We’ve hit the halfway point of the Liberty A-League campaign and plenty of hot topics have emerged from another action-stacked week, from a landmark ruling, a debate on the Team of the Season so far and Brisbane Roar’s fading finals hopes.
Here are some of the key talking points the Dub Zone panellists.
Team of the Season controversy
The midway point of the Liberty A-League season fuelled a discussion on Dub Zone between A-Leagues icon Teresa Polias and commentator Teo Pellizzeri around the players who have earned a spot in the team of the season so far based on current form.
While some up and coming young guns were included, there was a key absentee in Pellizzeri’s side that sparked a debate – where was Melbourne Victory midfielder Alex Chidiac?
Victory have feasted on the 24-year-old’s playmaking class throughout the campaign and while her finishing has been criticised at times, her relentless press on opposition defences begs the question if she should be considered one of the top performers in 2022-23.
“Chidiac leads one stat which I think is indicative and that is fouls won – she’s getting kicked out of games,” Pellizzeri said.
I just don’t think Melbourne Victory are giving her enough breathing space and protecting her in a way that allows her to do more on the ball.
“It’s a coin flip for Chidiac and (Katrina) Gorry for who is the best player in this league, but in terms of performance game-to-game – I went with (Mackenzie) Hawkesby because in addition to having fantastic endurance, she’s still laying off key passes.
“(She plays the) final pass before a player takes a shot on target – she is number one in the A-League Women – so I still feel as though Hawkesbury is creating.
“Chidiac is creating as well, but a lot of the chances are for herself rather than for teammates and her finishing is still letting her down this season.
“Maybe I’m applying the Matildas lens to Chidiac and only the A-League Women’s lens to Hawkesby so that’s why Hawkesby is in there.”
Former Sydney FC midfielder Polias weighed in on the matter and took a different stance, insisting that Chidiac’s ability to draw fouls is telling of her importance to the team, rather than a signal of weakness.
“I’d take either one of them and the only reason I didn’t take Hawkesby was that I felt her early season form wasn’t up to scratch compared to the others, but Chidiac is the most fouled for a reason,” Polias said.
It’s no accident that she is the most fouled every game.
Polias and Pellizzeri may have clashed over Chidiac, but they were in agreeance when it came to Melbourne City’s Maria Jose Rojas, who didn’t feature in both of their starting XIs.
The 35-year-old has a wealth of experience in the competition having previously played for Sydney FC, Adelaide United and Canberra United.
While Rojas was initially signed as an injury replacement for Hannah Wilkinson, she has since made her mark in this City side having racked up four goals in five games and the question as to why she didn’t make the cut was posed to the Dub Zone hosts.
Polias said: “Obviously I considered her but it was just too many missed games… for me it was out of (Emina) Ekic and Rojas and I just found that Ekic had played more games (so she is more) consistent.”
Pellizzeri added: “My logic was I picked the leader of the Golden Boot as my centre-forward, I picked the outstanding left-sided winger in Emina Ekic as my left forward and I picked what I thought was the most outstanding attacker in Vesna Milivojevic as my right forward.
“Even though Rojas could probably lay claim to playing anywhere across the front three, I was just a bit more defined by position in that front three.
“Even missing half the season potentially by the time we’re done here and Rojas comes back (from her international duties with Chile who are) hoping to qualify through those play-offs in New Zealand for the World Cup.
“I think the season is long enough now for her to make an impact and fight for that. By the end of the season, our two teams could and probably will be completely different.”
The ‘big hole’ in Brisbane
Brisbane Roar’s 2-0 defeat against league-leading Western United highlights their struggles in front of goal as despite registering six shots more than their opposition, they were left to rue countless missed opportunities.
The lack of clinical touch and potency has been a burden for Garrath McPherson’s Roar all season and they’ll continue to slip out of the finals conversation for as long as their misfiring attack isn’t resolved.
Pellizzeri admitted the loss leaves the Roar in a “big hole” at the moment.
“Brisbane Roar in front of goal has been something that has become a real issue for them and the recruitment of Indiah Riley who scored their goal last weekend was a very welcomed addition to the team because the goals have dried up,” he said.
“Larissa Crummer has two for the season but hasn’t scored since Round 2 (while) Katrina Gorry has been relied on from midfield to provide opportunities.”
Polias added: “Brisbane are in a rut and they need to get themselves out of it and maybe if they can find some hunger like Western United are, they can get out of this hole.”
Perhaps the Roar’s misfortunes in front of goal is best typified by Shea Connors’ alarming dip in form this term as she’s been guilty of not converting golden chances when she finds herself in dangerous areas at times.
“At the start of the season, Shea Connors had eight goals in 15 games. Since then, (she) has not been able to score in (10) games,” said Pellizzeri.
“Her expected goals is the highest of any player that is yet to score this season, so she’s got herself into goalscoring positions, but hasn’t been able to finish.
Brisbane Roar need players like Connors, who used to be very reliable with a goal every two games, to find that goalscoring touch again.
The heavy defeats the Roar have suffered this season will inevitably raise concerns around the confidence levels of players, particularly Katrina Gorry and Crummer who are expected to play an important role in the Matildas squad with the FIFA Women’s World Cup not far out of sight.
Landmark maternity case highlights Lyon’s ‘appalling’ measures
Iceland captain Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir is at the centre of worldwide attention after winning a landmark maternity case against her former club Olympique Lyonnais.
The French outfit didn’t pay Gunnarsdottir’s full salary when the 32-year-old announced her pregnancy in 2021, which forced her to publicly state her outrage at the decision.
The matter escalated when it was taken to FIFPRO, the global union for professional footballers and Gunnarsdottir claimed she was told her playing career at Lyon would be in jeopardy if legal action was taken.
Last week, FIFPRO ruled in favour of Gunnarsdottir and ordered Lyon to pay her €82,094.82 (A$127,768.21), with a transfer ban set to be imposed if they fail to complete the full payment.
Speaking on Dub Zone, Sydney FC legend Teresa Polias gave her verdict on the ground-breaking decision having also fallen pregnant during her playing days.
“Whether it was a surprise for Gunnarsdottir or by choice – as a mum you’re entering a bit of the unknown where throughout your pregnancy, labour and postpartum it’s all unknown, especially for your first time,” Polias said.
“For me, it was a little bit different because I wasn’t professional. I fell pregnant in my off-season.
“In Gunnarsdottir’s case, for a club like Lyon – it was appalling what she had to go through and… when you’re becoming a mum and you don’t know what’s going to happen.
“You don’t know how your body is going to respond or how your labour is going to be and what changes your body is going to go through after that.
“So for all that to deal with, what you really want is support and still belonging to your organisation that said she was still part of the plan.”
Polias continued: “That was absolutely appalling on Lyon’s behalf (for a club that) is renowned to be the best-resourced women’s team – the facilities and finances.
It was quite troubling to see that… there’s like this stigma towards pregnancy. You shouldn’t have to choose between being a mum and an athlete. That’s your job – it doesn’t end you.
“… In Gunnarsdottir’s case, Lyon dropped the ball completely.”
The official ruling marks Gunnarsdottir as the first footballer to successfully sue a club for the lack of maternity rights and has set precedent for not only professional football leagues around the world, but also other sporting codes that are battling the same issue.
