Round 10 of the Liberty A-League season is upon us! Ahead of the action getting underway, aleagues.com.au previews all six of the contests.
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Thursday, 5:00pm (AEDT): Melbourne City v Brisbane Roar
After more than one year on the sidelines, Brisbane Roar will welcome Brazilian forward Mariel Hecher back into the matchday squad for Thursday afternoon’s trip to AAMI Park to take on Melbourne City.
Hecher suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in Brisbane’s Liberty A-League clash with Western Sydney Wanderers on December 17, 2022; it was the then-30-year-old’s second ACL tear of her career.
Hecher was re-signed by Brisbane in August for her fourth season at the club, with former Roar head coach Garrath McPherson naming the forward as his vice-captain to reflect her importance to the squad.
Hecher has been named in current Roar coach Alex Smith’s squad for Round 10, coming into the selection fold for the very first time this season, one year and 11 days on from the injury which brought a premature end to her 2022-23 campaign.
Hecher and the Roar travel to Victoria to face a City outfit flying at the top of the Liberty A-League table.
Brisbane have slid down the standings after a seven-game winless run, but will take confidence from back-to-back draws against Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC.
City are high on confidence after a Melbourne Derby triumph over Melbourne Victory in Round 9, with Western United’s win over previous league-leaders Perth Glory helping City reclaim top spot.
City head coach Dario Vidosic says leading the league comes with the challenge for his players to play “with a target on their back.”
“No games are (easy), and I don’t think there are any weak teams in this league,” Vidosic said. “Everyone has shown they’re capable of beating everyone, and if you don’t turn up and be ready on that day, it will be a very, very tough day and the chances of walking away with three points become much, much harder as well.:
Opta stat: Melbourne City will be aiming for back-to-back wins against Brisbane Roar in Victoria in the A-League Women for the first time since January 2017, following their 3-0 victory in their most recent meeting in the state (3 December 2022).
Team news
Melbourne City squad: 3. Naomi CHINNAMA, 5. Taylor OTTO, 6. Leticia McKENNA, 7. Julia GROSSO, 8. Kaitlyn TORPEY, 10. Rhianna POLLICINA, 11. Emina EKIC, 13. Rebekah STOTT, 14. Laura HUGHES, 16. Karly ROESTBAKKEN, 17. Hannah WILKINSON, 9. Tijan McKENNA, 22. Bryleeh HENRY, 23. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 24. Daniela GALIC, 44. Lysianne PROULX (GK)
Ins: 2. Leia VARLEY, 15. Kiera MEYERS, 18. Leah DAVIDSON, 21. Isabella ACCARDO
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 9. Holly McNAMARA (ACL), 20. Caitlin KARIC (knee)
Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Keeley RICHARDS, 2. Rebecca KIRKUP, 3. Deborah-Anne DE LA HARPE, 4. Kijah STEPHENSON, 5. Jenna McCORMICK, 6. Holly McQUEEN, 7. Ayesha NORRIE (C), 8. Mariel HECHER, 9. Mia CORBIN, 11. Sharn FREIER, 13. Tameka YALLOP, 14. Sarah O’DONOGHUE, 15. Hannah HOLGERSEN, 17. Leah SCARPELLI, 18. Teagan THOMPSON, 19. Hollie PALMER, 20. Bonnie DAVIES, 22. Ruby CUTHBERT, 23. Ashlee BRODIGAN, 29. Jordan SILKOWITZ (GK)
Ins: 8. Mariel HECHER
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 10. Grace KUILAMU, 16. Chelsea BLISSETT
Melbourne City v Brisbane Roar
Thursday, December 28 2023
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 5.00pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: 10 Play & Paramount+
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Friday, 5:00pm (AEDT): Sydney FC v Wellington Phoenix
It’s ‘Vine Time’ in the Liberty A-League.
Sydney FC and Matildas star Cortnee Vine has two goals in three games, and is looking like a force to be reckoned with once again after a hamstring injury on national team duty in October that halted her early-season momentum in Sky Blue.
Vine made her first start since the injury in against Brisbane Roar in Round 9, scoring the equalising goal in a 1-1 draw.
The Matildas winger will look to build on the encouraging signs displayed against Brisbane when Sydney host Wellington Phoenix on Friday night – but Paul Temple’s side will arrive in New South Wales full of confidence after a 2-0 win over Newcastle Jets that entrenched the ‘Nix inside the top four.
Wellington are bolstered by the arrival of two new signings this week, with former Newcastle Jet and Western United defender Tiana Jaber joining the club as an injury replacement for Marisa van der Meer, and 18-year-old Helena Errington putting pen to paper on a scholarship contract.
Temple pounced at the opportunity to sign Errington for the remainder of the season after a stint abroad at Portuguese giants Sporting CP.
“Helena is somebody who has been in and around the Academy now for 18 months,” Temple said. “(She has) lots of plus points. She’s very technical, I enjoyed working with her.
“The last four or five months she’s been overseas at Sporting Lisbon in Portugal where she had a training opportunity, was hoping to be able to sign for them but some regulations have stopped her from doing that. So she’s come back to New Zealand to finish off the season with us, which is good.
“A lot of the girls know her from the academy and age group teams. She’s definitely one of the brighter prospects in this next U20 group.”
Opta stat: Sydney FC are undefeated in their last three A-League Women matches (W1 D2) and have drawn each of their last two games; it’s only the second time in the history of the competition the Sky Blues have logged consecutive draws (D2 in December 2013).
Sydney FC v Wellington Phoenix
Friday, December 29 2023
Allianz Stadium
Kick-off: 5.00pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: 10 Play & Paramount+
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Saturday, 5:00pm (AEDT): Canberra United v Western United
With three wins ins five games, Western United’s return to form has seen last season’s Grand Finalists surge into the top six after nine rounds – and a clash with out-of-form Canberra United poses yet another opportunity for Kat Smith’s side to add to their points tally.
Canberra sit on the foot of the table after nine rounds – but importantly for Njegosh Popovich’s side, a pair of fixture postponements early in the season means it’s not yet time for panic stations. Canberra has two games in hand on the majority of teams in the league, and their season can be salvaged, but improvements need to be made – and fast.
But if Canberra are to turn the tide, Popovich must come up with a plan to quell the threat of Matildas midfielder Chloe Logarzo, who has two goals in two games and is playing the role of Western’s key attacking architect. The last time Logarzo scored three goals in consecutive Liberty A-League games was in January/February of 2018 for Sydney FC; the 29-year-old would equal that run with another strike against a Canberra outfit which has conceded 19 goals this season so far – the worst of any team league-wide.
Opta stats: This will be Canberra United’s 200th A-League Women match, becoming just the fourth team to reach the milestone (Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory, Brisbane Roar); Canberra United have logged 45 draws – four more than any other team in the history of the competition.
Canberra United v Western United
Saturday, December 30 2023
McKellar Park
Kick-off: 5.00pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: 10 Play & Paramount+
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Saturday, 6:00pm (AEDT): Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Derby defeat saw Melbourne Victory’s six-game unbeaten streak come to an end in Round 9, and now their hopes of ending 2023 keeping pace with their local rivals and league leaders Melbourne City rest on taking all three points on the road against the Wanderers.
Western Sydney were enjoying a decent run of form until a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Adelaide United in Round 9; Robbie Hooker’s side had won two of three games prior, with one draw added to the ledger in that three-game stretch.
The secret to Adelaide’s success against the Wanderers was quelling the danger of Sophie Harding; the 24-year-old striker had scored six goals in four games leading into Round 9, and despite taking five shots on goal, failed to breach the guard of the superb Annalee Grove in goal for the Reds.
Adelaide handed Victory boss Hopkins the blueprint to defeating the Wanderers in Round 9 – but the first point on Hopkins’ agenda this week is addressing the deficiencies shown in a 1-0 loss to City in the Melbourne Derby last time out.
City took 27 shots to Victory’s 10, putting 10 on target to Victory’s three and enjoying 67% of possession.
Opta stat: Melbourne Victory have lost only one of all their 17 A-League Women matches against Western Sydney Wanderers (W9 D7) – a 1-3 loss in November 2015; they are undefeated in their 11 meetings in the competition since then (W5 D6).
Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, December 30 2023
Wanderers Football Park
Kick-off: 6.00pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: 10 Play & Paramount+
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Sunday, 4:15pm (AEDT): Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory
The pressure is on for Perth Glory to respond after a disappointing defeat to Western United which saw Melbourne City swoop in to claim top spot on the Liberty A-League table – but to do so, Alex Epakis’ side must take down a red-hot Central Coast Mariners on the road.
The Mariners were brilliant in Round 9, travelling to Canberra and winning 3-0 thanks to a brace by China international Wurigumula. Emily Husband’s side are now unbeaten in two after a 1-1 draw with league-leaders City in Round 8, and sits in seventh spot on the table, edged out of the finals places by goal difference alone behind Sydney FC.
Glory have hit a tough patch of form of late, winning just one of five games heading into Round 10. The early front-runners notched four of their five wins of the season to date in the first four rounds, but have found to going considerably tougher in recent weeks.
After a 0-0 draw with Sydney FC in Round 8, Glory coach Epakis spoke about his side’s new status as one of “the hunted” sides in the league, and how that status leads to opponents raising their level to match it with them. His comments served as a precursor for what was to come last weekend, when a hungry Western United scored early through Chloe Logarzo, and put 22 shots on the board to Glory’s eight, keeping a clean sheet in a determined display.
This weekend will be no different for Perth, up against a hungry Mariners outfit eager to build off momentum generated by a 3-0 win over Canberra and end 2023 in the top six.
Opta stat: Perth Glory will be looking to avoid back-to-back defeats in the A-League Women outside Western Australia for the first time since March 2021, following their 1-0 loss against Western United in their most recent game outside their home state (22 December 2023).
Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory
Sunday, December 31 2023
Industree Group Stadium
Kick-off: 4.15pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: 10 Play & Paramount+
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Sunday, 5:00pm (AEDT): Newcastle Jets v Adelaide United
Will the Reds’ resurgence continue in Newcastle on Sunday night?
Adelaide United have won just two games this season – but both of those wins have come in succession leading into Round 10 as the Reds steady the ship after a torrid start to the season.
Adrian Stenta’s side have separated from Canberra United on the foot of the table of late, with victories in Rounds 8 and 9 capturing six of their eight points this season so far.
Back-to-back wins have come in the form of a 2-1 triumph over Wellington Phoenix on December 16 and a 1-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers on December 23; midfielders Emily Condon, Nanako Sasaki and Dylan Holmes were the three goalscorers for Adelaide across those two wins, and Stenta will be hoping to see forwards Hannah Blake, Mariah Lee and Chelsie Dawber contributing to the scoresheet to alleviate pressure on his deeper-lying players to apply scoreboard pressure when his team takes on Newcastle Jets on the road.
The Jets lost 2-0 to Wellington Phoenix last time out, with Matildas midfielder Emily van Egmond sorely missed after the end of her four-game guest stint. Newcastle won two of the four games Van Egmond featured in between Round 6-9, and must quickly find a way to press onward this season without the star midfielder in their ranks.
Opta stat: Adelaide United have won each of their last two A-League Women matches, after winning only one of their 20 games in the competition prior to that span (D5 L14); the last time they won more than two consecutive games in the competition was a three-match span in February 2022.
Newcastle Jets v Adelaide United
Sunday, December 31 2023
No.2 Sportsground
Kick-off: 5.00pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: 10 Play & Paramount+
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