All the ins and outs for the final weekend of regular season Westfield W-League action.
All the ins and outs for the final weekend of regular season W-League action.
Brisbane Roar v Sydney FC
Saturday 14 January
Queensland Sports & Athletics Centre, Brisbane
Local kick-off: 2pm
Live: ABC TV
One of the traditional highlights of the Westfield W-League calendar will provide a fitting and dramatic finale to the league season.
Bragging rights will, as always, be on the line, but so too is second place and an all-important home semi-final. Playing at home Brisbane Roar are in the box seat and need just a draw to hang on to their one-point margin over their rivals.
The last time the pair met was way back in round one when Sydney had the better of a 1-1 draw on home turf. Much has changed since then with both teams boosted by the return of key personnel either from injury or overseas.
Brisbane though should be confident after a potentially season-defining 3-1 win on the road last weekend against Newcastle Jets. Defeat could have meant an unimaginable failure to reach the finals, however victory – such are the fine margins in this season-s Westfield W-League – left the Roar holding down second.
The 3-1 win in Newcastle contrasted sharply with Sydney-s 2-1 defeat against the same opponent just a week earlier.
Much selection interest will focus on whether super sub Emily Gielnik is in the starting line-up after bagging her seventh goal of the season, six of which have incredibly after coming off the bench.
Despite winning 3-0 in Perth last weekend Sydney were held scoreless in the second half, in stark contrast with their 11-0 defeat of the Glory last month. Coach Alen Stajcic however fielded a somewhat experimental line-up, perhaps mindful of the suspensions hanging over the head of some important players in the lead up to the finals series.
Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Casey DUMONT (gk), 2. Laura ALLEWAY, 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE (c), 5. Brooke SPENCE, 6. Joanne BURGESS, 7. Kim CARROLL, 9. Catherine CANNULI, 10. Lana HARCH, 11. Aivi LUIK, 13. Tameka BUTT, 14. Vedrana POPOVIC, 15. Sasha MCDONNELL, 16. Michaela HATZIRODOS, 17. Emily GIELNIK, 18. Olga CEBRIAN GARCIA, 19.Ellen BEAUMONT, 20. Hoshimi KISHI (gk), 21. Rebecca PRICE
* three to be omitted
In: None
Out: None
Unavailable: Elise Kellond-Knight (knee – season), Ashley Spina (knee – season)
Sydney FC squad: 1. Allison LIPSHER (gk), 15. Thea SLATYER, 3. Danielle BROGAN, 5. Estelle JOHNSON, 6. Servet UZUNLAR, 4. Renee ROLLASON, 10. Kylie LEDBROOK, 2. Teresa POLIAS, 9. Sarah WALSH, 12. Teigen ALLEN, 8. Caitlin FOORD, 13. Brittany WHITFIELD, 7. Heather GARRIOCK, 19. Leena KHAMIS, 16. Alisha BASS, 14. Rachael SOUTAR, 17. Kyah SIMON, 21. Chloe LOGARZO, 30. Sham KHAMIS (gk)
* four to be omitted
In: None
Out: None
Unavailable: Victoria Balomenos (knee – season), Monique Jackson (knee – season)
Perth Glory v Newcastle Jets
Saturday 14 January
6PR Stadium, Perth
Local kick-off: 4pm
This pair met just over three weeks ago with the Jets reasonably comfortable 3-1 victors a few days prior to Christmas.
Both teams enter this contest with differing goals. The home side will need at least a point if they are to avoid the wooden spoon for the first time, while three points are essential if the Jets are to tip Melbourne Victory out of fourth.
The Glory seem to have largely ridden out their mid-season slump which saw them leak goals at an alarming rate. Holding the free-scoring Sydney during the second half last week was a testament to the hunger and determination that evidently still looms large in the playing group.
The Jets will make the arduous journey across the continent playing for their lives, although even a win would still mean they are relying on Melbourne Victory falling to defeat. Even a point for the Victory in Adelaide would see the Victorians advance on goal difference and Jets coach Clayton Zane believes his side-s hopes are minimal.
Newcastle are set to be without Gemma Pearce who has shin splints while Gema Simon has recently been struggling with tendonitis.
Perth Glory squad: 1. Mackenzie ARNOLD (gk), 2. Shawn BILLAM, 3. Carys HAWKINS, 5. Shannon MAY, 6. Katarina JUKIC, 7. Sadie LAWRENCE, 8. Tanya OXTOBY (c), 9. Katie HOLTHAM, 11. Ella MASTRANTONIO, 12. Danielle CALAUTTI, 13. Elisa D-OVIDIO, 14. Emily DUNN, 15. Lara FILOCAMO, 17. Marianna TABAIN, 19. Sarah CARROLL, 20. Kristy TESCHINSKY (gk)
* one to be omitted
In: Sadie Lawrence (promoted)
Out: None
Unavailable: Jaymee Gibbons (hip – season), Erika Elze (leg – season)
Newcastle Jets squad: 1. Melissa BARBIERI (gk), 2. Hannah BREWER, 3. Alanna KENNEDY, 4. Gemma PEARCE, 5. Alex HUYNH, 6. Nicola BOLGER, 7. Gema SIMON, 8. Linda O’NEILL, 9. Tara ANDREWS, 10. Emily VAN EGMOND, 11. Lisa DE VANNA, 12. Monnique KOFOED, 13. Stacey DAY, 14. Bronte BATES, 15. Rhali DOBSON, 16. Cassandra KOPPEN, 17. Ariane HINGST (c), 20. Alison LOGUE (gk)
*three to be omitted
In: None
Out: None
Unavailable: None
Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory
Sunday 15 January
Burton Park, Adelaide
Local kick-off: 3pm
Victorian and South Australia rivalry will play out its latest sporting chapter in the Westfield W-League final round. Last match was a resounding 4-0 success for the Victory but, despite the divergent aspirations of the pair heading into the last round, expect this one at Burton Park in Adelaide to be much tighter.
The home side crashed 5-0 last weekend at the hands of a rampant Canberra United though three of those goals were leaked in the final ten minutes. Remarkably Adelaide could have been level at one stage after good chances were denied by the goalkeeper and goalpost respectively.
Adelaide will miss American import Ashleigh Gunning this weekend through suspension, which perhaps will mean even more opportunity for Emma Checker to shine. The rookie teenage defender has been one of the finds of this season-s Westfield W-League with some consistent performances.
Coach Dave Edmondson has been pushing his willing players to improve with every match and Adelaide will be hungry to remain clear of bottom-placed Perth Glory and avoid the wooden spoon.
The Victory though have a major goal on which to focus as they eye their second successive fourth-placed finish, following on from their finals debut last season. A point in Adelaide will be enough for Vicki Linton-s side to hold off a late challenge from the fast finishing Newcastle.
The team-s strength has been an impressive defence, but in attack skipper Jodie Taylor is the league-s leading goalscorer with eight strikes, four shy of Canberra ace Michelle Heyman.
Last weekend-s bye will see the Victory refreshed for their road trip, ahead of a likely semi-final visit to leaders Canberra the following weekend.
Adelaide United squad: 1. Sian MCLAREN (gk), 2. Ruth WALLACE, 3. Anna GREEN, 4. Daniela DI BARTOLO, 5. Abby ERCEG (c), 6. Ebony PHILCOX, 7. Racheal QUIGLEY, 8. Leanne SLATER, 9. Marijana RAJCIC, 12. Greta FRENCH-KENNEDY, 13. Vanessa REED, 14. Donna COCKAYNE, 15. Emma CHECKER, 16. Grace HENRY 17. Katherine EBBS, 18. Georgia MACRI, 19. Nenita BURGESS, 20. Kristi HARVEY (gk)
* three to be omitted
In: Ebony Philcox, Vanessa Reed, Donna Cockayne (all promoted)
Out: Ashleigh Gunning (suspended – one match)
Unavailable: Angela Fimmano (injured – season)
Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Brianna DAVEY (gk), 2. Rebekah STOTT, 3. Maika RUYTER-HOOLEY, 4. Kendall FLETCHER, 5. Danielle JOHNSON, 6. Rita MANKOWSKA, 7. Stephanie CATLEY, 8. Ashley BROWN, 9. Georgie KOUTROUVELIS, 10. Jodie TAYLOR (c), 11. Caitlin FRIEND, 12. Jackie VOGT, 13. Katrina GORRY, 14. Enza BARILLA, 15. Amy JACKSON, 16. Louisa BISBY, 17. Gulcan KOCA, 18. Stephanie TANTI, 19. Laura SPIRANOVIC, 20. Cassandra DIMOVSKI (gk)
* five to be omitted
In: Katrina Gorry (returns from suspension)
Out: None
Unavailable:
Bye: Canberra United
