There are contenders aplenty for Goal of the Year after a memorable Westfield W-League campaign.
A number of long-range strikes caught the eye throughout 2020/21, with ambitious attackers catching goalkeepers unaware with shots either lobbed or drilled toward goal. But along with the distant drives came moments of skill in and around the box which produced stunners of a different nature.
All will be considered when the Goal of the Year is awarded at the Dolan Warren Awards on Wednesday night.
The virtual awards night will take place from 7.30pm (AEST) on Wednesday night. Fans can watch the show via the A-League and Westfield W-League Facebook pages, My Football YouTube channel, and the My Football Live App on Wednesday evening, 23 June at 7:30pm (AEST).
The Dolan Warren awards will also be available to watch on Kayo Sports from 8.30pm (AEST).
Watch some of the contenders for Goal of the Year below!
Princess Ibini (Round 1 v Western Sydney Wanderers)
Starting the season with a bang was Princess Ibini, who cut in off the left flank to find the top corner against Western Sydney Wanderers.
Breezing past Danika Matos with ease, Ibini set her sights on goal and left Courtney Newbon no chance of saving the bullet shot toward the top-right corner of goal.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6219101854001
Mallory Weber (Round 1 v Canberra United)
Mallory Weber scored the final goal in a seven-goal thriller in Adelaide United’s slender 4-3 loss to Canberra in Round 1.
Converting in similar fashion to Ibini, Weber dribbled toward the 18-yard box off the left flank, cut past Isabella Foletta and hammered a shot over the back-pedalling Sally James to find the back of the net.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6219122996001
Lisa De Vanna (Round 3 v Melbourne City)
Westfield Matildas legend Lisa De Vanna scored an unbelievable solo goal in the third round of the season, almost dribbling the full length of the field before finding the bottom-right corner.
De Vanna fooled City’s Jenna McCormick with a dummy run over the ball inside her own half, nutmegging the chasing defender to regain possession and dart down the left wing. Tori Tumeth gave chase but couldn’t close the space as De Vanna got into the box to score.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6222005150001
Grace Maher (Round 3 v Brisbane Roar)
Ambition is the key word used to describe Grace Maher’s lob scored from inside the centre circle for Canberra against Brisbane Roar.
Maher collected the ball on the turn in midfield, spotted Georgina Worth off her line and sent a lobbed attempt toward goal. Worth got a touch on the ball but nothing more as it dropped over the goal line.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6220892325001
Michelle Heyman (Round 9 v Western Sydney Wanderers)
One of Michelle Heyman’s many stellar goals for the campaign came in Round 9 against the Wanderers.
The turn on the edge of the box was sublime, as was the left-footed finish which snuck past the left-hand goalpost into the top corner of goal. Three Wanderers chasers couldn’t stop Heyman finding space to shoot, and a further two defenders were unable to get in the way of the strike as it sailed on target.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6227881656001
Kat Jukic (Round 12 v Canberra United)
Another long-range stunner came off the right foot of Kat Jukic in Round 12 as the Perth Glory player entered the battle for Goal of the Year.
Jukic showed power and precision to unleash a chipped effort from range after taking the ball on the turn in midfield. Keeley Richards couldn’t bat the ball away from goal as she tracked back toward her line.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6239362849001
