We bring you all the key team news for the final and vital round of Westfield W-League action.
Brisbane Roar v Canberra United
Saturday 12 January 2013
Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre
Local kick-off: 10.30am
(New venue and kick-off time)
Catch the action live streaming online from 11.30am AEDT and nationally on ABC1 from 5pm
An intriguing finale to the Westfield W-League regular season looms this weekend, highlighted by the match of the round which pits two-time champions Brisbane Roar against holders Canberra United.
The replay of last year-s Grand Final sees both sides desperate to collect all three points, albeit for different reasons. Victory for the Roar will tie up the Premiership for topping the regular season ladder, while Canberra are assured of a finals berth with victory. The match has been brought forward to an earlier morning kick-off due to the warm weather expected in the Queensland capital over the weekend.
Brisbane are enjoying significant late-season momentum having now won three on the trot, highlighted by a polished 2-0 win over rivals Sydney FC last weekend. In attack Tameka Butt and Emily Gielnik are developing a cohesive partnership, while former Australian player of the year Elise Kellond-Knight continues to improve with every outing after her 12-month injury absence.
Canberra-s prospects are suddenly looking brighter after Tuesday-s stunning 5-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers, a result reminiscent of United-s all-conquering form last season. These two sides played out a hard-fought scoreless draw to open the season, however Canberra may need all three points on this occasion to maintain their hold on fourth and avoid becoming the first reigning champions not to make the finals. Former USA U-17 captain Kirsten Mewis turned in a sparkling display on debut in midweek for Canberra, while former Queenslander Hayley Raso has been at her effervescent best.
Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Hoshimi KISHI (gk), 2. Laura ALLEWAY, 3. Amy CHAPMAN, 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE, 5. Brooke SPENCE, 6. Ashley SPINA, 7. Erika ELZE, 8. Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 9. Emma PITTMAN, 10. Lana HARCH, 11. Vedrana POPOVIC, 12. Rebecca PRICE, 13. Tameka BUTT, 14. Georgia CHAPMAN, 15. Hannah BEARD, 16. Sachiko TATSUOKA, 17. Emily GIELNIK, 18. Kate STEWART (gk), 19. Katrina GORRY, 20. Joanne BUCKLEY (gk) (*five to be omitted)
Ins: 9. Emma PITTMAN, 10, Lana HARCH, 12. Rebecca PRICE, 14. Georgia CHAPMAN, 20. Joanne BUCKLEY (gk) (all promoted)
Outs: None
Unavailable: None
Canberra United squad: 1. Mackenzie Arnold, 2. Caitlin Cooper, 3. Georgia Yeoman-Dale, 4. Christine Walters, 5. Grace Field, 6. Caitlin Munoz, 7. Ellie Brush, 8. Hayley Raso, 9. Grace Gill, 10. Snez Veljanovska, 11. Michelle Heyman, 12. Sally Rojahn, 13. Nicole Sykes, 16. Catherine Brown, 17. Ariane Hingst, 18. Samantha Wood, 19. Jennifer Bisset, 20. Trudy Burke, 23. Kristen Mewis (* four to be omitted)
In: Christine Walters, Grace Field, Snez Veljanovska, Sally Rojahn,
Out: None
Unavailable: 14. Ashleigh Sykes (quad – season), 15. Sally Shipard (knee – season)
Adelaide United v Perth Glory
Saturday 12 January 2013
Burton Oval, Adelaide
Local kick-off: 2pm
Perth Glory will go into this contest with somewhat erratic form after a fine run was ended with a costly stumble at home to bottom side Newcastle Jets last weekend. The draw has left Perth in third, two points in arrears of leaders Brisbane Roar. However hopes of regaining top spot, and indeed a second-place finish to secure a maiden home finals match, remains partly out of the Glory-s control. Despite the two team-s respective positions on the ladder, this will not be an easy task for the Glory who battled to a last-gasp 2-1 win over the Lady Reds earlier in the season.
Adelaide, for their part, remains focused on avoiding a third consecutive wooden spoon. Holding a one-point advantage over bottom side Newcastle, the Lady Reds know a win here would avoid any such ignominy and end their campaign on a high note. The youthful Adelaide side have lost the services of experienced attacker Kristy Moore whose guest stint has ended, but at least they will not have to contend with dynamic Glory attacker Lisa De Vanna who will miss the match through suspension.
Adelaide United squad: 1. Kristi HARVEY (gk), 2. Ruth WALLACE, 3. Alex NATOLI, 4. Jessie WHAREPOURI, 5. Abby ERCEG (c), 6. Cassie TSOUMBRIS, 7. Racheal QUIGLEY, 8. Sarah McLAUGHLIN, 9. Marijana RAJCIC, 11. Grace HENRY, 13. Ann MAYO, 14. Lorena MAGGIO, 15. Emma CHECKER, 16. Jess WATERHOUSE, 17. Laura JOHNS, 18. Georgia MACRI, 20. Kelly BARLTROP (gk), 21. Monique IANNELLA (* three to be omitted)
Ins: 6. Cassie TSOUMBRIS, 11. Grace HENRY, 14. Lorena MAGGIO, 17. Laura JOHNS, 21. Monique IANNELLA (all promoted)
Outs: 12. Elise WHORLOW (omitted), 23. Kristy MOORE (end of guest appearance)
Unavailable: None
Perth Glory squad: 2. Sarah CARROLL, 3. Carys HAWKINS, 4. Bronwyn STUDMAN, 5. Shannon MAY, 6. Sasha ANDREWS, 7. Aivi LUIK, 8. Ella MASTRANTONIO, 9. Rosie SUTTON, 12. Kate GILL, 13. Elisa D-OVIDIO, 14. Collette MCCALLUM (C), 15. Elizabeth MILNE, 16. Thia EASTMAN, 17. Marianna TABAIN, 19. Shawn BILLAM, 20. Zoe PALANDRI (gk), 40. Kaitlyn SAVAGE (gk) (* two to be omitted)
Ins: 3. Carys Hawkins, 16. Thia Eastman (both promoted)
Outs: None
Unavailable: Kirri Bolton (hip – indefinite), Carly Telford (hand – season), Jaymee Gibbons (University commitments), Lisa De Vanna (suspended)
Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC
Saturday 12 January 2013
Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney
Local kick-off: 10am
(New kick-off time)
Though the top four aspirations of Western Sydney Wanderers ended with defeat in Canberra on Tuesday night, fans can expect a typically hard-fought derby. Other than the odd hiccup, the Wanderers debut season has been impressive, and largely marked by some resolute showings. The maiden derby between the pair ended with the narrowest of 1-0 wins for Sydney FC, and this could be similarly tense. The match will also be notable for the retirement of highly regarded Wanderers and former Matildas striker Sarah Walsh. The popular Walsh will appropriately enough play her final match against former team Sydney FC and on her local ground.
Sydney FC have never missed the finals in the five-year history of the Westfield W-League, and a win here is essential if they are to maintain that run. The equation for Sydney is simple, collect three points and hope that Canberra fail to do likewise in Brisbane. The Sky Blues will have to overcome the disappointment of a home defeat against Brisbane last weekend, not to mention the toll taken by a physical match against their rivals in oppressive heat.
Western Sydney Wanderers squad: 1. Elizabeth DURACK (gk), 2. Samantha SPACKMAN, 3, Alexandra HUYNH, 4. Alesha CLIFFORD, 5. Olivia KENNEDY, 6. Rachael SOUTAR, 8. Vanessa HART, 9. Sarah WALSH, 10. Servet UZUNLAR, 11. Louise FORS, 12. Jessica SEAMAN, 13. Catherine CANNULI, 14. Trudy Camilleri, 15. Teigen ALLEN, 16. Linda O’NEILL, 17. Alisha BASS, 18. Candace SCIBERRAS, 20. Thora HELGADOTTIR (gk), (* three to be omitted)
Ins: Olivia Kennedy, Alisha Bass, Candace Sciberras (all promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Jenna Kingsley (knee – season)
Sydney FC squad: 1. Sian MCLAREN (gk), 2. Teresa POLIAS, 3. Elizabeth RALSTON, 4. Sam KERR, 5. Meg McLAUGHLIN, 6. Natalie TOBIN, 7. Nicola BOLGER, 8. Amy HARRISON, 9. Caitlin FOORD, 10. Renee ROLLASON, 11. Annalie LONGO, 12. Chloe LOGARZO, 13. Larissa CRUMMER, 14. Alanna KENNEDY, 15. Hannah BROMLEY, 16. Ellyse PERRY, 17. Kyah SIMON (C), 18. Brittany WHITFIELD, 19. Emma KETE, 20. Sham KHAMIS (gk), (* five to be omitted)
Ins: 5. Meg McLAUGHLIN, 6. Natalie TOBIN, 8. Amy HARRISON, 15. Hannah BROMLEY, 18. Brittany WHITFIELD (all promoted)
Outs: Lillie BILLSON (end of guest stint)
Unavailable: None
Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Victory
Sunday 13 January 2013
Wanderers Oval, Newcastle
Local kick-off: 4.pm
The Westfield W-League regular season will conclude with Sunday-s only match and it could prove to be an epic finale for Melbourne Victory. Should Brisbane Roar fail to win on Saturday, the Victory can leapfrog into top spot and snatch the premiership at the death. Regardless of the Roar-s result, the Victory will shore up a maiden home final with a win in Newcastle. Either way it has been a remarkable season for the Melbourne side who had a mid-season coaching change, having also lost several key personnel to injury.
Newcastle, for their part, will be on a high after their unexpected and against-the-odds draw in Perth last weekend. The Jets welcome back experience in the shape of striker Kate Hensman and American import Tiffany Boshers. The home side will of course also be gunning to move clear of bottom spot and a draw may be enough depending on Adelaide-s result a day earlier.
Newcastle Jets squad: 1. Eliza CAMPBELL, 2. Hannah BREWER, 3. Hayley CRAWFORD, 4. Gemma PEARCE, 5. Tori HUSTER, 7. Gema SIMON, 8. Madeline SEARL, 9. Tara ANDREWS, 10. Emily VAN EGMOND, 11. Kate HENSMAN, 12. Tiffany BOSHERS, 13. Bronte BATES, 14. Sammara SCHMITZER, 15. Alisha FOOTE, 16. Stacey DAY, 17. Mikaela HOWELL, 19. Jasmine COURTENAY, 20. Alannah ROSEWOOD (* three to be omitted)
Ins: Kate HENSMAN, Tiffany BOSHERS (both return from injury), Samarra SCHMITZER (promoted)
Outs: None
Unavailable: Angela SALEM, Michaela HATZIRODOS (both injured)
Melbourne Victory squad: 1. Brianna DAVEY (gk), 2. Danielle JOHNSON, 3. Maika RUYTER-HOOLEY, 4. Rebekah STOTT, 5. Laura SPIRANOVIC, 6. Petra LARSSON, 7. Stephanie CATLEY, 9. Tiffany ELIADIS, 10. Jessica McDONALD, 11.Caitlin FRIEND, 14. Enza BARILLA, 15. Amy JACKSON, 16. Georgie KOUTROUVELIS, 17. Gulcan KOCA, 18. Cindy LAY, 19. Rachel ALONSO, 20. Cassandra DIMOVSKI (gk), 23. Jessica HUMBLE (*three to be omitted)
In: 16. Georgie KOUTROUVELIS, 18. Cindy LAY, 19. Rachel ALONSO (all promoted)
Outs: None
Unavailable: Ashley BROWN (knee – season), Louisa BISBY (knee – season), Jackie Vogt (knee – season)
