Despite the season being pushed back several weeks, a fleeting marketing campaign and some unpredictable player signing announcements (coffee, anyone?), there’s a different vibe surrounding the W-League this year: a cautious optimism formed in the halo of July’s sensational FIFA Women’s World Cup and carried across the world in recent months.
And as Australian football starts to ready itself for an independent existence, our top women’s competition is perfectly poised to ride this wave of enthusiasm.
So, without any further ado, here’s everything you need to know about the 2019-20 season, including what’s happened in the off-season, key signings, young players to watch and a ladder prediction. Enjoy.
Adelaide United
Coach: Ivan Karlovic
Last season: 6th
Key signings (so far): Mary Fowler (Bankstown City FC), Mallory Weber (Utah Royals), Amber Brooks (Houston Dash), Julia Ashley (Linkopings FC), Lais Araujo (Arna-Bjornar)
The Lowdown: Adelaide took everybody (maybe even themselves) by surprise last season when they went their first five games undefeated, missing out on their first-ever finals appearance by a single heartbreaking point.
That run was largely due to the sensational international imports of Amber Brooks, Gunnhildur Jonsdottir, Fanndis Fridriksdottir, and Veronica Latsko.
However, only Brooks will be returning for 2019-20, so the Reds’ season will largely depend on who they bring in as international replacements.
American defenders Mallory Weber and Julia Ashley are shrewd signings to accompany Brooks, while teen sensation Mary Fowler is an exciting prospect to take over from Latsko up front.
But where Adelaide may struggle is finding a top replacement for midfield machine Gunny Jonsdottir, whose work-rate, experience, and physicality was crucial to the team’s success last season, though the late announcement of Brazilian Lais Araujo looks promising.
Questions also remain around how diverse Adelaide’s attack can be following the loss of Icelandic winger Fridriksdottir and former Matildas striker Michelle Heyman.
Young Player to Watch: Mary Fowler. She hardly needs an introduction, having been touted as 'the next Sam Kerr' after her call-up to the Matildas for the Women’s World Cup at just 16 years of age.
But few have actually watched Fowler in action, as she’s played most of her career in the NPLW. One of the season’s most intriguing storylines will be whether she can live up to the hype.
Predicted finish: 6th
Brisbane Roar
Coach: Jake Goodship (replaces Mel Andreatta)
Last season: 2nd
Key signings (so far): Tameka Yallop (Melbourne City), Elise Kellond-Knight (Melbourne City), Celeste Boureille (Portland Thorns), Carson Pickett (Orlando Pride)
The Lowdown: Perennial winners Brisbane Roar are looking to make up for last season’s second-placed finish and start a new chapter after head coach Mel Andreatta left in the off-season.
New coach Jake Goodship, recruited from the boys’ academy, has started his tenure by building a strong spine of Matildas: Tameka Yallop, the club’s top scorer, returns to Brisbane alongside Elise “For The Love Of God Please Play Her In Her Best Position” Kellond-Knight.
The former Melbourne City players will reunite with the always-impressive Katrina Gorry and American Celeste Boureille in what’s shaping up to be the most dominant midfield in the league.
The club have also crucially retained the services of Matildas glove-woman Mackenzie Arnold and centre-back Clare Polkinghorne, both of whom helped their team concede the third-fewest goals in the league last season.
Yallop will be especially important to complement returning striker Allira Toby, while a fit and firing Hayley Raso will ensure Brisbane bang more goals away - which they’ll need to do after they were the lowest-scoring team to make the finals in 2018-19.
Young Player to Watch: Indiah-Paige Riley. Having shot to fame by scoring with her backside on her 17th birthday last season, Riley was crowned Brisbane’s Breakout Player of the Year in 2018-19.
Her attacking prowess has been rewarded with a recent call-up to the Young Matildas as they compete for a spot in the U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Predicted finish: 2nd
Canberra United
Coach: Heather Garriock
Last season: 8th
Key signings: Camila Martins Pereira (Orlando Pride), Simone Charley (Portland Thorns), Kaleigh Kurtz (North Carolina Courage), Elise Thorsnes (LSK Kvinner), Katie Stengel (Utah Royals)
The Lowdown: Last season’s second-last finish was the worst in Canberra’s history, which isn’t something you would have expected given their squad on paper.
Having lost all of their internationals for 2019-20, as well as Matilda Ellie Carpenter, head coach Heather Garriock has entered into a rebuilding phase spearheaded by the re-signing of local favourite Karly Roestbakken, recently appointed captain of the Young Matildas.
Like Adelaide, Canberra are going to need to find ways to fill the gaping holes left by their international stars in order to keep up with the rest of the league.
There’s certainly intent with the signing of experienced Brazilian defender Camila alongside Utah Royals striker Katie Stengel and returning Norway international Elise Thorsnes.
While the recruitment of young Americans Simone Charley and Kaleigh Kurtz from the NWSL is exciting, the loss of world-class internationals like Rachel Corsie, Refiloe Jane, and Denise O’Sullivan might be too great a hurdle.
It’s promising for the future of Australian football that Garriock is leaning into Canberra’s academy and trying to give more opportunities to Australian talent, though.
Young Player to Watch: Hayley Taylor-Young. The fiercely pacey 17-year-old striker made waves in the ACT NPLW competition this year, taking out the joint Golden Boot award after scoring 30 goals in 17 games for the Canberra United Academy.
Able to play both centrally and in wide areas, she’s exactly the kind of player Canberra need to replace the energetic Rhoda Mulaudzi up front, especially after they finished second last on the goal-scoring chart last season.
Predicted finish: 8th
Melbourne City
Coach: Rado Vidosic
Last season: 5th
Key signings (so far): Emily van Egmond (Newcastle Jets), Emma Checker (Adelaide United), Ellie Carpenter (Canberra United), Claire Emslie (Orlando Pride), Yukari Kinga (Orca Kamogawa FC), Milica Mijatovic (Arna-Bjornar)
The Lowdown: After an uncharacteristically slow start which saw them lose three and draw one of their first five games last season, City missed out on the finals for the first time in their history.
Like Canberra, despite being stacked with talent across the park, things just couldn’t click for the three-time champions.
It’s clear they don’t want to risk such mediocrity again, having made several huge signings in the off-season, including Matildas Emily van Egmond, Emma Checker, and Ellie Carpenter, and Scotland international Claire Emslie.
Van Egmond will likely be the midfield linchpin for City this season; a player City desperately needed last year to complement Japan legend Yukari Kinga and to fill the void left by Welsh international Jess Fishlock.
The late signing of Serbian Milica Mijatovic could fill in as another creative playmaker, while Emslie offers a like-for-like replacement for zippy American striker Jasmyne Spencer, but questions hang over the ongoing fitness of Matilda Kyah Simon, as well as how quickly new centre-back Emma Checker can gel with American Lauren Barnes following the loss of consistently-excellent Kiwi international Rebekah Stott.
Young Player to Watch: Sofia Sakalis. At just 17, Sakalis has already made her mark on the international stage, bagging 12 goals in 8 games for the Junior Matildas during their qualifications for the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship two years ago.
She made a handful of late-game appearances for City last season, but the team would do well to give this talented attacking midfielder some more serious game-time as she’s already in the frame for more senior Matildas call-ups in the next few years.
Predicted finish: 3rd
Melbourne Victory
Coach: Jeff Hopkins
Last season: 1st
Key signings (so far): Jenna McCormick (Brisbane Roar), Annalie Longo (Canterbury United Pride), Emily Menges (Portland Thorns), Darian Jenkins (Reign FC), Hayley Hanson (Houston Dash), Natasha Dowie (Valerenga)
The Lowdown: Melbourne Victory have an interesting season ahead of them: not only are they defending their first ever premiership, but they will also be competing in the inaugural AFC Women’s Club Championship in late November against the premiers of Japan, China, and South Korea.
While the short season length has meant W-League squads haven’t really required depth in the past, this new competition means Victory will need to dip into their playing stocks.
The signing of New Zealand international Annalie Longo and Reign FC forward Darian Jenkins to complement captain Natasha Dowie up front will be a huge help in this regard, while the recruitment of Portland Thorns centre-back Emily Menges and new Matilda Jenna McCormick will shore up a defence voided by American Sam Johnson and Matilda Laura Brock (nee Alleway), who will miss part of the season due to surgery.
However, despite picking up US international Hayley Hanson from Houston Dash, Victory’s downfall will likely be in midfield, having lost both last season’s Julie Dolan medallist and play-maker Christine Nairn and American enforcer Dani Weatherholt. It’s looking uncertain whether Hopkins will repeat the feat, but Victory may still have enough quality to challenge for a finals spot.
Young Player to Watch: Polly Doran. The 18-year-old earns her first call-up to the W-League after an impressive campaign with Victorian NPLW champions Calder United earlier this year, netting 14 goals in 29 appearances.
With one eye on the AFC competition, Hopkins has recruited Doran and Calder teammate Emma Robers to provide depth and energy to a side who will need it if they plan to attack on both fronts.
Predicted finish: 5th
Newcastle Jets
Coach: Craig Deans
Last season: 7th
Key signings (so far): Annabel Martin (Melbourne Victory), Nikki Flannery (Canberra United), Larissa Crummer (returns from injury)
The Lowdown: Newcastle are looking to rebound from their injury-riddled 2018-19 season which saw them lose captain Emily van Egmond, American winger Taylor Smith, and defender Larissa Crummer at various points of the campaign.
While international stars Katie Stengel, Arin Wright, and reigning W-League Goalkeeper of the Year Britt Eckerstrom were able to steady Newcastle’s ship through these rough times, the news that none of them will be returning for the 2019-20 season - indeed, Newcastle will not have any international players at all - means it’ll be almost impossible for the club to keep up with the rest of the league.
These international losses are compounded by the movements of van Egmond and young striker Cortnee Vine to greener pastures, though the recruitment of former Canberra forward Nikki Flannery and Victory full-back Annabel Martin - both of whom won several trophies with NSW NPLW side Sydney University this year - and the return of Matildas Gema Simon and Crummer could bring some hope to a side forced to rely on local talent due to off-field financial issues.
Young Player to Watch: Clare Wheeler. After playing a pivotal role in Sydney University’s recent domination in the NSW NPLW competition, Wheeler was named part of Newcastle’s leadership group for her maturity and steadiness both on and off the park.
Still only 21-years-old, Wheeler has become a favourite among Newcastle fans and has recently been touted as the perfect replacement for the departing van Egmond - a reflection of the young midfielder’s talent if ever there was one.
Predicted finish: 9th
Perth Glory
Coach: Bobby Despotovski
Last season: 4th
Key signings (so far): Celia Jimenez Delgado (Reign FC), Morgan Andrews (Reign FC), Arianna Romero (Houston Dash)
The Lowdown: We all know the big story here: Sam Kerr won’t be returning to the W-League for the 2019-20 season.
More than that, she also takes all four internationals that helped Perth reach the Grand Final last season with her, including strike-partner Rachel Hill.
Kerr has been the defining player of the Glory’s style for a number of seasons now, so Despotovski’s biggest challenge will be either finding a like-for-like replacement or changing the style of a team largely made up of the same players from seasons past, all of whom have become used to a system that gravitated around its central star.
More concerning, perhaps, is that the departing Kerr, Hill, and winger Alyssa Mautz combined for 28 of Perth’s 34 goals last season; so big questions remain over who Perth can bring in on a basic attacking level at all, let alone someone to replace the best striker in the world.
The recruitment of Spanish international defender Celia Jimenez Delgado alongside Mexican international Arianna Romero from Houston Dash are exciting defensive prospects, while American midfielder Morgan Andrews could fill the spot vacated by midfielder Nikki Stanton.
But without their main two goalscorers leading the line, Perth almost definitely won’t reach the same heights as last season.
Young Player to Watch: Leticia McKenna. You wouldn’t know it from her 9 starts across the 2018-19 season, but Perth’s talented attacking midfielder Leticia McKenna is only 17. She scored twice, assisted once and made five key passes last season, and she’s just emerging onto the W-League stage.
The potential is endless for the youngster, and Despotovski would do well to look to her as the next player around which to build a new squad.
Predicted finish: 7th
Sydney FC
Coach: Ante Juric
Last season: 3rd
Key signings (so far): Veronica Latsko (Houston Dash, Adelaide United), Ellie Brush (Northern Tigers FC), Aubrey Bledsoe (Washington Spirit)
The Lowdown: Sydney FC have kept almost all of last season’s Championship-winning squad together, and their early full-squad announcement signalled their intent to get the season going.
Despite the loss of Matildas Lisa De Vanna to Fiorentina and Amy Harrison to the Wanderers, Sydney have retained the services of spine players Caitlin Foord, Chloe Logarzo, Teresa Polias, and Alanna Kennedy, all of whom were crucial in last season’s success.
Americans Sofia Huerta and goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe also return off the back of brilliant seasons in the NWSL (with Bledsoe winning the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year award), while the club has also secured the services of veteran Matilda Ellie Brush, who returns to the W-League after stints in the AFLW, and former Adelaide striker Veronica Latsko to replace Savannah McCaskill.
Finding a top international midfield replacement for American Danielle Colaprico, who was the beating heart of Sydney’s game last season, will be crucial for Ante Juric; if they do so, the Sky Blues will undoubtedly be in the frame for silverware once again.
Young Player to Watch: Princess Ibini-Isei. It’s hard to believe that Ibini-Isei is still just 19 years old.
While she made her club debut in 2015, it wasn’t until last season that the versatile attacker showed the first serious glimpses of her potential.
Primarily used as an impact player, Ibini-Isei scored four goals, assisted one more, and won a penalty in just 750 minutes of play.
With space now freed on the left wing thanks to the departed De Vanna, the time is ripe for this young forward to cement her spot in Sydney’s starting XI.
Predicted finish: 1st
Western Sydney Wanderers
Coach: Dean Heffernan
Last season: 9th
Key signings (so far): Sam Staab (Washington Spirit), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage, Canberra United), Amy Harrison (Sydney FC), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage), Kristen Hamilton (North Carolina Courage), Cortnee Vine (Newcastle Jets)
The Lowdown: The Wanderers have revolutionised themselves both on and off the park this season.
After the completion of their new training base in Blacktown and an undefeated start in the A-League, the W-League side is now getting in on the action, clearing out most of the old guard and bringing in some fresh faces.
New coach Dean Heffernan isn’t screwing around either, having signed U-23 USWNT defender Sam Staab alongside three North Carolina Courage players: Irish international Denise O’Sullivan, and American strikers Lynn Williams and Kristen Hamilton.
It’s difficult to over-state just how big a coup this is; North Carolina have just won back-to-back Premiership-Championship doubles in the NWSL, where Williams won the club’s Golden Boot and O’Sullivan was voted the club’s MVP.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Wanderers have also picked up Young Matilda Kyra Cooney-Cross, former Victory midfielder Ella Mastrantonio, and World Cup Matilda Amy Harrison.
But as the likes of City and Canberra showed last season, you can have an absolutely stacked roster and still fall short; the Wanderers’ first ever finals berth will depend on whether such a new team can gel quickly enough to get results.
Young player to watch: Susan Phonsongkham. The gun striker is fresh off the back of a Golden Boot award in the NSW NPLW competition and a call-up to the Young Matildas as they compete in the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship.
Having re-signed with the club after getting just 38 minutes off the bench last season, Phonsongkham has come along in leaps and bounds this year, showing she’s more than capable of bossing it with the best the state has to offer.
It’ll be a shame if she doesn’t get the opportunity to show the rest of the country why she’s been making waves in NSW.
Predicted finish: 4th
Predicted ladder
1: Sydney FC
2: Brisbane Roar
3: Melbourne City
4: Western Sydney Wanderers
5: Melbourne Victory
6: Adelaide United
7: Perth Glory
8: Canberra United
9: Newcastle Jets
