These were the key talking points after Round 17 in the Liberty A-League, headline by a hat-trick that has boosted a star’s Golden Boot chances and the red-hot form of a title hopeful.
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Bolden following in the footsteps of last season’s Julie Dolan Medallist?
Sarina Bolden could well end the season with a pair of individual honours, based on her current Liberty A-League form with Newcastle Jets.
Bolden boosted her Golden Boot chances by scoring a hat-trick to lead the Jets to a 3-0 win over Brisbane Roar on Saturday.
The Philippines international was unsigned at the start of the 2023-24 campaign but she has now scored 11 goals in just 12 appearances – just one shy of A-Leagues legend and Golden Boot leader Michelle Heyman of Canberra United.
Melbourne Victory’s Alex Chidiac claimed the Julie Dolan Medal last season despite playing just 13 games and when Dub Zone panellist Teo Pellizzeri suggested Bolden could be following in the footsteps of the Australia international, injured Sydney FC captain Natalie Tobin compared the Jets star to Matildas icon Sam Kerr.
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“She is such a great player. I see that Sam Kerr effect almost where she is so dynamic in he air as well,” Tobin said during her appearance on Dub Zone.
“Popping up between two players and putting a header right in the back of the net.
“(We) saw a similar goal against Sydney the other week where she just got up and scored a header out of nowhere.
“In the women’s game, especially if you’re a striker who can pop up out of anywhere and have that aerial presence, you’re going to do well and score goals.”
Why Victory can benefit from ‘motivated’ star
Friday night saw a masterclass from Matildas forward Emily Gielnik.
Gielnik made a statement in Melbourne Victory’s 4-0 rout of Western Sydney Wanderers, scoring a brace at The Home of the Matildas.
The 54-time Australia international dominated throughout and scored an outrageous goal from the centre circle to reach 50 Liberty A-League goals.
Her performance has triggered a discussion around a potential recall to the Matildas.
The 31-year-old has not played for the national team since October 2022 due to fitness issues.
But Dub Zone’s Pellizzeri said: “Emily Gielnik, when she is in full flight, it’s a combination of football and steeplechase.
“… I know it is only two games back from multiple injuries and an injury that cost her a World Cup. The runway is a short one but this sort of form, it’s going to get tongues wagging about her prospects of making a late run.
“But it has to be this level or maybe better to force the hand of selectors.”
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Former A-Leagues forward and Australia international Alicia Ferguson added: “Well it’s minutes played. It’s continuing to score worldies and just maintaining that consistency of performance as well.
“But staying fit and healthy, and if she continues like this, of course she is definitely going to be front and centre of those selections.”
Gielnik moved equal-fourth on the Liberty A-League’s all-time goalscorers list as Victory leapfrogged the Wanderers into fourth in the standings.
“It will be a tragedy if this was greatest hits on Friday and then another injury or form declines,” Pellizzeri said. “I think Victory are hoping a fit and motivated Emily Gielnik can lift them to the Premier’s Plate and title.
“In the immediate term, that has to be the priority. You can’t have Paris on your mind. It has to be what can I win for Melbourne Victory and if I’m standing on the dais, that’s going to get everyone’s attention.”
Tobin also provided an insight into coming up against Gielnik on the Liberty A-League pitch.
“When she is confident, she is so hard to play (against),” Tobin said. “When she played for Brisbane Roar, I loved playing her because it was such a battle. She is so fast and physical. When she can use it to her advantage, there is no stopping her.
“I was watching the game with my mum and my mum is like, ‘oh, she is a physical girl’. Her stature is unstoppable.”
‘The team you need’ to win a Championship
Can anyone stop Western United?
Western are a team transformed under Kat Smith, moving top of the table with a 3-0 triumph at home to Wellington Phoenix on Sunday.
Chloe Logarzo and Hannah Keane were on target, while Grace Maher scored an olimpico to see last season’s Grand Finalists displace Melbourne City as the Liberty A-League leaders in Hillary Beall’s farewell game.
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Western had been nine points behind City but have erased that deficit within four matches to now top the standings.
“They’re just consistent at the moment, aren’t they? The sign and measure of a good team are goalscorers coming from different areas. They’ve scored all kinds of goals,” Ferguson said on Dub Zone.
“Hannah Keane and Chloe Logarzo having a great partnership. Grace Maher knocking one in with her lovely left foot straight off the corner.
“That’s the type of team you need if you’re going to be pushing for Championships and pushing to win things.”
She added: “They’re looking really strong.”
‘She is playing beyond her years’
Canberra United’s match with Sydney FC will have to be replayed after lightning wreaked havoc over the weekend, but it did not stop talk over Sky Blues sensation Maddie Caspers on Dub Zone.
As Saturday’s game did not reach half-time, it will need to be replayed in full at a later date.
But on Sunday’s episode of Dub Zone, Sydney skipper Tobin hailed Caspers, who is in the Young Matildas squad for next month’s AFC Under-20 Women’s Asian Cup in Uzbekistan.
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The 16-year-old is one of six Sydney players in the squad, having scored three goals in eight appearances in her debut season in the A-Leagues.
“She is playing beyond her years. She is still eligible for the U17 squad is my understanding,” Tobin said.
“Maddie is just such an incredible player. She is so clinical.
She only started training on with us in round one. Ante found her and she came and trained.
“What a pickup, what a signing. I’m very glad she is on our team and didn’t move across Sydney to where her sister plays at the Wanderers.”
The ‘story of the game’ and the trend that needs to be arrested
And just like that, Melbourne City have seen their lead atop the table vanish amid a four-match winless streak as Adelaide United continued their resurgence.
Championship hopefuls City were held to a 1-1 draw by visiting Adelaide on Sunday, a result that saw the home side leapfrogged by Western in the table.
The Reds were humbled 5-0 by City in January, but Adelaide are now riding a three-game undefeated streak.
“The story of this game is how far Adelaide have come since being beaten 5-0 at home by Melbourne City five games ago,” Pellizerri said.
“They were 4-0 down at half-time in that match. Tactically, they were totally different (on Sunday). They were aggressive and pressed from kick-off.
“It was a very different Adelaide and now they have seven points from their last three games. Unbeaten in three. They were rock bottom after that home defeat to City. They looked like a totally different team (on Sunday).”
City, meanwhile, have drawn back-to-back matches and not won since January 20 – a 2-1 victory against Wellington Phoenix.
“Five goals in the last six games,” Pellizzeri said. “They were a prolific creating team. It’s worth noting Hannah Wilkinson has been away on national team duty.
“But certainly, goals are trying up and the creativity. But that Adelaide game, they scored five goals in consecutive games against Adelaide and Brisbane Roar.
“Five goals in six games since. It’s a trend they need to arrest.”
Tobin was quick to highlight the absence of a City star – Holly McNamara, who suffered a season-ending injury in November.
“They did rely heavily on Holly McNamara,” she said. “We have to account for the loss of Holly.
“She is so dynamic and such an incredible striker. They’ve unfortunately lost their key striker.”
