSOM (Canberra Croatia), Edith FORDYCE-CROKER (ANU WFC), Lauren HALL (West Canberra Wanderers), Zoe HALPIN (West Canberra Wanderers), Elvein IBRHAIM (Tuggeranong United), Sarah MATTHEWS (Tuggeranong United), Amy MOORE (Gungahlin United), Demi NIKIAS (West Canberra Wanderers), Tiana PHILLIPS-MAYNARD (Tuggeranong United), Lauren PRESTON (Belconnen United), Bronte PYKE (Belconnen United), Bessie RIETHMULLER (Canberra Olympic), Pearl TEIN (Belconnen United), Michaela THORNTON (Canberra Olympic), Jane VANZINO (Canberra Olympic), Audrey WARD (West Canberra Wanderers), Matylda WELLS-SHEATHER (Tuggeranong United), Kayla WRIGHT (Gungahlin United), Nadia ZAKMAN (Canberra Croatia)
Words: Jeremy Magan
