In the history of the W-League there has never been such a flagrant display of dominance as Melbourne City’s dramatic entrance last season.
Whereas traditional powerhouses Sydney FC, Brisbane (née Queensland) Roar and Canberra United once seemingly pre-caucused to decide who among them would receive the trophies each season, in 2015-16 the pedigree sides were obliterated. In an opening display so brutal it belonged in 1930s German theatre City put six goals past a hapless Sydney and over the following weeks four more past both Brisbane and Canberra.
When the landscape of a league changes so seismically often of more interest is the subsequent reaction. And while Canberra United have responded ominously, the biggest reaction has come not from the usual suspects, but from less fancied clubs around the league.
Under former premiership winning Perth coach Jamie Harnwell, and one suspects following long-overdue investment from the club, Adelaide United made great strides, and this season have issued a real statement of intent.
In comes Brazilian international defender Mônica, Mexican international striker Sofia Huerta and the highly rated US duo Katie Naughton and Danielle Colaprico, with new coach Huss Skenderovic aided by the return of Reds stalwart Racheal Quigley and rising star and fringe Matilda Alex Chidiac.
In Mônica you have an international team-mate of five-time world player of the year Marta – a player who in training routinely lined up against Brazilian legends Cristiane and Formiga. And it’s a reality that couldn’t be further from the first five seasons of the W-League, during which the Lady Reds earned respect for giving opportunities to young players, but effectively offered their opponents free points week-in, week-out.
And if Melbourne City’s all-conquering strikeforce of Lisa De Vanna, Larissa Crummer, Kim Little and Beattie Goad set a new benchmark last season, it has now been almost entirely dismantled due to injury, study opportunities and the ever-quixotic De Vanna’s decision not to re-sign.
Instead it is Canberra United who now appear to have the frontline most likely to terrorise defences this season. In addition to the league’s all-time top goalscorer, Michelle Heyman, and club icon, Ashleigh Sykes, United have poached Sydney FC’s gun striker Jasmyne Spencer, American Stephanie Ochs and 14-cap Matilda Hayley Raso.
Experienced coach Rae Dower faces endless selection headaches accommodating her embarrassment of riches, but her latest import Spencer is confident Canberra will gel.
“I think we all have a little bit different attributes and what we’re best at,” Spencer said. “And when you put it all together it’s going to be really potent.”
Heyman raised eyebrows at the W-League launch by suggesting she might perform a different role this season, acting perhaps as a deeper-lying No10 with Spencer in front – but either way maintained the two-time champions will be something to stop: “Fast. And pretty dangerous,” was her succinct and ominous appraisal.
But if they look unbeatable going forward, the challenge for Canberra might be at the back, with one of the biggest transfer shocks of the off-season coming when Matildas shotstopper, and one of the world’s best goalkeepers, Lydia Williams, decided to leave the club she had represented since the league’s foundation.
It is a massive coup for Melbourne City, who also pilfered Matilda Teigen Allen from rivals Sydney FC, to create yet more fascinating subplots in the lead-up to season nine. With a bye in round one, Canberra United’s first game will be away to City and the battle between Heyman and Sykes and their former custodian will be one to savour.
With 26 players from all around the globe signed on already, fans of almost every club can look forward to exciting new prospects – Danish international Nina Frausing-Pedersen at Brisbane, Mexican defender Arianna Romero at Perth, or US sharp-shooter Jennifer Hoy at Newcastle among them.
Add to this 19 from the current squad of 23 Matildas on the books of eight different clubs, as well as former and recent internationals such as Joanne Burgess and Servet Uzunlar returning to the league, and we have an assemblage of talent with which local fans have perhaps never been so spoilt.
While W-League devotees still rightly harbour grievances over the lack of women-specific merchandise or membership packages, FFA appear to have worked harder to deliver greater exposure for the competition. This season sees 19 double-headers between W-League and A-League sides, 14 of which will be televised on both Fox Sports and the ABC – a development endorsed by Matilda Steph Catley.
“There are people in the crowd who might not drive separately to go watch the girls, but if they see the quality, the different aspects that the women’s game brings, then hopefully it can attract a new audience,” Catley said.
The W-League once boasted the reigning world player of the year – imagine Lionel Messi coming to play in the A-League – and yet as a goalkeeper, Nadine Angerer may have largely escaped the public’s imagination.
But with the consistent development of young local female players still a major headache for the governing body, perhaps the effect of such quality overseas players coming to Australia isn’t as immediately tangible.
“[The foreign players are] always incredible, always technical,” said Catley. “They’re fast, they’re strong, they’re good leaders, so for young girls that are in and around the team they learn a lot from them – it improves the [training] sessions and everyone can see their class when they’re out there on game day.”
Catley cites players such as the Welsh international Jess Fishlock or US defender Lauren Barnes, both back this season with City, as having been instrumental to her own career development, and invites younger Australians to see the armada of overseas players as an opportunity not an obstacle.
“I think it just means that [local players] have to be better. You can’t expect to have a spot if you’re not the best player in that position, so I feel like it’s going to be exciting for the Australian girls to want to be just as good as the foreign girls that are coming in – so hopefully that challenges them.”
Two years ago Canberra United’s Grace Maher, aged just 15, made a surprise start in the W-League final. With the gulf in class between the country’s top league and the various state competitions, such big game experience is invaluable to a player considered one of the brightest prospects in the country.
Today, Maher trains alongside World Cup winner Yukari Kinga – potentially one of the W-League’s greatest imports. Few ever play in a World Cup final, fewer still alongside greats like Homare Sawa and Aya Miyama, and against Abby Wambach, Carli Lloyd or Megan Rapinoe.
Melbourne City’s title-winning entrance may have sent shockwaves among the W-League establishment but the reaction and recruitment from rival clubs has been hugely impressive. Women’s football domestically may just have lifted to a new level – which is great news for player development, and even better news for fans.
