The Women’s NPL promises to be an enticing competition to view in 2022 with League Champions Canberra Croatia anxiously looking over their shoulder at the chasing pack. NPL commentator Jeremy Magan takes us through what we can expect for the six months ahead.
BELCONNEN UNITED
Head Coach: Scott CONLON
After two seasons of young coaches in charge of the same teams trying to get the same results, 2022 looks more like a ripped band-aid moment. With the likes of Michaela Thornton and Nicole Jalocha gone, new leaders need to be found, as well as a new dynamic with players coming from the Blue Devils’ youth. The challenge will put the Canberra Football powerhouse to the test, and perhaps it is only fitting that Scott Conlon, who played a role in getting Jagarinec to Belconnen in the first place over a decade ago, now sits on the bench. Conlon, a former Blue Devil himself has been coaching the U13 at the club and takes over at McKellar with a simple job: succeeding, when for the first time in over a decade, Belconnen is not tipped to win it all. Expect the front three of Keira Bobbin, Talia Backhouse, Olivia Bomford and Karen Clarke to help him in his endeavour.
In: Steffi LEJINS (Gungahlin United), Tatum MAZIS (Belconnen United Boys), Jayla MURPHY (Canberra United Academy)
Out: Cristina ESPOSITO (Sydney), Alexia FORNER (TBC), Mia GIORGI (Canberra Croatia), Nicole JALOCHA (Canberra Olympic), Sarah JOHNSTON (Canberra Olympic), Vanessa RYAN (Canberra Olympic), Isabella TAMMARO (Canberra Croatia), Michaela THORNTON (Canberra Olympic), Reilly YUEN (TBC)
CANBERRA CROATIA
Head Coach: Zoran GLAVINIC
Zoran Glavinic has the difficult task of following in Nik Brozinic’s footsteps, the coach who won back-to-back titles at Deakin Stadium. Glavinic is no stranger to success at Canberra Croatia though, and his emphatic win in the Charity Shield showed that the team is a serious contender to their own succession. Keeping the core of the squad unchanged and adding talent in every department is the recipe for success at any club, and it is just what the reigning champion have done. The powerful midfield triumvirate of Jennifer Bisset, Krista Hagen and Jamie Berkeley is back, as well as the experienced Rhiannon Fensom and Alice Churchill in defence and the ever so lethal Brittany Palombi up front. These six alone could guarantee Canberra Croatia a sure trip to the finals, and the additions, Rebecca Kiting, Diane Wilson, Isabella Tammaro., Mia Giorgi and Sienna Birnie, have already impressed for their first minutes in the checked jersey.
In: Sienna BIRNIE (Tuggeranong United U18 Boys), Mia GIORGI (Belconnen United), Rebecca KITING, Isabella TAMMARO (Belconnen United), Natajsa VASTA (AFL), Diane WILSON (Promoted)
Out: Sharron CHAO (Gungahlin United), Olivia FOGARTY (Canberra Olympic), Ally HINSON (West Canberra Wanderers), Renee JUNNA (Bankstown City), Cecilija MATIC (Sabbatical)
CANBERRA OLYMPIC
Head Coach: Nice BEGG
Olympic shocked the Canberra Football community with a stellar off-season, adding some of the very best players in the competition to their already talented pool. From the revelation of 2021 between the posts in Janet King, to one of the most awarded players in the Capital, in Michaela Thornton, Nicole Begg has brought in more strength everywhere on the pitch. O’Connor has become on paper, overnight, the hardest place to get a result at in WNPL. The task will not be easy for the coach in only her second year to ensure a team rises from all the individual talent lined up. The former Canberra United captain has shown an ability to learn on the go, and such versatility last season in her tactical choices, she looks just right for the job. Thornton, Sarah Johnston, Olivia Fogarty, Elke Aitolu could each transform any team they would join into a title contender, but put together, this is a group that feels like title contenders.
In: Elke AITOLU (Gungahlin United), Olivia FOGARTY (Canberra Croatia), Olivia GURNEY (TBC), Nicole JALOCHA (Belconnen United), Sarah JOHNSTON (Belconnen United), Janet KING (West Canberra Wanderers), Vanessa RYAN (Belconnen United), Michaela THORNTON (Belconnen United)
Out: Anna BENNETT, Kelly BARNES (Wagga City Wanderers), Lara BURDETT, Lucy D’ARCY, Emma FINCH (Wagga City Wanderers), Heather GARRIOCK (Relocated), Aurelia HAYNES (Relocated), Courtney HALSE, Rachael HARDWICKE (Coaching), Jodie KIRKNESS (Wagga City Wanderers), Jemima MILLAR-CARTON (West Canberra Wanderers), Jordan UJDUR (Sabbatical)
CANBERRA UNITED ACADEMY
Head Coach: Sarah WEST
The Academy earned bragging rights last season, being the only team able to beat Canberra Croatia in the past 24 months in WNPL. In 2022, former Canberra United U15 coach, and Liberty A-League assistant coach Sarah West takes over in what looks like a transition season for the Hawker-based team. The Academy have lost a few influential talents that have illuminated the Capital’s pitches in the past few years, with names such as Sasha Grove, Anna Hunt, and Alyse Jensen having departed the team in green. To make up for these departures, CUA is doing what it does best, promoting and bringing in several new players. In the end, the Academy will do what it does every year: develop their squad technically, tactically, and physically to be a match against more experienced players and create some upsets along the way.
In: Alissa BARBOUR (Belconnen United), Sophia BISSEL (Interstate), Tiana BOOTS (Promoted), Ashleigh CARTY (Sydney University), Natalia CHANG (Promoted), Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Promoted), Eliza EVANS (Promoted), Charli GREGSON (Promoted), Angelina JUKIC (Promoted), Caitlin KOCH (Promoted), Tilly ROWE (West Canberra Wanderers), Sienna SCARANO (Promoted)
Out: Alicia BAMFORTH (Study), Mena BISCOTI, Daisy CANAVAN (West Canberra Wanderers), Annie GROVE (College, USA), Sasha GROVE (North West Sydney Spirit), Anna HUNT (Sydney University), Alyse JENSEN, Jayla MURPHY (Belconnen United), Stephanie NIKIAS (West Canberra Wanderers), Bessie REITHMULLER (Interstate), Caitlin SKILLICORN, Ellie SUMMERS
GUNGAHLIN UNITED
Head Coach: Pat MILLS
The shortened 2021 season robbed Gungahlin United of their opportunity to challenge the top two teams of the capital for a spot in the Finals. With a well-oiled team, and Liberty A-League Women all-time leading scorer Michelle Heyman in his ranks, Diego Iglesias was ready to take his shot. The offseason saw the Gunners’ coach moving on, and Pat Mills bringing his wealth of experience to their bench. If the core of the team remains, Mills’ first task is obvious: replacing the firepower that left Gungahlin in the off-season. Elke Aitolu, Jade Brown, and Heyman tallied 20 goals in 2021, so the coach has a clean slate to reorganize his offense. The addition of the experienced Sharon Chao and Cassia McGlashan will help. One to watch at the GEO will undoubtedly be Piper Lockley. The former creative mastermind of the Wagga City Wanderers is bringing her silky touch to a team challenging for finals. Her ability to rise to the occasion and her partnership with the De Marco sisters will be a key to the Gunners’ success.
In: Sharon CHAO (Canberra Croatia), Piper LOCKLEY (Wagga City Wanderers), Cassia MCGLASHEN, Olivia NOLAN
Out: Elke AITOLU (Canberra Olympic), Jade BROWN (USA), Paige GREGSON (Tuggeranong United), Steffi LEJINS (Belconnen United), Brigitte SANDER (USA)
TUGGERANONG UNITED
Head Coach: Paulo ROMERO
After half a competitive season and a full pre-season under his belt, it is finally time to see Paulo Romero’s full impact on Tuggeranong United. If the results did not follow in 2021 (only one win, late in the season), the intensity and the defensive solidity shown at times by the Tuggies fostered a lot of promises. Romero worked to add depth in his squad during the off-season, whilst making up for the departure of some of his most important players of the past two seasons: Stephanie Coates, Rhiannon Daisley, Madeleine Magee, and Alyssa Bozinovska were all starters week-in week-out. The signing of Sammy Emms between the posts, famously selected for a Young Matildas training camp last July, is a sign of the ambition Romero has for his team. The former Wagga City goalkeeper has impressed with talent and maturity beyond her years and her move to the Capital is an important step in her development. That’s also a good summary of what 2022 is for Tuggeranong United: another step in their development, and their quest to establish themselves higher up on the ladder.
In: Maya BINNS (West Canberra Wanderers), Sophie BURNS (UC Stars), Sam EMMS (Wagga City Wanderers), Paige GREGSON (Gungahlin United), Brooke JONES (Injury), Karen MILEWSKA (West Canberra Wanderers), Lilly NICHOLLS (UC Stars)
Out: Alyssa BOZINOVSKA, Stephanie COATES, Rhiannon DAISLEY, Claire FALLS, Madeleine MAGEE, Sophie ROLFE
WAGGA CITY WANDERERS
Head Coach: Sam GRAY
All these off-season coaching moves in the capital made Sam Gray the longest-serving coach in the WNPL at the start of 2022. During a complicated 2021 season, Wagga City were only able to get points against fellow minnows Tuggeranong United, winning the head-to-head battle twice. The experimented Wanderers manager then went through the usual tumultuous break with his load of changes, but he is confident that he has strengthened his squad for the upcoming season. Every year the Riverina brings a wealth of talent to the competition and this season should be no different. Isabella Palmero will bring her experience of interstate NPL and help the youth of Wagga and the signings from the local clubs develop under Gray. Expect nothing else than the Scot’s usual brand of open attacking football at Gissing Oval in 2022. The Wanderers are here to climb the ladder and create some upsets, and Gray built a team to achieve these goals.
In: Kelly BARNES (Canberra Olympic), Maree CIRILLO (Hanwood FC), Ellie FAULDER (Promoted), Emma FINCH (Canberra Olympic), Hannah FORWOOD (Mid-North Coast), Jodie KIRKNESS (Canberra Olympic), Isabella PALMERO (Queensland NPL), Anissa REES (Promoted), Marwa SULAIMAN (Promoted)
Out: Madelyn EMMS (Local Football), Sam EMMS (Tuggeranong United), Christina GRAUER-KOMPOS (Retired), Ash HOLDER (Local Football), Brianna HOWES (Study), Niki KRAJACIC (Local Football), Piper LOCKLEY (Gungahlin United), Tia LYONS (Study), Bonny MCKEAN (Study), Brandy NICHOLSON (Local Football), Susan WAIA (Local Football), Abby WOOD (Study)
WEST CANBERRA WANDERERS
Head Coach: Rey CASTRO
2021 was tumultuous yet successful in West Canberra. A change of coach and the departure of their marquee signing halfway through the season would not tarnish the positive results that allowed the Wanderers to reach the Federation Cup Final and to stay in the battle for the Finals until the season was interrupted. The Charity Shield 2022 ended with a harsh score line despite West Canberra’s usual characteristics on display, a solid, dense defence and plenty of pace in transition with young forwards that did not shy away from the challenge. Rey Castro is back at the helm and built on the core squad that fought so hard for him last year. The revelation of last season, Janet King may have gone to Olympic, but is replaced by an equally talented goalkeeper, in back-to-back champion Ally Hinson. Academy products Daisy Canavan and Stephanie Nikias also signed with the Wanderers, bringing pace, technical and tactical talent, as well as much needed depth to Melrose.
In: Daisy CANAVAN (Canberra United Academy), Ally HINSON (Canberra Croatia), Jemima MILLAR-CARTON (Canberra Olympic), Stephanie NIKIAS (Canberra United Academy)
Out: Maya BINNS (Tuggeranong United), Janet KING (Canberra Olympic), Karen MILEWSKA (Tuggeranong United)
