Wherever you look, there is talent emerging in the Liberty A-League.
Teenage sensation Emilia Murray and fellow scholarship player Katie Bowler from Adelaide United. Brisbane Roar’s Jamilla Rankin. Melbourne Victory duo Jessika Nash and Paige Zois, and Sydney FC’s Charlize Rule and Sarah Hunter. Daniela Galic of Melbourne City, Wellington Phoenix’s Alyssa Whinham and Hana Lowry of Perth Glory.
They are among the exciting prospects in the A-League Women this season.
Murray has made a splash for Adelaide in 2022-23 – scoring her first goal and earning her maiden start in ALW.
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On this week’s Official Liberty A-League Podcast, former Western Sydney Wanderers head coach Cath Cannuli joined KEEPUP’s Campbell Johnson and Network 10’s Grace Gill to highlight the depth in the league.
“She’s a fantastic talent… it is exciting for a young gun like Emilia to take the pitch and hold her own,” Cannuli said of the 18-year-old Murray, who started for the first time against Perth Glory in Round 2 last week.
“The way she took the goal the other week, it was beautifully taken. To do that from such a young age, it’s really nice to see.
We’ve been speaking about the depth across the Matildas and what we have coming through from Australia. This Liberty A-League season is really going to show us the depth of where these young kids are actually coming from.
“I’m really excited to see Emilia really be pushing that starting spot. As fantastic as it is to have Fiona Worts [Reigning Julie Dolan Medallist and Golden Boot winner] in our competition, I would love to see nothing more than our young Australian talent take up those positions and cement those sports in our teams.”
It’s not only the outfield players, but goalkeepers too.
Sydney FC and Matildas goalkeeper Jada Whyman headlines the list of talented Australian goalkeepers in the Liberty A-Leagues.
But there is also Annalee Grove from Adelaide, Canberra United’s Chloe Lincoln and Sally James of Victory.
Are we in a golden age of young goalkeepers in the league?
“I think it’s so important,” Gill – who spent eight years player for Canberra from 2008 to 2016 – said on the podcast.
“It’s a position we’ve seen legends of the game in the national team for some time now – Melissa Barbieri and Lydia Williams.
“But we are now seeing a new raft of goalkeepers coming through. Not just youngsters but really impressive youngsters. Great height and stature for goalkeepers. Chloe Lincoln, 17 years of age and towers over me.
“Annalee Grove is one of them too. She’s stepped up on a couple of occasions for Adelaide and in a huge way. Made some very important saves. She made one late against Perth too.
“They’re the moments your goalkeeper needs to step up. Need to be commanding to the backline.
“I’m really excited about the goalkeepers we have coming through the league.”
