Melbourne City and Perth Glory have added significant strength to their respective squads, announcing five signings each in the span of two days.
City began their signing spree – which the club have labelled ‘Dub Week’ as the announcements have continued to flow – with the recruitment of Australian goalkeeper Teagan Micah from Norwegian top flight club Arna-Bjorna.
Midfielder Hollie Palmer was the next to join the Westfield W-League Champions, ending her three-season stint with Brisbane Roar, along with Leah Davidson who also departed Jake Goodship’s Roar outfit for new opportunities in the Victorian capital.
Rhali Dobson, meanwhile, re-signed for her fourth season in City colours, having scored twice in her previous 24 appearances for the club.
Julia Sardo became the fifth signing for City within 48 hours when she penned a deal to return home, having played for Perth Glory throughout the 2019/20 Westfield W-League campaign.
Upon arriving at her new club, Sardo said the professionalism of the club along with the opportunity to stay in Melbourne were two major contributing factors to her decision to join City ahead of the 2020/21 season.
“I really wanted to stay in Melbourne this year, so I was really stoked that the opportunity came up to play at City,” Sardo told the club website.
“The thing that most excites me about joining City is the professionalism, being a part of the Club’s history, improving my game and the facilities are unbelievable.
“I’m really excited to meet everyone and get into training and be apart of the team.”
As City’s ‘Dub Week’ rolled on, Perth Glory proved they were up to the task of matching the Champions’ transfer activity by announcing a handful of signatures of their own.
Captain Natasha Rigby was the first name announced, re-signing for the club on November 25, ensuring she’d lead the club for a second consecutive season.
With new Head Coach Alex Epakis taking charge, Rigby said his experience in the women’s game would inject passion into Perth’s exciting, home-grown squad.
“I am really looking forward to this season,” Rigby said.
“Our team has a really exciting home-grown feel to it and it is such an incredible opportunity for more local players to step up and experience the W- League.
“We are all eager to see what Alex can bring to the team.
“He has a great deal of experience in women’s football and I think he will bring an injection of passion and professionalism into the team.
“If we continue to work hard, stay focused and foster a positive culture, I think we will be very competitive this season.”
With Rigby’s signature sealed Perth moved to sign a quartet of players for the 2020/21 Westfield W-League campaign, beginning with defender Sarah Carroll, who debuted for the club in the 2011/12 season.
24-year-old Caitlin Doeglas also extended her stay in the west after a promising season last time out; the rapid attacker shone in spurts throughout 2019/20, scoring three goals from 12 appearances and showing great potential to become a threatening attacking force for Perth in the seasons to come.
Industrious full-back Jamie-Lee Gale followed Rigby, Carroll and Doeglas in re-signing with Perth whilst Patricia Charalambous returned to the club where she played for two seasons before spells with Cypriot side Apollon Limassol and Canberra United.
It was a quieter week in the West of Sydney but excitement levels were at a high regardless, as defender Nikola Orgill returned to Western Sydney Wanderers after a three-season absence.
Orgill made 30 appearances combined throughout those three seasons with both Newcastle Jets and Canberra United before acquiring 12 matches of Norwegian Toppserien experience at Kolbotn, and returns to Wanderland ready to prove her worth as a better and more versatile player than she was when she departed.
“I was really impressed with the style of football the Wanderers played last season and the professionalism of the club and team,” Orgill said.
“It has also been a tough year in Europe with COVID-19 so I was excited to have an opportunity to be back in Sydney around family and friends.
“Playing here in Norway has improved my tactical understanding and ability to analyse the game. There has been a big focus on video analysis and being able to change tactics and formations as a team, depending on our opposition.
“I think this has made me a more versatile player and will help with the transition to a new club in Australia.”
