These are the key talking points from Round 20 in the Liberty A-League, including Western United’s struggles in the absence of an injured Matildas star and a big boost incoming for the new league leaders.
All the action from Round 20 was dissected on Sunday night’s episode of Dub Zone by host Niav Owens, Cath Cannuli, Teo Pellizzeri and Matildas legend Alicia Ferguson, with Melbourne Victory striker Emily Gielnik joining the panel as a special guest. Catch up with all the big talking points from the show below.
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How can Western replace injured Chloe Logarzo?
It certainly won’t be easy, but Western United head coach Kat Smith must figure out a way to get her side back to their best football without the injured Chloe Logarzo on the park – and fast.
The Matildas star was a dominant force for Western through 17 league appearances this season, scoring nine goals and registering three assists before a hip injury which has ruled her out for an extended period.
Western had won six games in a row by the beginning of March but have lost their last two games on the bounce to allow defending champions Sydney FC to swoop in and claim top spot; it’s no surprise those momentum-halting defeats have come in Logarzo’s absence.
One of the prime features of Western’s attacking play this season has been a special connection between Logarzo and striker Hannah Keane which, in the last two rounds, Keane has struggled to replicate with any of her Western teammates.
An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to Adriana Taranto confirmed last week was the second of two devastating injury blows for Western.
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The question was posed to Matildas legend Alicia Ferguson on Dub Zone: how does Smith approach the unenviable task of getting her side back to the levels displayed along that six-game winning run without Logarzo?
“Honestly, I’m not too sure,” Ferguson replied.
“It’s not just the way Chloe has been playing, it’s her experience, it’s her leadership and it’s also her partnership with Hannah Keane. A real shame to see Chloe is out with an injury.
“That’s something for Kat Smith maybe rejigging the formation having a look at who can slot into another position. Really disappointing, really sad to see both those players (out).”
Western lost 3-1 to Newcastle Jets on Sunday – their first ever match at the club’s new home in Tarneit, but as Pellizzeri noted, “maybe salvation came off the bench in the second half.
“If we’re looking for solutions for Western United, and this form slump they’re in, Catherine Zimmerman. Is she the answer?”
“I definitely think so,” replied Cannuli. “Catherine Zimmerman has to come into this starting lineup. You can see every time she has come off the bench in these last two games she has made a difference. She gives Hannah Keane another outlet, when she does drift wide there might be Zimmerman in the middle of the pitch.
“Zimmerman is a player who likes to get on the ball, and likes to combine with Hannah Keane and I don’t think she’s actually been getting that since Western United lost Chloe.”
Zimmerman has made three appearances this season – all as a substitute – and has one goal to her name, scored in defeat to Sydney FC. The American striker signed for Western while recovering from a stress fracture in her foot and is slowly but surely returning to form and fitness.
Zimmerman is a two-time Liberty A-League champion, having lifted the trophy twice with Melbourne Victory before joining Western in the off-season.
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They couldn’t… could they?
Western Sydney Wanderers have forced their way into the Premiership discussion and if they were to win it from sixth after 20 rounds, it would be a Liberty A-League feat for the ages.
The sixth-placed Wanderers are far more likely to finish somewhere inside the top six rather than at the top, but after Western United’s shock loss at home to Newcastle Jets, Robbie Hooker’s side are now a mathematical chance.
Football romantics will be looking at the table and pondering all the what-if questions arising after the weekend’s action; Western Sydney beat Perth to jump to 30 points, and into the top six. League leaders Western lost to Newcastle, remaining on 35 points. Sydney FC beat Wellington Phoenix to take top spot on 36.
The two Sydney Derby rivals bookend the top six, and there are just six points, or two wins, between them all with two rounds to play.
The Sky Blues lead by a point and have a game in hand, which makes their chances of finishing top all the more likely. But football is a funny game, and you just never know what can happen between now and the regular season’s end with six teams still in the mix.
The lay of the land in the finals bracket was a key talking point on this week’s episode of Dub Zone.
“One to six – even Wanderers now can still finish top of the table due to Western United dropping points this weekend,” said Teo Pellizzeri on the panel.
“Most likely, it’s going to come down to that Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory game in the final round.
“Crucially, the Mariners play on the Thursday in the final round; they get to bat first and could potentially go top and then wait for the rest of the weekend to pan out.
“The top-six battle; Melbourne Victory are a point away from locking themselves in. Western Sydney Wanderers are close to locking themselves in. Newcastle need to beat Victory this weekend to keep themselves in the conversation.”
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League leaders’ ‘enviable position’ as fleet of youngsters return
On a run of seven consecutive wins, this is the last thing any of Sydney FC’s Premiership rivals were hoping to see at this stage in the season.
After surging to the top of the table, the Sky Blues will now prepare to welcome back six Young Matildas to the selection mix after the national age-group team’s third-place finish at the AFC Under-20 Asian Cup: backup keeper Tahlia Franco, Shay Hollman, Indiana Dos Santos, Zara Kruger, Jynaya Dos Santos and January Young Footballer of the Year nominee Maddie Caspers.
Several of the returning Young Matildas have played key roles for Sydney FC this season and head coach Ante Juric has put squad depth to the test to mitigate the impact of their absence.
“They’re in a very enviable position, Sydney FC,” Pellizzeri said.
“Because they’ve reached into their depth and yet players like Taylor Ray, Margaux Chauvet, even the new face Caley Tallon-Henniker, they’re all stepping up and it’s a real credit to the environment they’ve created, the players feel able to express themselves.”
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The Sky Blues aren’t the only team set to benefit from returning Young Matildas.
Melbourne Victory will be bolstered by the return of Alana Murphy and Jessika Nash, three Melbourne City rising stars return including Daniela Galic, Kahli Johnson is back for Western United and Peta Trimis for Central Coast.
Twenty-two of the 23 players selected in the Young Matildas squad are from clubs around the league and will add quality across the board for the final two rounds of the regular season.
Roar challenged to harness advantage of one-club state in next season’s recruitment drive
The finals dream is over for Brisbane Roar – and with two rounds to play, head coach Alex Smith’s attention will already be turning to next season.
A key part of any team’s preparation for a new campaign is getting recruitment right, and with no local rivals to contend with for Queensland talent, Smith and the Roar have been challenged by the Dub Zone panel to entice local products back to the club next season.
“They definitely need a centre forward,” Pellizzeri said.
“Mia Corbin will probably be a one-and-done as an American import. I think they need to look at all the Queenslanders that leave Brisbane and go and play elsewhere in the A-League Women.
“We saw Shelby McMahon (Junior Matildas captain) make her starting debut today at 15 – but is a Queenslander. You go through every team in the league, the Queenslanders leave.
“Perth, Adelaide, they’re far better at leveraging their one-team status to get the locals to stay at home.
“I think Brisbane Roar have a lot of Queenslanders they can tap into… recruiting is where it will begin at the beginning of the off-season.”
Both Roar and Perth Glory saw their finals hopes quashed in Round 20, joining Adelaide United and Canberra United as the four clubs confirmed to finish outside of the top six.
Wellington Phoenix are 10th but with a game in hand, could close to within five points of Western Sydney in sixth with two rounds to play. The Phoenix face 11th-placed Adelaide United on Wednesday, March 20 at Porirua Park (3pm AEDT kick-off).
