These are the key talking points from Round 7 in the Liberty A-League.
A star has emerged out west as Millie Farrow fired Perth Glory back to the top of the table in their come-from-behind 3-1 win over Melbourne City, while the Kat Smith era is underway at Western United.
Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Victory played out a thrilling four-goal draw, while Canberra United are sweating on the fitness of star Vesna Milivojevic after her matchwinning performance against Brisbane Roar.
With a lot to dissect, here are the key talking points from Round 7 of the Liberty A-League.
‘The full package’ and Perth’s ceiling: ‘It could be anything’
Perth Glory rose to the top of the Liberty A-League standings as Millie Farrow well and truly announced herself in Australia.
In a top-of-the-table clash pitting first against second, Perth conquered Melbourne City 3-1 to climb to the summit on Saturday afternoon.
It was thanks to English import Farrow, who scored her first-ever hat-trick as Glory came from behind away from home at Genis Steel Stadium.
MATCH REPORT: Glory import does something not seen since Sam Kerr as Perth make statement against City
Hannah Wilkinson had given City a 17th-minute lead but Farrow took control from that point, sensationally scoring in the 32nd, 51st and 71st minutes to become the first Perth player to score a Liberty A-League hat-trick since Matildas superstar Sam Kerr in 2019.
Before the Round 7 showdown, the former Chelsea forward had scored once in six matches since arriving from North Carolina in the United States, finding the back of the net in the Round 6 defeat at Wellington Phoenix.
“I’m so happy for Millie for the goals, but it’s just her overall performance today; I’m so happy for her,” Perth head coach Alex Epakis told reporters.
“She is the full package, with and without the ball. She fits our playing style perfectly.”
It has been a while since Perth last featured in the A-League Women Finals.
You have to go back to 2018-19 when Glory finished runners-up with Kerr in their team.
Since then, Perth have finished seventh, ninth, fifth and sixth in the past four seasons but something “special” could be brewing in Western Australia.
“For me, the big thing is seeing the belief. When you put on a performance like that for 95 minutes and go toe-to-toe with a standout team then that belief becomes internal,” Epakis said. “With that, it will drive us for the rest of the season.
“If we focus like that week in, week out, we give ourselves the chance to do something really special this season.”
Asked what Perth’s ceiling is this season, Epakis replied:
“The reality, it’s where they want to take it. We have players here who are special. It could be anything.”
Sister act gets the Smith era off to the perfect start
The Kat Smith era at Western United got off to the perfect start on Saturday, after they came away with a 3-1 win over Adelaide United.
The Taranto sisters – Melissa and Adriana – combined brilliantly, with the former teeing up the latter twice to find the back of the net, before Hannah Keane wrapped up the win after Chelsie Dawber pulled one back for the home side.
It was the win Western desperately needed after an inconsistent start to the season, catapulting them into fifth on the standings ahead of another road trip to face Newcastle Jets.
Perhaps the most encouraging part of the result was the fact they found the back of the net three times for the first time this season, as they shifted to a 4-2-3-1, which allowed for Keane to lead the line instead of playing out wide – which she had been doing on occasion to begin the campaign.
A return to form for last season’s Golden Boot winner will be integral to any push up the ladder, as they look to chase down the sides above them.
‘Nix could be active in the transfer market
Wellington Phoenix head coach Paul Temple has left the door open to new signings before the transfer deadline.
Temple was asked about Wellington’s chances of reinforcing their squad following Sunday’s entertaining 2-2 draw at home to Melbourne Victory in a battle between third and fourth.
The Phoenix’s depth has already been tested this season following season-ending injuries to Grace Wisnewski and Marisa ven der Meer, while vice-captain Chloe Knott departed prior to Round 6.
MATCH REPORT: ‘Nix & Victory share spoils in Liberty A-League after wild four-goal first half
“I’m really happy with what we’ve got there. We have enough for sure in terms of quality and everyone could see that today,” said Temple post-game.
“But we also know, we’re only seven games into the season and we’ve already been really stretched.
“So we don’t want to get past the deadline day and feel like we need another player or two players.
“We have to think about the long term as well for the season and I think bringing in a few extra bodies will help us with that.”
Teenagers at the heart of Sky Blues win
Cortnee Vine was the goalscoring hero on her Sydney FC return, but it was a midfield trio of teenagers that were at the heart of Sunday’s 1-0 away to Newcastle Jets.
Liberty A-League champions Sydney FC returned to winning ways thanks to Matildas star Vine, who made her first appearance since round two as she came off the bench and scored six minutes from the end.
MATCH REPORT: Matildas star makes goalscoring return to take down Jets
It was her first goal of the season and first in the A-Leagues since April.
But the Sky Blues’ win was set up a young core. Sydney’s midfield featured 16-year-old debutant Madeleine Caspers, 17-year-old Zara Kruger and 18-year-old Shay Hollman, who went up against the likes of Matildas star Emily van Egmond.
“I am happy with this performance and ultimately the result. We still have a long way to go in terms of where we are as a team. But there are positive signs,” Sydney boss Ante Juric said post-match.
“Our midfield today were 16, 17 and 18 yrs old and these youngsters were great. They will only get better. With that our team will keep improving.
“Having Vine and (Kirsty) Fenton back from injury is a big lift for the girls. We can now look forward to playing Perth Glory, who have started the season well.”
The Milivojevic show continues but what’s next for Canberra star?
It was a Vesna Milivojevic masterclass on Sunday however it may have come at a cost.
Milivojevic’s incredible season continued with a hat-trick in Canberra United’s 5-1 rout of Brisbane Roar at McKellar Park, where the capital club broke through for their first win of the campaign.
It was the first time the 21-year-old had celebrated a hat-trick in a career that is only getting better.
MATCH REPORT: Canberra star’s incredible season continues with hat-trick but injury overshadows Roar rout
Milivojevic has been directly involved in 13 goals in her last seven games, scoring 12 and making one assist. It is also her first goal or assist against Brisbane, having not scored or assisted against the Roar in three previous appearances.
But the Golden Boot leader was left emotional after exiting the game due to an apparent knee injury.
After completing her hat-trick and taking her season tally to eight goals, Milivojevic went down clutching her knee after battling for possession with Brisbane’s Ayesha Norrie.
She received treatment on the field but looked visibly upset before being substituted late on. Emotional while walking with a limp on the sidelines, Milivojevic was immediately console by teammate Heyman prior to hobbling down into the change rooms.
The Golden Boot contender emerging in Sydney’s west
Sophie Harding continued her fine start to the season on Friday night, firing home a double in Western Sydney Wanderers’ 3-0 win over Central Coast Mariners.
Harding now has five goals in six appearances this season, but has scored in each of the Wanderers’ last three matches, which has coincided with a turn in their fortunes.
After losing 4-3 to Melbourne City, Wanderers have won back to back games against Western United and now the Mariners, with their fleet-of-foot attack that’s spearheaded by Harding leading their charge.
The Wanderers striker had played 43 games in the Liberty A-League before the 2023-24 Liberty A-League season, finding the net on just four occasions in three seasons split across Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney.
But after six games, Harding sits third in the Golden Boot standings, behind Melbourne City’s Holly McNamara (six goals) and Canberra United’s Vesna Milivojevic (eight goals).
However, McNamara won’t contend for the Golden Boot due to a season ending knee injury, while Canberra are sweating on scans after Milivojevic came from the field with ice on her knee against Brisbane Roar on the weekend.
