Former internationals, rising stars and American imports, there is no shortage of talent running around every weekend in the NPLW Northern NSW.
Runaway leaders Maitland are clearly the team to beat and there are real questions over whether anyone can actually catch them, but some midseason signings are shaking up the competition.
As the region's top-flight women's competition approaches the business end of the season, we asked coaches to nominate players from their own teams who had impressed them with consistent form this year, as well as players from a rival club who had caught their eye.
What do you think? Who would you include?
The obvious choice for many is twice-capped Matilda and goalscoring machine Tara Andrews. The 32-year-old is the most prolific scorer in the Newcastle Jets' history. Andrews does not play at the elite level any more, instead moving into an assistant coaching role with the Jets.
So impressed was new Jets coach Stephen Hoyle by Andrews, who often still joins in at training, he had hoped to coax her out of retirement. At local level, the technically gifted No.9 is on another planet. Left foot, right foot, head, doesn't matter. If there's a sniff of a goal, Andrews will take the shot, and likely execute. She has been the league's leading scorer on multiple occasions and is again setting the pace with 21 goals in 12 appearances. As one coach observed, "Tara's Tara". Say no more.
Defenders rarely get the plaudits they deserve so the Newcastle Herald was happy to see plenty making this list. The Californian centre-back has quickly impressed not just in the skill department but also with her leadership qualities.
The 23-year-old was handed the captain's armband at Magic, and like all of the Americans we have seen in this league, she has brought professionalism. Every game is the same - a high standard in everything she does. Strong in the challenge, Janikowski wins her one-on-one battles. Also comfortable carrying the ball forward. Excelled in the United States college system and has played professionally in the Philippines.
At just 17, O'Driscoll is a player of the future. The attacking weapon is still at school and was part of the Hunter team who claimed the NSW Combined High Schools (CHS) title recently, playing a key role in their success and earning selection in the state squad with her efforts.
The teenager joined Maitland fairly late from the Central Coast Mariners program but settled in quickly. Aggressive in the press, she knows how to rattle the opposition defence but is herself calm under pressure. A smart player who makes intelligent runs off the ball, breaking the lines and getting in behind defences. A real handful for her opponents. Summed up by an opposition coach as "outstanding" this season.
Another talented teenager with a bright future, the 17-year-old from the Mid North Coast does not look out of place in first grade. The athletic left-back previously played in the league as a 14-year-old with Mid Coast and there were bit wraps on her then.
She has slotted in at Olympic and consistently done her job this season. Boskovski reads the game well and is a fierce competitor, matching it with some of the NPLW's most-established players. She does all the basic stuff really well and will only get better with more time in this league.
Perrins is one of the more experienced players in this league and has been a huge value-add for Charlestown Azzurri, who lost most of their championship-winning side from last year. The central midfielder arrived at the club with over 200 first-grade appearances in NPLW NSW. She has been one of Azzurris' best performers week in, week out.
The 32-year-old is an absolute workhorse. Composed and calm under pressure, she has a high football IQ and coach Alicia Ferguson must be excited to see how Perrins combines with midseason signing Libby Copus-Brown from the Jets.
Talk to anyone and there's something about Marry. Something special that is. The former South African international is all class. At 36, Ntsweng is likely the oldest player in NPLW, but she is also the slickest. The crafty playmaker scored a bucketload of goals in a stacked Maitland side last year and has continued the trend at Adamstown.
Rosebud coach Martin Slade has used Ntsweng as an old-fashioned No.10 in a complementary partnership with towering No.9 Tanya Jones. Ntsweng has been clinical in a team who have struggled to get wins on the board. She has scored nine goals for the league's fourth-best tally.
After being more known as a lethal wide player in this competition, Gabrielle Blanch has used the 24-year-old as an old-school box-to-box midfielder. Blanch had previously coached Bainsfair at the Mariners and felt she would be perfect as a typical No.8.
She was right. Fit and willing to roll her sleeves up and do the work, Bainsfair is equally in everything in attack and defence. A key player as Lakes target their first finals appearance in NPLW.
Another American showing her class in Oz and another great addition to the league. The 24-year-old Texan comes power-packed. She is near unstoppable with the ball at her feet, breaking the lines with an eye for goal. Wright has scored 14 goals in NPLW for the league's third-best tally, many of which are likely to make the goals of the year highlights reel.
Wright came through the United States college system and is equally comfortable, and dangerous, playing as an out-and-out striker or in behind. She is turning heads with some individual brilliance each week. Much like Andrews, can turn nothing into something quickly.
After being a fringe first-grader at Azzurri for the past two seasons, the attack-minded Sienna Fraser-Kelly has become a regular starter at New Lambton. And, the Australian futsal representative has really found her feet, so to speak.
The 32-year-old has produced some dominant performances in recent rounds, forming an intuitive combination with fellow futsal representative Andrews. Hard-working with a hunger for the ball, Fraser-Kelly has been a solid inclusion for the Golden Eagles.
An absolute legend at Adamstown, where she is playing her 10th season, Olivia Sneddon is the club's longest-serving women's premier league player with well over 100 appearances. The 27-year-old has twice been recognised as the league's goalkeeper of the year and is having one of her most consistent seasons in recent time.
Sneddon has produced point-blank saves in big moments to keep Rosebud, who play a high-risk brand of football, in games. The shot-stopper's performances could go a long way to securing Adamstown their first finals appearance in some time.
Another of the rising talents in this competition, Howard is gaining a reputation as a reliable markswoman. Similar to Andrews, she is strong on the ball and clinical anywhere in and around the 18-yard box. Is also known to have a long-range bomb in her scoring arsenal.
Howard has a lethal left foot and is dangerous crossing into the area and from the set piece. At just 20, she has a big future in the game.
Brought in to fill the shoes of former national league fullback Tessa Tamplin and has been outstanding every game. With speed to burn, the 20-year-old makes devastating runs down the flanks. She has a high work ethic, wins her battles and is also versatile.
When pushed forward due to injuries and unavailability, has been dangerous and proven to be a handy goalscorer.
The former national league midfielder has been shifted to centre-back this season due to injuries at Maitland and has proven a stand-out in the defensive role. The 23-year-old miraculously returned to playing last year seven weeks after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.
Comfortable receiving the ball under pressure and hitting a killer pass forward, Morley's composure and quality on the ball has changed the way the high-flying Magpies have been able to control games.
She has been a mainstay of Newcastle Olympic since they entered the region's top-flight competition, playing an integral role in their success as a regular top-four side. The uncompromising centre-back continues to play a key role as Olympic go through a changing of the guard.
They lost a wealth of experience this year and Evans' role as a leader in the team cannot be understated. She may be one of the shortest centrebacks in the competition but is also one of the most effective. Plays with plenty of heart, fights for every ball and is near impossible to beat.
Another standout defender in NPLW, the 24-year-old centre-back was key to Azzurri's dominance in the past two campaigns and will be integral as Lake Macquarie look to cement a finals position this year. Has brilliant positional awareness and reads the play well.
Strong in the challenge and is dangerous running out of defence with the ball at her feet.
At just 17, Isabelle Budden is already asserting herself as a player of the future. Comfortable playing anywhere in the backline, the teenager has a physical presence and is thriving under coach Alicia Ferguson.
Her development in a short amount of time has been noted and Budden will only grow more playing alongside A-League defender Taren King, who joined Azzurri in the midseason transfer window. A calm, composed and no-nonsense defender who reads the game well.
An established player in this competition and widely regarded as one of its most talented footballers. Even though Maitland already boasted a strong line-up, the 30-year-old playmaker's addition is probably the signing of the season.
Creative and constantly on the move, Dagg is dangerous every time she gets the ball. She is always looking for it, can turn on a dime, loves to go at the opposition defence and makes things happen. When not assisting goals is scoring them herself. Likely to be the difference as the Magpies chase a maiden championship.
Another very understated defender. Not necessarily talked about as one of the competition's key players, but the Lake Macquarie centre-back has been consistently strong this campaign. Understood to be one of the first picked every week, McMahon forms a solid central defensive pairing with Alyssa Togo-Paragalli.
The 23-year-old is tough in the challenge, goes through people and is hard to play against. Extremely solid one-on-one defensively and quickly turns defence into attack. Comfortable stepping into midfield.
Another young gun with a big future, the 17-year-old forward is a constant goal threat. Also part of the victorious Hunter CHS schoolgirls team, scoring eight goals to help clinch the NSW crown. She can strike quickly and clinically if given a sniff and is proving a handy all-round No.9 for the Magpies.
OK, she is not a player, but hats off to the former Matildas midfielder, whose first coaching gig in NPLW NNSW has not been an easy one. The 44-year-old was left picking up the pieces after wholesale players losses following a season in which the club collected every piece of silverware on offer in the women's game.
There were questions over whether Azzurri would be able to field teams this year and they were widely tipped to finish last. Although they have only won two games, Ferguson has the team playing to their strengths and still in the fight for a finals spot should they get a run of good results. If anything, she is laying a solid foundation as the club goes through a rebuild.
