Aussie W-League 2020/2021 ☀

Discussion in 'Women's International' started by sbahnhof, Oct 2, 2020.

  1. sbahnhof

    sbahnhof Member+

    Nov 21, 2016
    Aotearoa
    Calendar still to come, but with the ongoing coronavirus situation the season is unlikely to start before the New Year 2021 fireworks.

    'Next year's A-League and W-League will start later' - (FTBL.com.au / Archive)

    The 2019/20 men's league season was seriously delayed - and apparently the FFA wants the women's league to run on a similar schedule, but its season ended much earlier.

    Last season's W-League final was on 21 March, one of the most poignant games of 2020. Attended only by the players' families as most of the world went into the void of lockdown, this was the last major soccer match for 2 months, but its closed-doors form became familiar to everyone this year:

    Melbourne City 1 - 0 Sydney FC - (Steph Catley 15')
    www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIl4dWCvmBQ
    [​IMG]


    Past threads: '11/12, '12/13, '14/15, '15/16, '16/17, '17/18, '18/19, '19/20


    Since then, Australia was awarded host duties at the next Women's World Cup, which will make for an exciting but uncertain few years in the sport.

    "The W-League still has world class stars, Australians just don’t know them yet" (Lucas Radbourne, TheWomensGame.com / Archive)

    "The W-League saw some incredible success last season. Over 879,000 tuned in on TV to watch the league, a 43% jump on the previous year. The exciting thing is the even spread across age groups of fans watching W-League. ... [Average] Crowds were only 1,500 which was disappointing, but the high TV numbers mean more are watching which in all likelihood would mean bigger crowds going forward."

    The season delay would affect everyone's plans, but Canberra are putting their squad together:
    "'Relief off my shoulders' with Canberra's three local signings: Canberra United have dug into the Australian Capital Territory and unearthed three local gems Vicki Linton hopes can become W-League stars this season." - (TWG)

    [​IMG]
    On the move: Simone Charley (Canberra Utd) and Charlotte Grant (Adelaide Utd) in Dec 2019 - (img by LittleBlinky, cc-by-sa)

    Covid: It remains to be seen whether any matches are held in a closed central location, or even "as normal" with the fans allowed. I was surprised to see undistanced crowds at Aussie rules games yesterday, 2 October, in Adelaide and Brisbane.

    Melbourne, which hosted the last W-League final, has been badly affected by a corona outbreak and various levels of lockdowns: "Travel from Melbourne to country Victoria may remain banned when coronavirus restrictions ease" - (ABC, 2 October)
     
    blissett repped this.
  2. sbahnhof

    sbahnhof Member+

    Nov 21, 2016
    Aotearoa
    Season dates: 27 December for the kickoff, the final in April
    https://canberraweekly.com.au/canberra-united-raring-to-go-with-w-league-start-date/

    Signings: the league's updating list is here:
    All of the players signed for Westfield W-League Season 2020/21 - www.w-league.com.au/news/all-players-signed-westfield-w-league-season-202021 (Archive)

    NZ newcomers? There's a possibility of a new W-League team this season representing the Wellington Phoenix (but would be based in Australia, in Wollongong). The club's male team have played for 13 years in the A-League.

     
  3. sbahnhof

    sbahnhof Member+

    Nov 21, 2016
    Aotearoa
    ...Oh, for god's sake, what a waste of everyone's time.

    Why FFA stood firm on Phoenix bid to bend W-League rules - (SBS.com.au)

    Imagine the chaos if these organizations had to do something important like plan a World Cup together! It was a classic prank by the FAFF, tho - bravo.

    Kickoff time is near, but sadly the season is starting with uncertainty, like when the last one ended. A Covid outbreak in northern Sydney has forced rescheduling of some games that involve New South Wales clubs, and has postponed the 27 Dec opener.
    [​IMG]

    The first league game is now on Tue 29 Dec, Brisbane Roar v Melbourne City, and the whole fixture list is rearranged to include a Sydney derby and an alternative opponent travelling to play Perth Glory, the Melbourne Victory (on 30 Dec). Canberra would have had the long trip west, but now they have a home match instead (v Adelaide).

    And for fans:
    "Capacity levels will be reduced to 50% for all games in NSW until the end of December, including [A-League] Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets, in line with the guidance for New Year’s Eve celebrations state-wide." - (FFA)

    As well as the player signings list above, here are a few pre-season reports:

    Brisbane Roar
    "As part of a fleet of experienced Matildas on board at the club, Emily Gielnik is confident Brisbane Roar can end a decade-long W-League championship drought." - (TheWomensGame / Archive)
    Melbourne City
    "Japan attacking midfielder Chinatsu Kira will play in the W-League for the first time after signing with reigning champions Melbourne City." - (TWG)
    Sydney FC
    "Long-serving skipper Teresa Polias and three new faces from crosstown rivals Western Sydney Wanderers are part of 16 signings made by Sydney FC so far ahead of the upcoming Westfield W-League Season." - (W-League.com.au)

    When Melbourne City hosted Victory in a practice match last Saturday, it ended 3-3.

    Also, a very interesting matchup in Queensland for the Festival of Football in early December – Brisbane Roar found themselves second-best against the combined team of the state NPL/NPLW, at "Dolphin Stadium". (not in Miami :))
    Match Highlights: Football Queensland All-Stars v Brisbane Roar
     
    Lechus7, blissett and SiberianThunderT repped this.
  4. sbahnhof

    sbahnhof Member+

    Nov 21, 2016
    Aotearoa
    #4 sbahnhof, Dec 28, 2020
    Last edited: Dec 28, 2020
    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    Back in the league: Angie Beard & Nikola Orgill
    (img: Chris Simpson cc-by / LittleBlinky cc-by-sa)

    Match 1 is coming up 'today' (29 Dec) – perhaps the definitive season previews are on Tim Grainey's page, starting with the last champion and playoff clubs:

    The Week in Women's Football: W-League Preview Part 1; CONCACAF calendar
    - "A few Australians have returned home from stints abroad, most significantly wing back Angie Beard from KR of Iceland to Melbourne Victory, Nikola Orgill from Kolbotn of Norway to Western Sydney Wanderers and Allira Toby from Famalicao of Portugal to Sydney FC." - (Tribal Football
    / Archive)

    And the other 5 teams hoping to take the crown:

    The Week in Women's Football: W-League Preview Part 2; OL Reign & Miami
    - "part 2 of the 2020/21 Westfield W-League Preview, featuring Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar, Canberra United, Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory, along with some other W-League news". - (Tribal Football
    / Archive)

    - Brisbane v Melbourne C is the first game (05:35 GMT / 16:35 AET). The season's broadcast matches are on the ABC & Foxtel in AUS; in SE Asia on BeIn, the UK on BT Sport, U.S. ESPN+, Sky in NZ/Pacific, and elsewhere some are on the FFA MyFootball Youtube channel.

    (Edit) Note another change: the Perth game is pushed back to Sat 2 Jan.
     
    Klingo3034 repped this.
  5. Nacional Tijuana

    Nacional Tijuana St. Louis City

    St. Louis City SC
    May 6, 2003
    San Diego, Calif.
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    News about governance in general. Not sure if this is good, bad, or other as far as W-League..

    https://www.canberraunited.com.au/n...ional-leagues-be-unbundled-football-australia


    Football Australia and the newly formed Australian Professional Leagues (APL) today announced that terms have been agreed to ‘unbundle’ the A-League, Westfield W-League and Y-League (‘Professional Leagues’) from Football Australia. As part of the unbundling, the APL will also obtain the exclusive right to use the intellectual property rights associated with the E-League brand.
     
    sbahnhof repped this.
  6. sbahnhof

    sbahnhof Member+

    Nov 21, 2016
    Aotearoa
    Clubs seeking more power and income, by the look of it...

    Finally we've had the kickoff to the season, with 6 teams in action in the first match round. The Melbourne City keeper Teagan Micah was the hero in their opener, but Brisbane dominated the play, had a disallowed goal, and will rue their finishing:

    Brisbane Roar 0 - 0 Melbourne City


    A double for Princess Ibini, including a fine second goal in Sydney's win:

    Western Sydney Wanderers 0 - 3 Sydney FC


    An amazing end to the game in the capital in injury-time: not one winning goal, but two, as Michelle Heyman completed her hat-trick. Then, Adelaide's Mallory Weber knocked in a superb strike, the match's seventh:

    Canberra United 4 - 3 Adelaide Utd


    And who made the team of the week... https://www.w-league.com.au/news/team-week-powered-bunnings-warehouse-round-1

    The schedule is still suffering postponements. Of the 3 other clubs, Newcastle Jets are in action at WSW now (2 Jan) in a round 2 match, but today's other game Perth v Victory was called off just days ago. Melbourne Victory will instead host Brisbane on Sunday (3 Jan). Perth have an away fixture next week.

    "Fixture adjustments have been made for the next month in response to the restricted travel which now applies to persons from New South Wales into other States and Territories.
    "For the next four weeks, all clubs outside of New South Wales will continue to play one another, and all the clubs within New South Wales will continue with their games."
    - (Melb. Victory)
     
    blissett repped this.
  7. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Round 2 is already in the book, and it brings me SUCH pleasure to see Canberra down City :D Also fun to see Heyman closing in on Kerr's scoring record.
     
    sbahnhof repped this.
  8. sbahnhof

    sbahnhof Member+

    Nov 21, 2016
    Aotearoa
    Schadenfreude in Australian sport? Never thought I'd see the day...

    Nickoletta Flannery won it with a 93rd-minute wondergoal! I would say "Enjoy", but please don't enjoy this :)

    Canberra Utd 2 - 1 Melbourne City


    The defending champs' first loss after 17 undefeated games (since Jan 2019). For a second away game, they were outplayed, but still dangerous enough to level the score in the 2nd half.

    Also in week 2, WSW's first points:

    Western Sydney Wanderers 2 - 1 Newcastle Jets


    The first game in Melbourne this season, and some of the first competitive football there since the Victoria NPLW season was entirely cancelled by the pandemic:

    Melbourne Victory 0 - 0 Brisbane Roar


    Indeed, this is how it stands (after round 2)

    The league's schedule is just muddling through so far, but the list hasn't had any more postponements in the first week of 2021. Match round 3 has four games (7-10 Jan) including a Melbourne derby, and, after delays, Perth's first game, away at Adelaide: "The Western Australians get their season under way by travelling to the City of Churches with a youthful squad of mainly local players, including rising star Hana Lowry, and led by veteran captain Natasha Rigby."
     
    blissett repped this.
  9. sbahnhof

    sbahnhof Member+

    Nov 21, 2016
    Aotearoa
    West Ender and SiberianThunderT repped this.
  10. sbahnhof

    sbahnhof Member+

    Nov 21, 2016
    Aotearoa
    Rest of round 3:

    Brisbane's spectacular first goal of the season (Katrina Gorry), but still they can't win a match! 3 draws for them so far.

    Brisbane Roar 1 - 1 Canberra Utd


    Maximum points for Sydney, but it took two good strikes to take their second win and as coach Ante Juric said, Newcastle were tough to beat:

    Newcastle Jets 1 - 2 Sydney FC


    A narrow defeat for Perth in their first match... the penalty call was about as reliable as the goal-net :) Still, I must say I've really enjoyed the league season so far. Can it possibly keep up this pace until April?

    Adelaide United 1 - 0 Perth Glory


    Melbourne City have been having a shocker - some transfer news there, they've signed Norwegian midfielder Noor Eckhoff from Kolbotn who'll debut next week.

    Match round 4 has fixture changes, but 4 games are planned, starting 'today', Thurs 14 Jan, in Perth - the away side being Adelaide after a change (KO 09:05 GMT, 20:05 AEDT). On the weekend are the return derbies of Sydney v WSW, and Melbourne Victory v City, plus a non-local game of extra significance if it goes ahead - Newcastle Jets will be the first New South Wales club to play a team from out-of-state under the current complicated border restrictions. Who'll be the visitors? Some sources say Brisbane, others Canberra United (who had to quarantine after their latest match). Official websites are down atm, so, we'll see... Note again, many countries without a TV deal can stream games on FFA/My Football Youtube channel.
     
    Klingo3034 repped this.
  11. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    This week's games are now complete, with Canberra being held 1-1 by Perth. It's Perth's first point of the season, and Canberra dropped the opportunity to retake 1st place with the draw, now left a point behind SFC (instead of a point ahead) having played 4 games to SFC's 3. (It's not often you can enter the week in 1st, have the bye, and still be in 1st when the week is over!)

    I'm still pretty happy for the week, though, as lowly Adelaide beat City (yay!), with the Reds now tied at the top of the table, though like Canberra they've played 4 to SFC's 3.

    In the fight for the 4th playoff spot, Brisbane utterly thrashed the Victory 6-0 to take their postseason spot. (The Victory's other away game was when they 6-0'd City on City's turf. Keep an eye on the next Victory away game!)
     
    West Ender and sbahnhof repped this.
  12. sbahnhof

    sbahnhof Member+

    Nov 21, 2016
    Aotearoa
    Nasty incident at the Melbourne Victory v City second derby in round 4. Apparently, their big win the previous weekend caused some male Melbourne Victory ultras to turn up, and (at one point) throw bottles and abuse the City goalkeeper Teagan Micah, seen in the highlights. Hope they don't come back.
    In any case, they were quite the bad-luck charm: City made a 3-goal turnaround to get their first win of 2021:

    Melbourne Victory 2 - 3 Melbourne City


    And a google rabbithole confirms that the "Melbourne Victory ultras" are a real thing, and not a rejected far-fetched storyline from Neighbours. ...I haven't been to Melbourne yet, but I doubt it has enough in common with Bucharest to justify this kind of cosplay posturing:

    [​IMG]
    (Doesn't most of the city always belong to the AFL? Anyway, if a club is called the Melbourne Victory and doesn't win all the time, I would suggest they change the name, it's a good idea.)
     
    law10, SiberianThunderT and West Ender repped this.
  13. sbahnhof

    sbahnhof Member+

    Nov 21, 2016
    Aotearoa
    #13 sbahnhof, Feb 4, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2021
    Match round 6 - when is a record not a record? Michelle Heyman thought she'd equalled the W-League goalscoring landmark of 70 with a hat-trick. But the 3rd goal was denied to her later, changed on review to an own goal (see a super slo-mo)

    Canberra Utd 3 - 0 Western Sydney Wanderers


    So, Sam Kerr keeps that record for a bit longer. Heyman had to be content with a "first-half brace"... (I can't prove anything but I think the match report was edited!) :D

    Well, I dunno how you feel about Brisbane, but the round 6 game can be seen as either sad or funny or both:

    Melbourne City 2 - 3 Brisbane Roar


    Still no goal in Aussie soccer for Chinatsu Kira of City. Her club are way down the table after 4 defeats in the first 6 games, incredible really. In the week's other matches, the Melbourne Victory struck with a header to win 1-0 at Adelaide (Catherine Zimmerman 78'), and league leaders Sydney beat Newcastle 2-0 at the Olympic Stadium.

    W-League-round-6.png

    Sydney have a 100% win record but they haven't yet played the best opponents; only their two state rivals. Today in round 7 they venture out of NSW and visit the rank outsiders and defending champions Melbourne City, in a 2020 final rematch.

    Then, a table-topping clash on Monday, when Sydney FC hosts Canberra United at Jubilee Oval (16:35 AEDT). The Sunday games are WSW v Adelaide and Victory v Newcastle.
     
    Klingo3034, West Ender and blissett repped this.
  14. Lechus7

    Lechus7 Member+

    Aug 31, 2011
    Wroclaw
    #14 Lechus7, Feb 4, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2021
    Yes, but compere Melbourne roster from last season and this one.
    City had lto replace 15 players! It's hard to expect they will play on level with other teams without time to gel this new roster.;)
     
  15. law10

    law10 Member+

    Dec 26, 2007
    That was absolutely disgusting. Why do men think they own women's football? The captain of the team should should champion the women's game and throw them completely under the bus.
     
  16. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Another round and a half in, with every team except Perth now with at least six games:

    The Sky Blues have opened up a massive gap at the top of the table, 7pts clear of Canberra who are themselves just 1pt ahead of three chasers. There's then another big gap between 5th and 6th, while poor Perth is just sitting at the bottom of the table with games in hand but apparently still not scheduled to play any time soon.
     
  17. sbahnhof

    sbahnhof Member+

    Nov 21, 2016
    Aotearoa
    Every club had to deal with Covid and player shortages. The 'incredible' part is that City had no plan B, and Rado Vidošić couldn't assemble a team capable of getting any results. It's not even a generic 'gelling' problem - they've actually looked OK in most of the park this year, they could have doubled their points, except that their finishing was awful and the defence is weak (the red card v Sydney just showed desperation). I agree they'll improve, but only because their form can't get worse.

    Melbourne City 0 - 2 Sydney FC


    Sydney FC 4 - 0 Canberra Utd


    Sydney are the real outliers of this league - winning well while having an all-Australian squad, almost an unthinkable idea before now - and Sydney determined most of its roster long ago in August. Whether that headstart can be caught up by playoff time, who knows?

    On Sunday, they host another top-of-the-table match vs Brisbane. After 4 draws at the start, Brisbane have won 3 in a row, including a 2-1 on Thursday at Western Sydney. With both goals, Emily Gielnik drew level as equal-top scorer this season with Heyman (6).

    Unfortunately, Saturday's game Melbourne City v Newcastle is postponed because of a 5-day lockdown in Victoria.

    I'm not sure what's happening there - Perth has been under lockdown at some times recently, and there were forest fires nearby, and strict restrictions on entering Western Australia. Perth's lockdown is set to end on Sunday, 14 Feb.

    The rest of last weekend:

    Two goals by Melina Ayres in a 4-2 win for Melbourne Victory over Newcastle in round 7, and also a double for 17-year-old Sarah Hunter in only her 3rd game for WSW:

    Western Sydney 2 - 2 Adelaide Utd

     
    law10 and blissett repped this.
  18. sbahnhof

    sbahnhof Member+

    Nov 21, 2016
    Aotearoa
    West Ender repped this.
  19. law10

    law10 Member+

    Dec 26, 2007
    The Sydney GK coach is the one who owns that result.

    No fans wearing masks :eek::sick:
     
  20. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Australia has seen less than 50 cases/day nationwide since September, less than 30/day except for a small bump over the holidays, I think they don't have too much to worry about. Helps when a country took the pandemic seriously from day 1.
     
  21. sbahnhof

    sbahnhof Member+

    Nov 21, 2016
    Aotearoa
    #21 sbahnhof, Feb 18, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2021
    Also on Sunday was a good game at Adelaide United's Marden Sports Complex - this home win makes them jump up to 3rd, above Canberra and Melbourne Victory.

    Adelaide Utd 2 - 1 Canberra Utd


    On the topic of Vicki Linton's team, this article:
    All-female coaching staff at Canberra United paving the way in W-League - (ABC.net.au)

    It's the only W-League club without an A-League side, which I was surprised to hear, as I was certain I'd seen their men's team play, but I was thinking of Canberra Raiders rugby league team (who.. might do well in the A-League, but we'll never know).

    And yes, both a shock and a shocker...

    Sydney FC 1 - 4 Brisbane Roar


    It's a weird turn of events - Jada Whyman had played well and they'd only let in 1 goal until this Brisbane game.

    As noted on the 4th goal, Sydney's defending was pretty lacklustre, and at other times too. The big effect will be in encouraging others to go for goals against the league leaders, now that their winning run is emphatically over...


    Round 9 is kicking off with the Thursday match. This will mark the mid-season point for some, but Perth Glory could be playing 9 games in 6 weeks to catch up, and they are in action twice this week, in away games. Today they have a match at Western Sydney. (streaming the 1st half / 2nd half if available)
    The heavyweight clashes keep coming for Sydney FC, who are hosting Adelaide Utd this Sunday, 21 Feb.

    (edit) The W-League is continuing through this international break, with no Australia game scheduled. Is it almost a year since the Matildas' last match now?
     
  22. sbahnhof

    sbahnhof Member+

    Nov 21, 2016
    Aotearoa
    League games return to Perth today, 6 weeks since their first home match. They're coming off a rare double-defeat week in round 9 - WSW beat Perth 1-0 on Thursday, and Brisbane stayed undefeated with a win on Sunday, the Roar playing with such confidence:

    Brisbane Roar 4 - 0 Perth Glory


    But Sydney stayed ahead in 1st place, with a game in hand and 2pts lead over Brisbane.

    Sydney FC 2 - 1 Adelaide Utd


    Melbourne Victory (3rd) won as well, to overtake Adelaide and Canberra. A a great header by Kayla Morrison set the Victory on their way, before Catherine Zimmermann added her fourth goal of the season, in the 2-0 away victory in Newcastle (7th).

    Two matches today (25 Feb), round 10 kicks off at Western Sydney. The 6th-place Wanderers lead their opponent Melbourne City by 3 points with identical goal difference. Then, it's the welcome return of football to Dorrien Gardens in Perth, for the game of last v first, the Glory v Sydney FC.
     
  23. sbahnhof

    sbahnhof Member+

    Nov 21, 2016
    Aotearoa
    Round 10:

    Probably only one of these two clubs will make the playoffs - Canberra are sitting outside of it, in 5th, and the record-seeker Heyman hasn't scored for weeks.

    Melbourne Victory 1 - 1 Canberra Utd
    Highlights: "United share points with Victory to keep finals dreams alive" - (W-League)

    Adelaide are now 3rd with a 2-1 win at Newcastle. All three goals came in the first 15 mins with some great finishes. Western Sydney beat Melbourne City 1-0 with a goal by Leena Khamis, who was in the first W-League season in 2008.

    Maybe the highlight of Perth's unfortunate season will be Hana Lowry's 2-goal burst, the 17-year-old replying after Sydney had already put the game beyond doubt. Princess Ibini won the goal-of-the-week award with their 2nd:

    Perth Glory 2 - 6 Sydney FC


    Some virtual playoff matchups this weekend - Adelaide v Sydney (Sat 6 March) and Canberra v Brisbane (Sunday). The other club from the top five, Melbourne Victory, are hosting Western Sydney today (Thursday).

    Four weeks to go:
    W-League-round-10.png
    - table on 1 March 2021
     
  24. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    We have just two and a half weeks left, with R12 halfway through at the moment.

    Currently, SFC (24p/10g) are already qualified for the finals, but do not yet have the Premiership with Brisbane (22p/11g) having one chance (vs Newcastle, R14) to pass SFC, assuming SFC don't earn it directly themselves against Canberra or the Victory.

    The fight for the remaining two places is close at first glance between Adelaide (19p/11g), Canberra (18p/10g), and the Victory (17p/9g) but those games in hand (or lack thereof) matter a ton. Here are the remaining schedules:
    ADL - x - WSW(6) - x
    CAN - x - NEW(7) - SFC(1)
    MV - PG(9) - SFC(1) - PG(9)
    The Victory get two games against last-placed Perth (1p/8g), almost certainly meaning 6pts for the Victory, bringing them up to 23 with just the SFC game left for a max of 26. Adelaide can at most get 22pts, and Canberra can reach 24, but also has an SFC game in the way of that 24. It's gonna be tight, and I'm gonna cry if the Victory qualify and knock out either Adelaide or Canberra. Please, Perth, be competent a little bit?
     
    sbahnhof repped this.
  25. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Perth lost to the Victory :cry:
    It's not *over* over yet, but the chances of the Victory qualifying for the playoffs are dangerously high now...
     

Share This Page