The new Ninja A-League season kicks off this week, and that means Dub Zone returns for another big campaign.
With four new coaches installed across the league, a mountain of incoming transfers and some exciting young talents set to break through, it promises to be another huge season in the Ninja A-League.
Ahead of Round 1, Dub Zone host and former Matilda Amy Duggan and Network 10 commentator Teo Pellizzeri were joined by Ninja A-League Champion, Annabel Martin of the Central Coast Mariners.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO ROUND 1 OF THE NINJA A-LEAGUE
All change for the reigning Champions
They may have clinched their first-ever Ninja A-League crown last season, but defending Champions Central Coast Mariners will look vastly different this coming campaign.
The biggest change on the coast is that influential head coach Emily Husband has departed after capturing the coveted Championship trophy in what was just her second season as a Ninja A-League head coach.
Now serving as an assistant to CommBank Matildas head coach Joe Montemurro, Husband transformed the fortunes of the Mariners during her two-year spell, with the club appointing Kory Babington as her replacement.
CLICK HERE TO HEAD TO THE NINJA A-LEAGUE TRANSFER CENTRE
“I mean, for me, personally, I’ve had Em as my coach for the past four seasons at Sydney Uni and at the Central Coast Mariners,” said Martin, who played more minutes than any other player for the side last season.
“So it’s a massive change. I’ve been fortunate enough to have such a high quality coach for so long, but, you know, I’m excited to get to work with Kory.
Martin added: “He’s come in (and) really set the tone early, really got along with all the girls, really, really well. Honestly, I really am excited for him. He brings a wealth of experience.
Game-by-game preview: What you need to know for Round 1 of the Ninja A-League
“Obviously, some of the players and teams that he’s worked with, he definitely knows his stuff, and he’s done his apprenticeship, but he’s also just like a really good guy that we enjoy being around, and he definitely picks and chooses his jokes and stuff like that.
“But (he’s) very much a Dad, in that sense! He loves the TikTok jokes and stuff like that, so they don’t go down well with the girls, and we let him know about it, and he does not care!”
When it comes to the playing group, there’s also been plenty of change at polytec Stadium with regards to last season’s Championship-winning side.
“You see an incredibly long list of names there,” added Pellizzeri, when discussing the other exits at the club.
“Taylor Ray was heroic through the back half of the season, she has gone to (Melbourne) Victory. Jessika Nash has gone to Italy. Brooke Nunn and Jade Pennock – the two English imports – Pennock to the USA, Nunn to the Wellington Phoenix, where she will now have to face the Mariners.
He continued: “Bianca Galic, a huge out as well, going to Sydney FC.”
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO ROUND 1 OF THE NINJA A-LEAGUE
Whilst the list of names departing the club is a long one, the Mariners have been busy bringing players into the club, with former Sydney FC striker Millie Farrow and ex-Canberra United forward Jynaya Dos Santos among those to have arrived on the coast.
Ultimate Guide to Ninja A-League 2025-26 season: Fixtures, signings, kits & more
“I can’t speak for any of the other clubs, but we’re definitely still hunting for more silverware,” said Martin when asked about the departures.
“We’ve got our target set on everyone else’s backs this year, so I’m really excited to get out there.
“Obviously, a lot of changes, but I think that happens in sport. I don’t think there’s ever been a team that has had the exact same team heading in from one season to the next. So yeah, we’re excited to embrace the new challenges that are going to come.”
All eyes on the AFC Women’s Asian Cup
One player who is sticking around at the Mariners for season 2025-26 is influential midfielder Isabel Gomez.
Instrumental in the club’s Championship triumph, having scored both the winner in the semi-final win over previously unbeaten Melbourne City before then scoring in the Grand Final against Melbourne Victory, both in regular time and the subsequent penalty shootout.
There was a whole host of interested clubs weighing up a move for the 23-year-old and her price tag would only have increased after she made her CommBank Matildas debut during the June international against Argentina.
Revealed: Why Central Coast’s new Matildas star shunned overseas interest to remain a Mariner
Gomez, though shunned overseas interest to remain on the Central Coast for another season, and with the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in March fast approaching, Martin believes her teammate is one to watch ahead of that tournament.
“Yeah, I’ve got to go pretty close to home and say Izzy Gomez,” said Martin when asked who the possible bolters for head coach Montemurro’s Matildas squad could be.
“I think I’ve played with a lot of good players over my career, but she has this rare ability to break a game open just by herself.
“She’s a match-winner, and I think at an Asian Cup, every game counts, and you need a match-winner, and she’s someone that you could put on off the bench and really change the game.”
Meanwhile, former Matildas defender and Dub Zone host Duggan put forward two other names that could be bolters for the squad.
The Road to ACL Recovery: How one simple trick made a world of difference for Sydney FC star
“I think that the squad itself, we’re seeing a lot of ins and a lot of outs,” said Duggan. “At the moment, we’ve seen players come in for one or two games and then not show up to the next camp.
“The stable will always be there, that core, and I think it’s really hard to fight your way into that squad with limited time now, until the AFC Asian Cup, the only possibility that maybe will open up is say, there’s an injury to a secondary striker.
“You know, we’re all going to assume Sam Kerr’s fit (and) Michelle Heyman is sitting on the bench behind her at the moment.
“If there was an injury gap there, and there’s a young player coming through like an Annalise Rasmussen or a Holly Furphy, (who) maybe can score a multitude – and I’m talking double digits of goals before Christmas, they might get a look-in at a camp.”
A mountain of transfers, but who stands out?
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO ROUND 1 OF THE NINJA A-LEAGUE
As ever in the Ninja A-League there’s been plenty of player movement during the off-season, with some of the best young talent earning moves overseas whilst other top players have opted for new challenges within the competition.
So which clubs do the panel believe have had the best off-season when it comes to recruitment ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
CLICK HERE TO HEAD TO THE NINJA A-LEAGUE TRANSFER CENTRE
Despite losing the likes of reigning Julie Dolan Medal winner Alex Chidiac and Matildas forward Emily Gielnik, who have moved to Italy and Mexico respectively, Pellizzeri believes beaten Grand Finalists Melbourne Victory are looking strong.
“The way they’ve replenished their squad, they have amazing depth. Let’s not forget, Lydia Williams was on the books all of last season without playing, so they actually have quite a bit of salary cap room to still move.
“Sienna Saveska, Rihanna Pollicina, Chelsea Blissett is a good defender. You’ve already flagged Grace Maher,” added Network 10 commentator Pellizzeri.
“And what about your (ex) teammate, Taylor Ray? She won a title at Sydney. She took her title-winning talents to the Mariners. Is the winning touch going to be going down to the victory now? What a pick up for the Victory.”
Another side to have pulled off quite the transfer coup were Adelaide United.
Now under the stewardship of Theo Tsiounis following former head coach Adrian Stenta’s move to Adelaide United’s men’s side, the Reds have bagged both of the Taranto Twins following their departures from Western United.
“The Taranto twins (Melissa and Adriana) now at Adelaide pulling on the Red jersey,” flagged former Matildas defender Duggan.
“Considering they already had some pretty amazing firepower up front last year, are we now looking at the best attack in the league?”
Pellizzeri responded: “The Tarantos had a really tough decision when Western United did go into hibernation, because every time they move, they have to decide, can we go as twins, or is it finally time for us to play for different clubs?
“Adriana won her first Matilda’s caps over the off-season, which is fantastic for her, and Mel is coming off another very good season.
“So Adelaide, two very impressive pickups, and given that they were semi-finalists last year, to go and add the Toronto twins is a huge coup for them.”
Speaking of sisters, Brisbane Roar could well be a force to be reckoned with again this season, after enticing Matildas star Sharn Freier back to the club.
Sold to German side VFL Wolfsburg in the Frauen-Bundesliga following a standout season, Freier has returned to the Ninja A-League on a one-year loan deal and will now be aiming to light up the competition once more alongside her twin sister, Laini.
“It’s something I really like to embrace, that challenge of there (being) some really great attackers in this league,” said Mariners defender Martin when asked about the challenge of facing the Freiers this coming season.
“I definitely wear it as a badge of honour when I can come up against them and hopefully try and limit their impact on the game, I guess.
“But I remember playing Sharn I think it was like Round 3 (maybe) two years ago, and not overly sure who she was. I didn’t play in the league the year before, and I remember coming away from that game being like, who is this girl?
“Because when she gets the ball at her feet, things happen. And then she went on to have a great season. And then again, last year was really good for Brisbane, so they’ve got a really good one coming back”
Pellizzeri added: “She’s a difference maker, because the correlation between Sharn Freier’s injury and Brisbane Roar’s drop off is more or less linear in terms of they were contending playing Melbourne City at the top of the ladder in round 10, and then they basically had wooden spoon form less than a point per game for the back half of the year.
“They had other injuries, Momo Hayashi, who’s now going to start the season, suspended for the first three games as well. And they have had a bit of turnover in terms of both their Australians and their foreigners.
He continued: “So it’s a bit of a different-looking Brisbane, but as long as they have the star power of Tameka Yallop and Sharn Freier there, they are still a team that has to be taken seriously.”
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO ROUND 1 OF THE NINJA A-LEAGUE
