Adelaide United look set to head into the Ninja A-League Finals Series without young defender Zoe Tolland who suffered an apparent hamstring injury in the final round of the regular season.
Tolland is one of just two Adelaide players to have recorded more than 2,000 match minutes through the 2024-25 campaign; only Ella Tonkin has accumulated more minutes than Tolland at the Reds this season to date.
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In her third season at the club, Tolland started all 23 of Adelaide’s regular season fixtures to double her total Ninja A-League appearance tally, but while taking on Sydney FC in Round 23, disaster struck when the 22-year-old was forced off the pitch in the second half with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
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On this week’s episode of Dub Zone, A-Leagues commentator Teo Pellizzeri and Sydney FC legend Teresa Polias reacted to the “devastating” scenes at Coopers Stadium that may have robbed one of Adelaide’s most consistent players the chance to contributed to the club’s Finals Series cause, beginning with Sunday’s home Elimination Final against Western United.
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“It’s really devastating for Tolland,” Pellizzeri said. “(She) was not part of the finals a couple of seasons ago, and has steadily broken in since to the point where she’s played 2,037 minutes and, really, only because she got subbed off here, Ella Tonkin most minutes in the competition for Adelaide, 2.070. Adelaide’s only two players (to have played) over 2,000 minutes.
“It is devastating for a young player. Adrian Stenta at the start of the season said this is someone who’s had to work and battle just to get into the roster – and now she’s played over 2,000 minutes of A-League Women’s football, and she’s going to miss this final and probably be touch-and-go to return this season, which is really upsetting.
“Scenes like that are heartbreaking for one of those players who has given her heart and soul to Adelaide’s cause this season.”
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“It is upsetting,” added Polias. “Her reaction says it all – but what I see from that is her players rallying around her as well. She’s had a fantastic season, and I don’t know if she’ll be out beyond this Elimination Final, hopefully they can win for her and (she can) get back. But really disappointing for her.”
An integral part of a starting back three alongside Matilda McNamara and Ella Tonkin, Tolland’s expected absence provides a selection dilemma to head coach Adrian Stenta who might need to shuffle the deck to cover the 22-year-old’s absence.
Tiarna Karambasis could come in to replace Tolland in the back three, while Izzy Hodgson and LucÃa León – two players commonly used in wide positions – could also be shoehorned into a central defensive role for Sunday’s knockout clash with Western United at Coopers Stadium.
“It’s a tricky one,” said Polias. “because LucÃa León is in such great form getting forward at the moment, but then she’s got that experience back there.
“I guess the luxury is (that) Stenta has a choice here. I think he’ll probably have a look at everyone through the week, but Elimination Finals can go into extra time as well, so having the option to change things throughout the match and later in the match as well really is a positive for them.”
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Meanwhile, Western will head to Adelaide hoping club captain Chloe Berryhill (née Logarzo) is available to start against the Reds after going down in a heavy collision against Wellington Phoenix in the final round of the season.
Injuries have prevented Berryhill from playing a Finals Series game for Western despite being at the club for its first two Ninja A-League campaigns.
A two-time Ninja A-League Champion with Sydney FC in 2012-13 and 2018-19, Berryhill’s availability on Sunday could prove crucial to Western’s hopes of pulling off an upset in Adelaide and progressing to the Semi-Finals, where they would meet Premiers Melbourne City in a two-legged tie.
“Western have said it’s just a cork and that she’ll be right to go,” said Pellizzeri. “Both in terms of leadership presence but also the individual ability to score a goal, you could just imagine what would’ve been going through Chloe’s head (when succumbing to injury).
“Obviously athletes know thier bodies but still, the last home and away game, you’ve missed the last two finals series.
“This is a big stage player and Western United have missed her dearly the last two seasons.”
“They have,” Polias replied. “And we know statistically they’re a much better team with her out there. She steps up in big games, so they’ll be hoping they’ve got her 100% back and healthy in this match.”
