The past month has been a busy one in the world of the Westfield W-League with clubs beginning to form their rosters for the 2019/20 campaign.
There’s no doubt there will be a lot more business in the coming weeks as nine teams seek to build squads to contend for Westfield W-League supremacy.
In this article, we review all of the off-season moves so far as clubs seek to beat the rush and lock down the first pieces of their 2019/20 puzzles.
Polkinghorne back in extended role
Captain, leader, Westfield Matilda, two-time Julie Dolan Medal winner, Brisbane Roar stalwart, and now for Clare Polkinghorne, assistant coach.
The experienced Australian international is returning to Brisbane for an incredible 12th season and will extend her role into the club’s coaching ranks as Roar embark on a new era under Jake Goodship.
Goodship took the reins in Queensland following the departure of Premiership-winning mentor Mel Andreatta in September.
Five emerging talents re-sign for Brisbane
Young guns Leah Davidson, Indiah-Paige Riley, Hollie Palmer, Kaitlyn Torpey and Georgina Worth have all re-signed with Brisbane Roar for the new season.
It’s a particularly special moment for 22-year-old goalkeeper Worth, who missed the entire 2018/19 Season due to a serious knee injury.
Riley, 17, was Roar’s Breakthrough Player of the Year last season, making 10 appearances and scoring once in her maiden Westfield W-League campaign.
Davidson also made her top-flight debut last season while fellow teenagers Palmer and Torpey are back for their third and fourth seasons respectively at the club.
Jets lock-in the majority of their squad
Westfield Matildas Gema Simon and Larissa Crummer headline 15 re-signings announced by Newcastle Jets.
Cassidy Davis, Hannah Brewer, Tara Andrews and Jenna Kingsley headline the experienced heads in the squad, while the young trio of Renee Pountney, Tessa Tamplin, and Paige Kingston-Hogg will be looking to impress once again this season.
Westfield Matildas duo re-sign with Roar
Katrina Gorry and Mackenzie Arnold have been synonymous with Brisbane Roar in recent seasons and the duo are back in Orange for 2019/20.
Gorry, part of an exclusive club of players to have played 100 Westfield W-League games, is keen for a big campaign after missing a large chunk of 2018/19 through injury.
Arnold, who has played 36 times for Roar, has established herself as one of Australia’s premier shot-stoppers in her three previous seasons at the club.
Yallop returns to where it all began
Legendary Brisbane Roar midfielder Tameka Yallop is back on the books of the Queenslanders.
Yallop, a three-time Premiership and two-time Championship winner with the Roar, spent last campaign with Melbourne City.
She became the first signing of new coach Jake Goodship’s reign on October 8.
Champions Sydney FC confirm the bulk of their 2019/20 roster
There has been no messing around by the Sky Blues, who downed Perth Glory 4-2 in the 2018/19 Grand Final.
Ante Juric has confirmed 18 of his 2019/20 group that will seek to become only the second team to be crowned back-to-back champions, after Melbourne City lifted a trio of titles between 2016 and 2018.
Westfield Matildas Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy and Chloe Logarzo are the star names, along with United States imports Sofia Huerta and Aubrey Bledsoe.
Check here for more on the squad assembled by the defending champions.
Melbourne City land van Egmond and Checker
City have arguably made the biggest splash of the off-season, snaring the signature of 90-cap Westfield Matilda Emily van Egmond.
The Julie Dolan Medal winner departs her hometown club Newcastle Jets, where she has spent the majority of her career.
The Victorians also added 23-year-old Emma Checker, an experienced defender with 78 Westfield W-League games under her belt for Adelaide United, Melbourne Victory and Canberra United.
McCormick switches Brisbane for Melbourne Victory
Multi-sport athlete Jenna McCormick is putting her full focus on football.
The former Aussie rules star is bidding to break into the Westfield Matildas squad for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and she chose Victory as the club to pursue her dream with.
There is also change in the dugout of McCormick’s former club. Brisbane Roar have hired Jake Goodship to replace their outgoing Premiership-winning coach Mel Andreatta.
The Fowler sisters arrive as Adelaide lock down 11
Rising Westfield Matildas star Mary Fowler and her elder sister Ciara are onboard with Adelaide United for the coming season.
Sixteen-year-old Mary has four Westfield Matildas caps and was part of Ante Milicic’s FIFA Women’s World Cup squad but is yet to play in the Westfield W-League.
Another nine players have penned deals in the City of Churches. Catch up on all of the moves Ivan Karlovic’s side have made here and here.
Roestbakken heads a trio of Canberra signings
After making an impact at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, young Westfield Matilda Karly Roestbakken is back in the nation’s capital for 2019/20.
The 18-year-old returns to the ACT alongside co-captain Nikola Orgill and they are joined in Heather Garriock’s squad by experienced Norway international striker Elise Thorsnes.
Whyman and Nevin return for Wanderers
Western Sydney Wanderers made their first moves of 2019/20 at the end of September, re-signing goalkeeper Jada Whyman and Courtney Nevin.
Whyman, 19, has spent time with the Westfield Matildas and 17-year-old Nevin made her Wanderers debut in the 2018/19 Westfield W-League season.
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