To leave, or not to leave? That was the question posed on this week’s episode of Dub Zone in reference to Young Matildas striker Kahli Johnson’s imminent move to Canadian franchise Calgary Wild.
Johnson’s transfer to the club preparing to take part in the inaugural season in the newly-formed Northern Super League – Canada’s first professional women’s football competition – was announced this week ahead of Western’s Ninja A-League clash with Melbourne Victory on Saturday evening.
The Round 17 game will be Johnson’s last in Western colours before her transfer to Calgary is completed for an undisclosed fee, with Western receiving a transfer fee for a Ninja A-League player for the first time in club history.
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A-Leagues commentator Teo Pellizzeri broke the news of overseas clubs taking interest in Johnson in early February on Dub Zone; with Johnson’s move to Calgary now confirmed, Pellizzeri returned to the Dub Zone panel for this week’s episode alongside Sydney FC legend Teresa Polias to discuss the 21-year-old’s transfer decision, and the impact it will have on Western United and the Golden Boot race.
Johnson currently has eight goals to her name this season and was a front-runner for the league’s top-scoring honour before her transfer was confirmed.
“It’s an interesting move because this is a startup league, the Canadian league,” Pellizzeri said.
“Western United lose a Golden Boot contender and a starting XI player at a vital time in the season. Before we get to the transfer and what it means for the league broadly, what do you think it means specifically for how Western United are going to attack for the rest of this season?”
“It leaves a huge void for Western,” Polias said. “Johnson’s been amazing for them this season. They’re going to have to look at a reshuffle now… there are a few options there, but there’s a lot to think about.
“The way she’s gone from the start in this league to now, so much has improved. Her aerial ability, she’s dynamic, she’s strong, her dribbling ability and positioning has been phenomenal, particularly this season, and she’s created a lot of chances. The only thing that’s missing a little bit is her ability to score big chances at more of a rate. But I think that will come with experience.”
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Johnson has made 47 league appearances for Western since joining the club in 2022, following a stint at Sydney FC.
“The thing I love about Kahli Johnson’s story is: she only played five games for Sydney FC before Western United brought her to Melbourne and I think it’s a real credit to her for making the most of every minute she got in the 20221-22 season,” Pellizzeri said. “She was a livewire off the bench, a very eye-catching player, but wasn’t given a huge amount of game time.
“Strong teams that are title contenders, I think there are a lot of players at Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City that are going through this right now. They can’t even make the bench and they’re thinking: I need to do what Kahli Johnson did, when I get minutes I’ve got to make the most of it, and when the right move appears to go somewhere for game time, she took a big risk going to a startup club.
“The one thing I will say is: it (the Canadian league) is a six-team league. It’s totally new. At least in Australia, you know you’ll be amplified, every game is broadcast, there’s a lot of discussion, and it’s an English-speaking league which obviously helps get your name out there as well.
“I see a transfer like this, and I would have loved her to stay. Stay and win the Golden Boot, win a Championship. Why leave now?”
“You don’t know what’s around the corner,” Polias added. “A lot of things are at play here. I would have loved to see Kahli Johnson take that Golden Boot, but you know what? This opportunity came up and she feels it’s right for her career. And she made the right choice when she went to Western, so I back her in that she knows what’s right for her as a player.”
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‘They won’t solve it’: City tipped to carry major ‘flaw’ into finals
They’re in hot pursuit of a Ninja A-League record unbeaten streak – and Melbourne City are doing so with a weak spot teams have exploited time and again this season, but have failed to use as a way to defeat the league leaders.
City have trailed in eight games this season but are unbeaten through 17 games. If they defeat Canberra United this weekend, Michael Matricciani’s team will equal the Ninja A-League’s all-time record of 18 games unbeaten.
But with Canberra needing a victory over City to keep their push for a top-six finish alive, head coach Antoni Jagarinec will undoubtedly be devising a plan to pressure City into mistakes when building out from the back.
City have been caught time and again this season attempting to play short from goal kicks to beat the press of opposing sides and create space to attack, and on this week’s episode of Dub Zone, several instances of City turning over possession in dangerous areas were highlighted, with Sydney FC, Wellington Phoenix, Melbourne Victory, and Central Coast Mariners all turning turnovers in and around City’s defensive box into goals this season.
“They have had some flaws, and I know we’ve harped on about it, but at times this season, a lot of teams haven’t defied the trends that have appeared.,” Pellizzeri said.
“The fact we have so much footage now of this happening at various points of the season, is this something that they won’t solve it, and they’ll overcome it with their attack?”
“Well, they do,” Polias replied. “The way they bounce back from those errors, they continue to stick to their process with their philosophy, they don’t panic and in games, they’re scoring late winners or late equalisers.
“I don’t think we’ll see them stopping this, I think we’ll continue to see them back what they do.”
‘It’s time to prove us wrong’: Phoenix challenged to use crucial five-game run to make finals
The time is now for Wellington Phoenix to make their move.
Currently eighth and four points behind Central Coast Mariners in sixth, Wellington are still in with a chance of making the finals despite a four-game winless run heading into Round 17.
Out of seven games left to play, the Phoenix have five at their home ground, Porirua Park, where they’ve only lost once this season.
The Phoenix have played six games at their home venue, winning four, drawing one and losing one.
“It’s very hard for teams travelling down to Wellington to get the win there,” said Polias on Dub Zone.
“They’re very, very good at home. So having those five at home at the back end of the season is handy they’re going to need to make the most of it.
“They’re thereabouts, but we’ll see – those five games are a big test for them.”
If the Phoenix have any hope of breaking into the top six by the end of the season, Pellizzeri believes Paul Temple’s side are in need of a greater output of goals.
Wellington have scored just 20 times this season; five of the six teams currently inside the top six have scored 28 goals or more.
“The issue I have with Wellington is, going into the season both us here in Australia, and all the Kiwi journalists, said they don’t have the firepower to score enough goals to make the finals, and they have done absolutely nothing to prove us wrong,” Pellizzeri said.
“It is time to prove us wrong, it is time to score some more goals Wellington, that is the only way they will get the wins necessary to play finals.”
Two candidates predicted to contend for Julie Dolan Medal
As the end of the regular season draws closer, discussion will begin to ramp up in regards to the Ninja A-League’s end-of-season awards – particularly when it comes to top contenders for the prestigious Julie Dolan Medal.
Sixteen rounds into the season, there have been plenty of bright individual performers and, with no clear front-runner separating themselves from the pack, there will be stiff competition for the award by the season’s end.
But the Dub Zone panel have picked their front-runners, with strikers taking precedence in the thinking of both Polias and Pellizzeri in the Julie Dolan Medal debate.
“It’s going to be close this season,” Pellizzeri said. “It’s going to be unpredictable. I really had to pick a name out of 10 or 15 contenders… it’s tough, but I think go to the top team, the team that hasn’t lost all season.
“The 3-2-1 voting system means Mariana Speckmaier has had some quiet games but she’s also had some amazing highs. She’s scored match-winning goals and important goals; those are eye-catching, and those get the votes.
“That’s why I’m looking at Mariana Speckmaier for the Dolan Medal.”
In her first season at Melbourne City, Speckmaier has scored six goals and bagged three assists in 17 games, including a stunning finish against Sydney FC that won her side the Grand Final rematch in Round 16 – and earned Speckmaier Goal of the Week honours.
Polias, meanwhile, believed that after 16 rounds, Adelaide United winger Erin Healy was in the box seat to claim the Julie Dolan Medal.
“Mine’s different, thankfully, I like that we’ve (both) chosen someone different, but both deserving,” Polias said.
“My pick is Erin Healy from Adelaide United. She’s stood out in every single game, has been a reason why Adelaide’s gone from the bottom last season to up there this season.”
Healy has five goals and one assist to her name through 14 games for the Reds.
