A trio of Westfield W-League chiefs have been nominated to claim the competition’s Feburary Coach of the Month award.
Melbourne City’s Premiership-winning coach Rado Vidosic is nominated alongside the boss of second-placed finishers Melbourne Victory – Jeff Hopkins – as well as Perth Glory tactician Bobby Despotovski.
You can have your say and vote for who you think should take out the prize for February by voting in the poll below – but before that, read on for a profile of the coaches.
VOTE: Westfield W-League Player of the Month – February
NOVEMBER: Wanderers boss Dean Heffernan wins November prize
DECEMBER: Wanderers’ Heffernan named Coach of the Month again
JANUARY: Rado Vidosic voted Coach of the Month for January
Bobby Despotovski (Perth Glory)
Last year’s Grand Finallists, Perth Glory, may have finished the campaign in seventh place but do not let that cloud their sensational late season form which saw them shock a pair of Finals Series contenders.
The Western Australians secured two of their three wins for the season in February, and they did so in stunning fashion. The 4-2 triumph against Brisbane Roar, which essentially scuppered the Queenslanders’ finals chase, was backed-up by an outstanding 2-1 upset against third-placed finishers and defending champions Sydney FC in Wollongong.
Despotovski’s youthful side took their dazzling run of late season form and almost curtailed Western Sydney Wanderers bid for a first ever top-four finish in the season closer, but a late Perth rally could not stop a 3-2 reverse against the Red and Black.
REACTION: Despotovski delighted as Glory steam toward the finish line
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6132919815001
Jeff Hopkins (Melbourne Victory)
Last year’s Premiers went from Finals Series outsiders to Premiership runners-up with a scorching stretch of results that saw them win five of their last six and, after a major set-back at the start of February, Jeff Hopkins’ side responded in style to claim second place.
The Navy Blue started the month with a 4-0 loss against crosstown rivals, and eventual Premiers, City. With their Semi Final hopes in the balance, Victory destroyed the Newcastle Jets, 7-0, and wrapped up the campaign with a 3-1 win against champions Sydney FC.
That Round 14 triumph served as a winner-takes-all cash for second-place and ensures the Sky Blues have to track back to Melbourne for the Semi Final – a prospect with did not seem likely at the start of February.
REACTION: ‘Our best performance of the season’ – Hopkins praises win over Sky Blues
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6137193972001
Rado Vidosic (Melbourne City)
Ever since City dropped points in their season opener against Newcastle Jets, Rado Vidosic’s side have not looked back and they clinched a second Premiers Plate in dominant fashion in February.
City made it 11 straight Westfield W-League wins to lift the trophy, following a 4-0 crushing of Victory in the Melbourne Derby and another 4-0 against Western Sydney Wanderers to clinch the title. A 3-1 triumph against Brisbane Roar on Sunday, 1 March took their momentum into Finals season.
They scored 11 of their 27 seasons goals over the last three games – against the second, fourth and fifth placed sides – and extended their record of not conceding into an eighth match, a total of 729 minutes between goals against, in a showcase of ominous form.
REACTION: ‘It’s half the job done’: Premiers City set sights on Westfield W-League double
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6134097222001
