Round 8 of National Premier League Women’s action is headlined by a monumental clash between a resurgent Canberra Olympic, and an irresistible Belconnen United at O’Connor Enclosed.
While last weekend’s washout against Canberra Croatia is an inconvenience, the reigning treble winners will not be without motivation heading into a clash with their perennial title rivals, particularly with the knowledge that a victory could push them to within three points of Belconnen, if they win their game in hand.
Despite Frank Cachia’s side remaining unbeaten in their last four league games, they remain without a victory in three matchups with the Blue Devils in 2025, having fallen to defeat in the league, the cup, in extra time, and the Charity Shield.
With this record in mind, Scott Conlon will no doubt be leading his team into the weekend’s match with confidence, and with Belconnen boasting nine wins, 48 goals and just seven conceded in nine league matches, the odds will be firmly in favour of the away side on Sunday.
A win for the Blue Devils would certainly increase the likelihood of a first league title since 2019, however successive 4-0 defeats to Olympic towards the end of the 2024 campaign will keep the squad wary of the champions’ quality.
Across town Tuggeranong United host West Canberra Wanderers at Kambah on Sunday afternoon, in the second installment of the Southside Derby this season.
West Canberra were emphatic winners in the Round 1 meeting, and will be looking to get back to winning ways after four matches without a victory.
Steve Rohan-Jones’ side, having started the season as Belconnen’s closest challenger to top spot, have encountered a difficult few weeks in the NPLW, in a series of matches punctuated by outfield players being forced to step into the net to deputise for injuries to Gabrielle O’Brien.
A quality display against Gungahlin two weeks ago was cancelled out by a crushing 6-1 loss to Belconnen in their most recent match, however there is cause to be optimistic for the away side on Sunday, given the struggles that Tuggeranong have had throughout 2025.
Five losses from their first six matches have condemned Ian Toms’ outfit to second-bottom on the table, however a narrow defeat by a one-goal margin to Croatia in their most recent match showed signs of a side able to hold out top teams.
With Majura FC receiving a week off after ANU WFC’s departure from the competition, attention turns to the final match of the round, as Canberra Croatia host Gungahlin United in a fascinating match up at Deakin Stadium.
Croatia missed out on testing themselves against Olympic last week due to the weather, however will quickly face another high-calibre opponent in Gungahlin this Sunday, as they look to repeat their 2-1 victory from last week.
A late Jamie Berkeley penalty got the job done for Musie Elongo’s team in a tight match at Gungahlin Enclosed, which saw Croatia go three points ahead of their finals-chasing counterparts to sit second on the table, having performed superbly throughout the campaign so far.
While Croatia have won four from four in the league, Gungahlin have picked up two wins, a draw and a loss, having struggled at times against West Canberra, and then Croatia mid-week.
Marcial Munoz’s team have serious quality in attack, hitting nine goals on two separate occasions in their last four matches this season, however have struggled more recently against the better sides in the league.
FIXTURES
ROUND 8
Sunday 1 June
Canberra Olympic v Belconnen United (O’Connor Enclosed, 14:00)
Canberra Croatia v Gungahlin United (Deakin Stadium, 15:00)
Tuggeranong United v West Canberra Wanderers (Kambah 2, 15:00)
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Belconnen United | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 7 | +41 | 21 |
| 2 | Canberra Croatia | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 7 | +12 | 15 |
| 3 | Gungahlin United | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 33 | 8 | +25 | 13 |
| 4 | Canberra Olympic | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 12 | +6 | 12 |
| 5 | West Canberra | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 13 | +8 | 10 |
| 6 | Majura FC | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 28 | -21 | 3 |
| 7 | Tuggeranong United | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 34 | -29 | 3 |
| 8 | ANU WFC | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 42 | -42 | 0 |
TOP SCORERS
11: Tamara COCHRANE (West Canberra Wanderers)
10: Keira BOBBIN (Belconnen United)
7: Megan CASTLE (Gungahlin United), Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Belconnen United), Bonnie YOUNG (Gungahlin United)
6: Ginger OLIVER (Gungahlin United)
5: Liliana ALTAMORE (Belconnen United), Jamie BERKELEY (Canberra Croatia), Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United)
4: Sharon CHAO (Gungahlin United), Anneke CORRY (Belconnen United), Zoe HALPIN (West Canberra Wanderers), Carmel LYNCH (Majura FC)
3: Tia BURRIDGE (Canberra Olympic), Leah CARNEGIE (Canberra Olympic), Alexandra GIDIS (West Canberra Wanderers), Alex MARTENS (Belconnen United), Bronte PYKE (Belconnen United), Alina ROBERTS (Belconnen United), Own GOALS
2: Acacia ARGENTO (Tuggeranong United), Isabella BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Ella BROWN (Canberra Olympic), Arusha CHEW (Canberra Croatia), Sofia FURLANETTO (Majura FC), Isabella HINDMARSH (Belconnen United), Alyse JENSEN (Canberra Olympic), Ailish MCDONAGH (Belconnen United), Riley MCQUEENIE (Canberra Croatia), Sofia MERKOUREAS (Canberra Croatia), Katrina PERIC (Canberra Olympic), Nikita PERRY (Canberra Olympic), Michaela THORNTON (Canberra Croatia)
1: Elke AITOLU (Canberra Olympic), Angelina BABIC (Canberra Croatia), Leila BILLINGTON (Belconnen United), Sienna BIRNIE (Canberra Olympic), Madison CACHIA (Canberra Olympic), Lisa CARY (Belconnen United), Stella DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Elvein IBRAHIM (West Canberra Wanderers), Mollie JONSSON (Tuggeranong United), Tarah MANTHONGSY (Tuggeranong United), Sofia MARTINIELO (Majura FC), Jessica MITCHELL (Tuggeranong United), Tatum MAZIS (Canberra Olympic), Perri NASH (West Canberra Wanderers), Eliza-Jane NORRIS (Canberra Croatia), Brittany PALOMBI (Canberra Croatia), Madeliene PERCEVAL (Gungahlin United), Lauren PRESTON (Belconnen United), Ellie RAYMOND (Canberra Croatia), Maddison SAWKINS (Belconnen United), Maddie STEINACKER (Belconnen United), Pearl TEIN (Belconnen United), Rachel VAN AALST (Gungahlin United), Darby WHITELEY (Gungahlin United)
TOP ASSISTS
7: Isabella BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Anneke CORRY (Belconnen United), Bonnie YOUNG (Gungahlin United)
6: Keira BOBBIN (Belconnen United)
5: Alina ROBERTS (Belconnen United)
4: Isabella HINDMARSH (Belconnen United), Ginger OLIVER (Gungahlin United), Audrey WARD (West Canberra Wanderers)
3: Ella BROWN (Canberra Olympic), Megan CASTLE (Gungahlin United), Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Zoe HALPIN (West Canberra Wanderers), Alex MARTENS (Belconnen United), Perri NASH (West Canberra Wanderers),
2: Arusha CHEW (Canberra Croatia), Tamara COCHRANE (West Canberra Wanderers), Stella DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Belconnen United), Chelsea HATELY (Gungahlin United), Tatum MAZIS (Canberra Olympic), Bronte PYKE (Belconnen United), Abigail RICHARDS (Majura FC), Rachel VAN AALST (Gungahlin United), Darby WHITELEY (Gungahlin United)
1: Elke AITOLU (Canberra Olympic), Esperance ANDERSON (Tuggeranong United), Eliza BAKER (Majura FC), Jamie BERKELEY (Canberra Croatia), Sienna BIRNIE (Canberra Olympic), Tiana BOOTS (Canberra Croatia), Tia BURRIDGE (Canberra Olympic), Olivia BUYTEWEG (Gungahlin United), Madison CACHIA (Canberra Olympic), Lucy D’ARCY (Gungahlin United), Rhiannon DAVIS (Canberra Olympic), Alexandra GIDIS (West Canberra Wanderers), Olivia HICKS (West Canberra Wanderers, Alyse JENSEN (Canberra Olympic), Ariana KASHAN (Majura FC), Claire KENNEDY-SPENCER (Tuggeranong United), Jada LAMOND (Gungahlin United), Tarah MANTHONGSY (Tuggeranong United), Olivia MARTINIELLO (Majura FC), Ailish MCDONAGH (Belconnen United), Amy MOORE (Gungahlin United), Demi NIKIAS (West Canberra Wanderers), Stephenie NIKIAS (West Canberra Wanderers), Nikita PERRY (Canberra Olympic), Lauren PRESTON (Belconnen United), Madison SAWKINS (Belconnen United), Allegra SENTI (West Canberra Wanderers), Michaela THORNTON (Canberra Croatia)
Words: Sam Watson
