As we count down until the start of the 13th instalment of the Herald Women's Premier League, we are bringing our readers an in-depth look into how the eight teams are shaping up.
First up are Newcastle Olympic.
In their first season of WPL last year, debut coach Harmonie Attwill led Olympic to the premiership-championship double. They will carry a target on their backs as they attempt to defend their titles this year and weighing heavily in their favour for more success is the fact the squad has barely changed.
The Newcastle Herald (NH)went one-on-one with Attwill (HA) and senior players Sophie O'Brien (SO) and Laura Hall (LH) recently and this is what they had to say about the season ahead.
The coach
NH: How is the squad shaping up for your second season of WPL?
HA: We haven't had many changes, which is important to us. Olympic's not a club that changes their players each year. They want to put effort and time into players and that's what our philosophy is as well, making sure we give the girls a chance to perform. We've kept pretty much the core of the group. We haven't got a lot of players. We're probably one or two players short of a full squad but we've got some excellent reserve graders, so I'm looking at more keeping it an open squad where we can push the girls forward. From the 17s to the reserves to first there's quite a few players who can step up and I think that's important for us looking forward. Some of the girls in first grade will possibly phase out in the next couple of years with their life decisions and their careers, so I think we really have to support the young girls to come through. It's a strong group and we've got a strong leadership group as well.
NH: What squad changes have you had?
HA: We've lost Imogen Tusek and Tulia Palozzi but have picked up Keea Parrish, an attacking player from the Emerging Jets, and Jade McAtamney, a midfielder from the Central Coast Mariners.
NH: What do the new players bring to your squad?
HA: Jade offers a lot for us just in terms of a bit more variation in the midfield. She's got a good football brain. She's well coached. She's also very coachable. She likes running with the ball. Her vision is excellent and I'm looking forward to having [striker] Jemma [House] up front where she can play her in because we haven't seen that combination yet. Keea is a front third player but she's versatile as well. She offers a good football brain as well and a bit of versatility. She does like playing No.10 but can be a really strong target player up front.
NH: When can we expect to see Jemma House back playing and do you think she can take her game to another level after a season with the W-League Jets?
HA: She'll come back as soon as she can. I think their contracts state they have to have two weeks' break after W-League, but she's eager to get back. Obviously getting that opportunity and being in that training environment is only going to improve her as a player and she is that kind of person where she will share her knowledge and her experience and she'll use that to push others. Hopefully she can come back and push us a little bit more and try to take us to a new level as well. Jemma's a classy player. She already had a lot to offer the club and getting that chance with the Jets, she's only going to improve.
NH: What goals have you set for 2021, and is being the defending premiers and champions a hard target to carry or do the players relish it?
HA: We want to win everything. No one plays to lose, but we're not looking too far ahead. It's good to set a standard and, if we were the standard last year, that's great and we won't apologise for wanting to be the best.
The players
NH: Is there added pressure this year after all that you achieved in your first season at Olympic?
SO: We won't look too much into it, to be honest. It's a new year and a new season. Obviously people can be wary of us but we'll just take each game as it comes and each week as it comes.
NH: The competition has returned to 21 rounds this year after it was reduced to 14 last season. How do you feel about that?
SO: It's a different ball game. I think we were lucky with only the two rounds last year. That suited us, especially injury-wise, so it will be interesting to see how a return to the regular season goes.
NH: Who should we watch out for this season?
SO: Georgia Little has been training really well in the off-season and I definitely wouldn't like to be defending her. I think she's definitely one to look out for.
LH: Jade McAtamney. She's my pick to look out for this season. She's very strong in the midfield and I'm really looking forward to playing with her and seeing what she can do for us this season. She's very skilful, very technical and she's only young. She's just so strong on the ball and she plays a direct and dangerous ball forward out of midfield, which is something we might have struggled with in the past. Within a touch and a pass she's got us going forward.
The stats
Last season: Finished first with 34 points, beat Warners Bay 3-2 in the grand final
Home ground: Darling Street Oval
Key players: Striker Jemma House was the leading scorer last season with 33 goals in 16 outings. She also earned the player of the year accolade and at times proved the difference in close matches, coming up with something special when her team needed it. Her efforts in a return season to the Herald WPL after a stint playing college football in the United States earned her a Jets contract for this W-League season. Sophie O'Brien at the back was solid all season and experienced duo Keely Gawthrop and Laura Hall were tireless in the middle of the park. Georgia Little threw herself into everything and continues to show she is a player of the future.
First up: Olympic host Warners Bay in a grand final rematch at Darling Street Oval on Saturday (March 27) at 2pm.
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