Oh, we’re halfway there!
The 2022-23 Liberty A-League season is at its midway point, with 10 rounds in the books. And unlike the seasons gone by, we’re nowhere near the finish line as we head into Round 11 – in fact, we’re only just getting started.
But how has each team fared through the first half of the campaign?
On this week’s episode of The Official Liberty A-League Podcast, host Campbell Johnson is joined by former A-League Women stars Grace Gill and Catherine Cannuli to reflect on the season so far, with both Gill and Cannuli offering a rating out of 10 for all 11 clubs at the midway mark, and the rationale behind their assessment.
Listen below, or via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you consume your podcasts
Adelaide United
Expert’s grade
- Gill: 6/10
- Cannulli: 6.5/10
Record
- Played: 9
- Won: 4
- Drawn: 1
- Lost: 4
Head coach Adrian Stenta will be disappointed with his side’s form at the halfway point of the season.
The Reds – semi-finalists in 2021-22 – have won as many games as they’ve lost throughout nine games; the combination of reigning Golden Boot winner and Julie Dolan medallist Fiona Worts and Chelsie Dawber – who scored 23 goals between them last season – has been far less of an intimidating force this season, with Dawber on just three goals, and Worts on zero.
Season highlight
A 1-0 win over Sydney FC in Round 1. Young gun Emilia Murray scored the winner in a statement result which hinted Adelaide would be ready to contend with the best sides this season.
Expert’s view
Gill: For me, the biggest thing is their goalscoring – or lack thereof, just six goals for the season (and) massively underperforming.
Cannuli: I thought they started the season well, and that’s where they got their points up in the beginning. But I think the last few weeks have been quite disappointing from them as a squad. It’s been the lack of being able to score goals – everything else, they’ve been really good. They’ve had great quality of play throughout the whole season but a lack of scoring goals and being able to convert games into wins has been disappointing for them.
Brisbane Roar
Expert’s grade
- Gill: 6/10
- Cannuli: 5.5/10
Record
- Played: 8
- Won: 3
- Drawn: 2
- Lost: 3
Wins over Newcastle Jets (twice) and Western Sydney, but heavy defeats to Sydney FC (twice) and Melbourne City. Brisbane Roar have been up and down to start the season, with results against sides near the top of the table suggesting they’re a level below the sides contending for silverware.
Matildas star Katrina Gorry missed the first month of the season through a planned rest period; if the gun midfielder gets on a roll, expect the Roar’s form line to improve as a result in the second half of the season.
Season highlight
A 2-0 win over the Jets settled by a Gorry brace. This was Gorry’s first appearance of the season, and one that gave hope to the Roar for what was to come with the Matildas midfielder in the mix.
Expert’s view
Gill: With the players they have, they can offer a lot more. We know the quality of Katrina Gorry, Hensley Handcuff in goal has been excellent, Larissa Crummer, Ayesha Norrie. The loss of Mariel Hecher has been huge for this Brisbane side… in terms of personnel that they have, I think they should be performing better than they are at the moment.
Cannuli: They’ve been up and down, but in saying that, they’ve won some games in there and made some things happen. That’s the type of team Brisbane Roar is, you can never really wipe them out of this competition. They’ve always got that quality of somebody that can pull something out of the hat.
Canberra United
Expert’s grade
- Gill: 7/10
- Cannuli: 6.5/10
Record
- Played: 8
- Won: 3
- Drawn: 2
- Lost: 3
One of the more exciting attacking teams in the league, it seems Canberra under Njegosh Popovich need only to sure up defensively to become legitimate challengers in the 2022-23 campaign. Michelle Heyman is hitting form at the halfway mark, with Grace Jale, Nickoletta Flannery, Vesna Milivojevic and Grace Maher offering plenty of attacking firepower in and around the Matildas legend. This is a team that’s fun to watch – but capable of capitulating.
Season highlight
A 5-1 win over Newcastle Jets, featuring a Heyman brace and plenty of attacking flair.
Expert’s view
Gill: So many chances, and they’re just starting to capitalise on those. The amount that they are creating in the final third, if they can be more clinical – which we’ve just started to see – they can turn some of these performances around, they can turn some of the draws into wins.
I think they’re yet to peak – and that’s a really good position to be in, halfway through the season when you’re knocking on the door of finals and you haven’t really hit your stride. I think they’ve got plenty more to offer.
Cannuli: I really like the way they play. I don’t think they’ve hit their straps just yet, I think they’re getting to that point, they’ve got some of my favourite players in the competition. I love watching Grace Maher, I’m really loving Vesna Milivojevic in this competition as well. I love what they bring to the competition, just exciting players – and I think they’ve got a lot more to give. I truly believe if they do get their combinations right, I think they will be up there at the end of the competition.
Melbourne City
Expert’s grade
- Gill: 8/10
- Cannuli: 8.5/10
Record
- Played: 9
- Won: 6
- Drawn: 1
- Lost: 2
Despite a change of head coach in-season to go with key injuries and absentees, Melbourne City have been one of the consistent performers of the campaign to date. A mixture of experienced campaigners and emerging youngsters, this team under Dario Vidosic has excelled through the first half of the season, and with Maria Rojas still to return from international duty, and Holly McNamara closing in on a return from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, the next 10 rounds of 2022-23 could see City go to another level before finals time.
Season highlight
A 4-0 win over Canberra United, in which Rhianna Pollicina ran amok and 16-year-old Daniela Galic scored one of her two goals in her stellar debut season in the league.
Expert’s view
Gill: Not only am I enjoying the type of football they’re playing, it’s really enjoyable to watch, but I think the group has responded really well to some fairly significant changes they’ve had in the opening half of the season. Most obvious one being the coaching change with Rado Vidosic moving on, and Dario Vidosic stepping into the reigns. That happened fairly seamlessly.
Cannuli: I think overall they’ve been a really, really top side. In this competition we can’t go past how many younger girls he’s got in the team as well. For me, it;’s really exciting to see these girls really step up and make this team their own.
You can see how strong they are as a group. No matter who comes in, who goes out, the team is always so consistent.
Melbourne Victory
Expert’s grade
- Gill: 7.5/10
- Cannuli: 7/10
Record
- Played: 9
- Won: 4
- Drawn: 3
- Lost: 2
Two defeats in two games to start the season is enough to send any side scrambling – but not Jeff Hopkin’s Victory. This is a side getting better as the weeks go by, with Kayla Morrison and Elise Kellond-Knight returning to their best after respective ACL injuries, and Alex Chidiac beginning to dominate in each game she plays.
Season highlight
A 3-0 win over Perth Glory on the road. They’ve won by greater margins this season, but this result was impressive due to the difficulty of the journey out West. Melina Ayres scored a brace in the comfortable win; her subsequent injury will undoubtedly cost Victory if they are unable to replace her goals in the latter half of the season.
Expert’s view
Gill: They started the season fairly slowly, looked a bit testy at times and it took a few weeks for Jeff Hopkins to play around with what looked to be his best starting side. Then, obviously, a couple of injuries came into play: losing Catherine Zimmerman was a big one, Claudia Bunge has just returned to the side, and now Melina Ayres is out too. But we see the likes of Alex Chidiac stepping up more and more, Elise Kellond-Knight as well, who arguably hasn’t been at her best… but if she starts firing, then this side is going to be pretty strong.
Cannuli: I don’t think they’re the Victory of the last couple of seasons. In the last few weeks they’ve got some wins under their belt, and they’re starting to find a bit of momentum as well. This little bit of a longer season will actually help them now in the second half to be up there.
Newcastle Jets
Expert’s grade
- Gill: 4/10
- Cannuli: 4/10
Record
- Played: 9
- Won: 2
- Drawn: 1
- Lost: 6
A very disappointing start to the campaign for Ash Wilson’s side, with 27 goals conceded the worst by far of any team in the league. The Jets sit second from bottom above the winless Wellington Phoenix; Wilson’s side are adept in attack but have struggled in defence, conceding four goals or more on five occasions in 2022-23 already.
Season highlight
A shock 2-0 win over Adelaide United decided by a Lauren Allan brace. Newcastle’s only clean sheet of the season came in this impressive display.
Expert’s view
Gill: To concede 27 goals at the midway point of the season, I just don’t think it’s good enough. But in a bit of a shocking stat: Newcastle Jets have the highest shooting accuracy also for the season. To put those two things in contrast, I think it speaks to the fact that if they’re able to stop this leakiness in front of goals, then they can be a much more competitive side.
Cannuli: Finding the back of the net, they’ve done it quite well. They’ve got some really good strikers up front. But you need to have that overall performance, and they’ve really been poor in the back end in their team. You’ve got to be disciplined, you can’t leak goals because it’s harder and harder to get back up there. It’s unfortunate for them, because I thought in the beginning (Ash Wilson) had recruited quite well, she’s trying to change the dynamic there with what she’s trying to do but I think overall a four is a good score for them.
Perth Glory
Expert’s grade
- Gill: 5/10
- Cannuli: 4.5/10
Record
- Played: 9
- Won: 2
- Drawn: 3
- Lost: 4
A team tipped to push on after a fifth-place finish last season, Perth Glory are yet to make significant strides forward in 2022-23. Despite some excitement caused by high-scoring affairs, Perth have only managed a pair of wins this season – the second of which coming against the lowly Phoenix. Rylee Baisden’s season-ending knee injury has robbed Perth of their top scorer, with Cyera Hintzen now looking the likeliest to shoulder the goalscoring burden pushing forward.
Season highlight
A three-point display in a pulsating 3-2 win over Canberra United, in which Canberra led 2-0 before Baidsen and Hintzen combined to devastating effect in a five-goal thriller.
Expert’s view
Gill: I think they’re underperforming given the squad continuity they had from last year. They’ve got a couple of really good, talented youngsters, I’ve really enjoyed Sofia Sakalis in the middle of the park, and also Alana Jancevski. Every time she’s come on or contributed to the game, I think she’s been great.
But on a whole, I just don’t think they’ve been performing to the level I would have expected.
Cannuli: I’ve not been happy with the way they’ve come into this (season). I actually expected a lot more from them this year. Coming off the back end of last year, I thought they would be a completely different team. Being at home, being more settled, bringing in the likes of Ella Mastrantonio, starting to add to that team, I just feel like they’re underperforming. Personally I thought they’d be doing a lot better in the competition this season.
Sydney FC
Expert’s grade
- Gill: 8/10
- Cannuli: 8/10
Record
- Played: 8
- Won: 6
- Drawn: 0
- Lost: 2
The Sky Blues are all business once again in 2022-23. Ante Juric’s side are sublime at their best, but the reigning premiers face stiff competition to defend their regular season title with Western United, Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory all lifting in standard from one season to the next.
A broken finger to goalkeeper Jada Whyman has coincided with a drop-off in performance, with five of their six goals conceded throughout the season leaked in her three-game absence leading up to the halfway mark.
Season highlight
A 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory in November’s Grand Final rematch.
Expert’s view
Gill: Best defensive record in the league, which is completely unsurprising for this side. It was the same situation last year (when) they just conceded the six goals, and now they’ve already conceded six. So a little leakier than what they were last season, but that’s to take nothing way from the strong side they are. Ante Juric always produces a really resolute Sydney FC.
Cannuli: They’re a team we talk about not knowing how to lose, they find ways to win. They always find a way to get three points. I think the confidence within that team, sometimes you can even push a little more to arrogance. I played for Sydney FC, they want to be the best, they always want to be the leaders. A big loss, losing Remy Siemsen… but I think overall for Sydney FC an eight, and a team that is definitely as always going to be up there at the pointy end of the season.
Wellington Phoenix
Expert’s grade
- Gill: 3.5/10
- Cannuli: 2/10
Record
- Played: 8
- Won: 0
- Drawn: 1
- Lost: 7
After finishing the 2021-22 season showing genuine signs of improvement, Wellington Phoenix have regressed through the first half of the new campaign. Winless through eight games with just one point on the board, Natalie Lawrence is struggling to get the ‘Nix back to their combative best, but will use the back end of the season to target improvement.
Season highlight
A 1-1 draw with Western Sydney on January 2, in which the ‘Nix put on a commendable performance in front of their home fans.
Expert’s view
Gill: I expected a lot better in the way they finished last year, they were moving in the right direction, I thought they recruited well with Betsy Hassett, Paige Satchell, I think they’ve really missed Lily Alfeld in between the sticks. That’s to take nothing away from Brianna Edwards because she’s done very well herself, but the leadership Alfeld brings, we’ve seen her in the stands shouting, leading doing the best she can – but they’re missing that on the park.
Cannuli: I really feel sorry for them, I really, really do. I thought they did recruit well, they got a couple of those older girls that came in… I think overall it’s going to be a really long season for them, especially coming form New Zealand and doing the travel. But moving forward, Wellington really need to look at what they want to get out of this competition, and what they want to do with this team, because I think some changes need to be made moving forward for them.
Western Sydney Wanderers
Expert’s grade
- Gill: 5.5/10
- Cannuli: 5/10
Record
- Played: 9
- Won: 2
- Drawn: 2
- Lost: 5
A dismal start to the season has been rescued by a resurgence of late. Just one day shy of a year-long gap between Liberty A-League wins, Kat Smith’s side broke the drought with a stunning win over second-placed Melbourne City. Then, they went back-to-back with an upset triumph against the league leaders in Western United.
Time will tell whether the Wanderers have turned a corner, or have simply enjoyed a brief improvement in performances and results.
Season highlight
A 2-1 win over Western United, in which the Wanderers took the lead, rescinded it then took it back as striker Sarina Bolden starred.
Expert’s view
Gill: They can turn it around from here- but their opening part of the season, really disappointing. And struggling to score as well, we’ve spoken about Sarina Bolden being a big part of turning that around.
Cannuli: I think coming into the back end of the season now, this can really, really help them move forward and push on with things. It’s always really tough to go through the season not having won a game, but the extended season is really going to be beneficial for them as a team.
Western United
Expert’s grade
- Gill: 9/10
- Cannuli: 9/10
Record
- Played: 8
- Won: 7
- Drawn: 0
- Lost: 1
Western United were one win away from reaching the halfway mark of the season with a perfect record, only to lose to the Wanderers in Round 10. Regardless, the club’s maiden Liberty A-League season has been an exceptional success to date, with head coach Mark Torcaso leading his squad to the top of the table.
Striker Hannah Keane leads the Golden Boot charge; she’s been a revelation for Western through the early stages of the campaign. Attention will turn to what effect the departure of United States international Jess McDonald has on the team’s outlook. McDonald, at Western on a guest contract, has been key to the squad’s success and will be a big miss heading towards the finals.
Season highlight
A 2-0 win over Sydney FC. It was the moment Western truly emerged as genuine title contenders, outplaying Ante Juric’s team and keeping the usually rampant Sky Blues attack goalless. Statement made.
Expert’s view
Gill: For a team to come in fresh off an NPL kind of playing group, to get the results and not leak many goals at the back, just the seven goals against, I think that’s a pretty impressive way to start an existence in a competition.
The one thing, I guess, the result aside as to not give them a 10/10 is perhaps the style they play. Unashamedly, Mark Torcaso’s side isn’t always the prettiest football – but they find ways to get results.
Cannuli: You can’t look past what they’ve done in the competition. To come into the competition as first timers and to be undefeated up until last week is a fantastic achievement, not only for the club but the coaching staff and everybody involved in the Western United setup.
