Biggest W-League season set for kick-off

Niav Owens

Updated October 16, 2012 18:46:04

The fifth season of the W-League is set to be the biggest yet with the Western Sydney Wanderers joining the competition and two extra rounds being added for the 2012-13 edition.

The action kicks off on Saturday with a grand final rematch between Canberra United and Brisbane Roar, while the Wanderers take on Adelaide United.

Representatives from all sides were on hand for the official season launch in Sydney on Tuesday.

Wanderers star recruit Servet Uzunlar said that the club has taken a very professional approach from the beginning, and she is expecting a competitive showing from her side first up.

"We sat down at the very start of preseason and mapped out what we wanted to achieve come first week of the W-League," Uzunlar said.

"It has just been a process of putting in the hard work week in and week out and training together as a squad."

A number of Australian players will feature for the new club, with Uzunlar joined at the Wanderers by captain and key recruit Sarah Walsh.

"I've played with Walshy playing under Sydney FC, but to move away and start a new club and have a name like Walshy [on the roster] - it's fantastic," Uzunlar said.

ABCTV's 2012-13 W-League program guide

Canberra United went through last season undefeated, and will benefit from having maintained much of that winning line-up this season.

Last year's Golden Boot player of the year Michelle Heyman will again turn out for the defending champs.

She said that the team environment that has been created in the capital has played a big part in their success.

"We played each game as a team and I think that's one thing that Canberra United have done really well, we actually are a family," she said.

When pushed about her personal goals for this season, Heyman admitted that she has her sights firmly set on securing another Golden Boot award.

"Already having won it twice, I think that I've got to try and keep my name up there," Heyman said.

"I think this is my time to shine and I want that award."

Matildas coach Tom Sermanni believes this will be the closest competition in W-League history.

"Teams that were at the bottom last year have recruited well and got themselves better organised," he said.

"And the addition of the eighth team back into the league Western Sydney Wanderers has obviously taken some players away from Sydney FC.

"Brisbane have had some injury problems, Melbourne has a new coach, so when you put all those factors together I think we're going to see a competition that is going to be very close."

ABC TV's weekly coverage of the W-League begins with Canberra taking on Brisbane Roar at McKellar Park on Saturday.

A live stream of all of the action will be available online from 2:00pm (AEDT), with national coverage on ABC1 from 5:00pm.

Tags: soccer, sport, a-league, sydney-2000

First posted October 16, 2012 18:43:07

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Perry to play for Sydney in W-League

Updated September 03, 2012 21:39:23

Dual international Ellyse Perry has confirmed she will switch from Canberra to Sydney FC for the 2012-13 W-League season.

Perry played three seasons with Canberra United but the defending premiers forced the hand of Perry when they asked her to choose between her football and cricket commitments.

The talented 21-year-old responded by making it clear she wished to continue playing both sports.

As a result she is being accomodated by Sydney FC and the arrangement suits Perry who studies in Sydney and plays cricket with the NSW Breakers.

"My family is here, I study at Sydney University and my cricket is based in Sydney, " Perry told The Women's Game website.

"It was difficult to constantly commute three hours there and then three hours back for games and training and I was missing training sessions for both sports."

Tags: sport, soccer, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted September 03, 2012 21:39:23

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Perry looking for new W-League club

Updated May 30, 2012 20:49:21

Dual international Ellyse Perry has all but parted ways with Canberra United following its ultimatum to choose soccer over cricket, confirming she is looking for a new W-League club to call home.

Perry, 21, issued a joint statement with Canberra United on Wednesday that was not explicit but effectively extinguished any last hopes she might re-sign for a fourth season with the W-League 2011-12 defending champions.

"I still want to pursue my goals of playing both cricket and football at the highest possible level and as such I feel it is important for me to explore avenues which enable me to do so," she said, while the club added it would help her look.

"I thank Canberra United and its wonderful community for all their great support over the last three seasons and I wish everyone involved at the club the very best for the future and in defending the W-League title."

Perry was a notable omission from the Canberra premiership side during its 3-2 victory over Brisbane Roar in January, which came after she missed several games in the lead-up to the grand final because of her cricketing commitments.

Canberra United chief executive Heather Reid defended issuing the ultimatum which ordered Perry to quit cricket and commit full-time to the three months of the W-League season.

She said she backed coach Jitka Klimkova's new philosophy about all players putting in the same amount of effort and being treated equally.

"There's not some rules for some players and other rules for other players," Reid said.

"They are a team and to allow one individual to come in and out of that team - that environment does have its challenges and impacts on morale.

"There was a feeling of being let down."

Reid admitted the situation was tough, but said Perry's popularity and celebrity was not enough to earn her special privileges.

"I'm being personally criticised for scoring an own-goal or shooting the team in the foot," she said.

"But ... this is about increasing professionalism in women's sport, even if we're not paid in professional terms.

"You wouldn't have this same situation in rugby league where they allow a rugby union player to come in and out of the squad.

"It demonstrates some leadership and if I was a bloke, they'd probably say it takes some balls."

All up, Perry missed six of Canberra's 12 games during the 2011/12 season - her third with the club.

The Sydneysider, who is also studying a degree in economics and social sciences, has several options, but the first would be to sound out Sydney FC and assess whether it will be more accommodating with her cricket schedule.

Reid was disappointed in the way the issue snowballed, arguing the ultimatum did not mean Perry would be lost to soccer.

"Ellyse is a fantastic ambassador and an absolute gem," she said.

"There will be other clubs."

AAP

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, canberra-2600, act, australia

First posted May 30, 2012 20:49:21

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Perry given ultimatum by W-League club

Updated May 30, 2012 07:59:53

W-League champions Canberra United have told dual international Ellyse Perry she needs to commit full-time to the club over cricket or find another team.

Perry represents Australia in both football and cricket, often juggling the two during the W-League season.

But Canberra United chief executive Heather Reid says the club needs the 21-year-old to be all in or nothing.

"We have basically given Ellyse an ultimatum," she told Grandstand.

"Ellyse needs to choose whether she wants to be a full-time Canberra United player and commit to training every day like everyone else does.

"Or if she still wants to try and mix her cricket commitment with football, then perhaps she will need to find another club.

"The pressure is really just coming form Canberra United and in particular [coach] Jitka Klimkova, who is trying to build a much more professional football culture and she needs players to be fully committed to football."

Perry, who has represented both the Matildas at the 2011 women's football World Cup in Germany and the Southern Stars in the 2009 cricket World Cup, said she respected the club's position but thinks it is still feasible to play both sports at the highest level.

"With Jitka coming on board, and the wonderful success the club achieved last year, I certainly respect her position and the philosophy and direction she wants to take the club in," Perry said.

"That doesn't quite fit in with my situation.

"I was open to that being a possibility and given that is has happened, that is just the way it is."

Perry said she has not put a time frame on committing to one sport.

"Something I have to make sure is that I still love every moment of it, and at the moment I do," she said.

"I get a huge thrill out of playing both cricket and soccer.

"I certainly still feel it is feasible to play both."

Reid said Perry could find another club to continue her double act, most likely the W-League's new western Sydney franchise.

Perry, who lives in Sydney, said it is still to early to think about that, especially after she was recently selected in a Matildas squad ahead of two matches against New Zealand in June.

She will also take part in a Southern Stars cricket tour in September.

"I haven't really thought that far ahead in terms of the W-League season. It is still quite a way down the track," she said.

"I know they haven't even set competition dates yet, and playing rosters haven't even been looked at yet."

Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said CA would continue to support Perry's ambition to play both soccer and cricket.

"Ellyse Perry is a wonderful role model to young girls interested in either or both cricket and soccer," Young said on Twitter.

Tags: cricket, sport, soccer, canberra-2600, act, australia

First posted May 29, 2012 13:51:07

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Canberra downs Roar to clinch W-League title

Updated January 31, 2012 16:10:48

Table-toppers Canberra United proved too strong for Brisbane Roar in the W-League grand final, winning 3-2 in a thriller at McKellar Park in Canberra.

The league's all-time top scorer Michelle Heyman was the chief destroyer for the hosts, scoring twice and setting up another for Ashleigh Sykes to propel Canberra to its first W-League title in front of a sold-out crowd of 2,512.

Heyman produced a neat finish to send Canberra on its way in the 11th minute, before laying off an inch-perfect cross for Sykes to tap home just six minutes later.

A goal from substitute Emily Gielnek - who scored her ninth of the season with her first touch after coming on for the injured Joanne Burgess - gave the Roar hope in a pulsating first half.

But it was soon extinguished when Heyman scored her second goal 10 minutes after half-time, and although Tameka Butt pulled one back from the penalty spot, it was not enough to prevent Canberra from lifting the trophy.

Heyman was named player of the match and finished a prolific campaign with 15 goals.

The win meant Canberra's Czech coach Jitka Klimkova became the first female coach to lead a team to the W-League title.

"It was a great game with a great crowd, with amazing football. Both teams played an attacking style," Klimkova said.

"Everyone worked really hard on and off the field.

"We were united as a team throughout the season and that is the main thing.

"We have now finally reached our final destination."

The victory also saw Canberra avenge its defeat to the Roar in the inaugural W-League grand final in 2009.

"I can't put it (the emotions) into words, it is amazing," Canberra captain Ellie Brush said.

"We concentrated on our strengths with the ball on the ground and worked on our combinations like we have done all season.

"It was upsetting to concede those two goals which put us on the back foot, but we were able to keep pushing and bring it home for the fans."

Canberra United: 3 (M Heyman 11', 55', A Sykes 17')

Brisbane Roar: 2 (E Gielnek 21', T Butt 64' pen)

Tags: sport, soccer, canberra-2600, act, australia, brisbane-4000, qld

First posted January 28, 2012 16:51:23

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Shoot-out sends Roar into W-League final

Updated January 22, 2012 20:34:18

Brisbane will play Canberra in next week's W-League grand final after the Roar beat Sydney on penalties in a dramatic semi-final on Sunday.

Sydney finished the game with 10 players while coach Alen Stajcic was locked and guarded in the dressing room after being dismissed from the sidelines in the second half for a couple of blow-ups.

Trailing 1-0 after 18 minutes, Brisbane super-sub Emily Gielnik equalised with less than a minute remaining in injury time at the Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre

And following an action-packed period of extra-time, the hosts completed the stunning comeback with a 4-3 shootout triumph.

Moments after Brisbane's equaliser, star Sydney forward Kyah Simon - arguably the visitors' best player - slid in with a frustrated tackle on Vedrana Popovic, earning a second yellow card.

Stajcic exploded, entering the field of play to remonstrate with Popovic and voicing his displeasure to officials, who ordered him off the sidelines.

It was his second outburst of the match after he complained to officials following Gielnik's goal.

The drama continued when Stajcic continued to relay messages to his assistants from the stands, and had to be escorted to the dressing rooms and held under guard by ground security officers.

Estelle Johnson and Teresa Polias were the unlucky women to miss from the spot for Sydney, while Tameka Butt, Kim Carroll, Brooke Spence and Aivi Luik all converted for the Roar.

Gielnik, who was introduced at half-time, made an immediate impact on the game, providing her midfield a strong target and capping off a great half with her last-gasp equaliser.

"It's indescribable more than anything ... I don't know what I was feeling but in a second everyone came and ran and smothered me," said Gielnik.

"It feels phenomenal; one-nil down and under the pump and then to get a goal in the dying seconds and to know we're in the final.

"There's always been a lot of drama between us and the Sydney girls. They're a great bunch of girls but of all the teams, they're the one that love to give us a fight."

The victory means Brisbane has now made every grand final in the competition's four-year history, while Sydney miss its first decider in three years.

AAP

Tags: soccer, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted January 22, 2012 20:12:33

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Canberra to host W-League final

Updated January 21, 2012 18:23:47

Canberra United remain on track for its maiden W-League crown after seeing off a resilient Melbourne Victory with a hard-fought 1-0 win to advance through to next Saturday's grand final.

Canberra was undefeated throughout the league season but was made to work overtime against the Victory, triumphing thanks only to a deflected goal credited to the league's leading scorer Michelle Heyman seven minutes from full-time.

The win means the nation's capital will host the W-League decider for the first time, with the opponent to be the victor of Sunday's second semi-final between league heavyweights Brisbane Roar and Sydney FC.

"It was a good and really open game," said Canberra coach Jitka Klimkova.

"Melbourne created many chances and we created so many chances.

"We said (at half-time) we needed to be more aggressive and more direct and I think it worked well in the second half.

"But I said 25 minutes before the end of the game that we would win the game in the 90 minutes.

"I am so proud to see so many people here for such a great contest. This game was a celebration of women's football."

Melbourne settled into its groove early on and showed no signs of its scratchy finals debut last season, when it crashed 5-1 to Sydney FC.

The Victory had several early attempts on goal forcing Canberra goalkeeper Lydia Williams into action while striker Jodie Taylor was guilty of missing a number of gilt-edged chances for the visitors.

However Canberra slowly gained control before completely dominating the second half with parity maintained thanks only to a combination of poor finishing and some fine saves from Victory shotstopper Brianna Davey.

Heyman had a header narrowly ruled out for offside just after the break while teenager Hayley Raso then powered a header just over the bar.

Finally the breakthrough came as the prolific Heyman scored her 13th goal of the campaign and the most important of her season to date with an ambitious drive from 25 metres deflecting off defender Rebekah Stott and looping over the unfortunate Davey.

There was still time for Heyman to hit the crossbar with the last kick of the game as United finished with a wet sail.

Canberra United: 1 (M Heyman 83')

Melbourne Victory: 0

AAP

Tags: soccer, sport, canberra-2600, act, australia

First posted January 21, 2012 18:20:15

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Brisbane sew up W-League home semi spot

Updated January 15, 2012 19:32:38

Champions Brisbane Roar maintained its recent dominance against Sydney FC with a 1-0 victory over its W-League rivals, enough to shore up second spot and secure a home semi-final against the same opponents.

A tight final-round contest was settled by an own goal from Teresa Polias, with the Roar extending their unbeaten streak against their rivals to four matches, including last year's grand final.

Goalscoring opportunities were at a premium in Brisbane with the decisive moment coming on 33 minutes as Polias turned Joanne Burgess's low cross into her own net.

The previously free-scoring Sydney struggled to break down the Roar and the closest they came was a fierce long-range effort from Servet Uzunlar which shaved the crossbar.

The competition heavyweights will meet again next Sunday, while Canberra, which finished top of the ladder despite a last-round bye, will entertain Melbourne Victory on Saturday.

"It was very tight match and physically very tough," said Brisbane coach Jeff Hopkins.

"The good thing about my team throughout the season has been our resilience which has proven important once again.

"It's great to have the home semi and not being forced to travel will be an advantage after such a demanding match.

"I think Sydney will perform better next week but I expect it to be tight again with matches between us almost always in the balance until the last minute."

Melbourne secured passage to its second successive finals series with a 4-1 win on the road against Adelaide United.

The Victory were forced to come from behind but a three-goal burst before the interval meant their nerves were quickly settled.

Katrina Gorry, Ashleigh Brown, Caitlin Friend and Kendall Fletcher all on the scoresheet as the Victory's confidence received a boost ahead of their meeting with the undefeated Canberra.

Perth Glory ended a six match losing streak to stun Newcastle Jets 4-2 and avoid a maiden wooden spoon.

The Glory, who just last month crashed to a record 11-0 defeat against Sydney FC, cruised past a Newcastle side that needed all three points if it was to claim an unlikely finals berth ahead of Melbourne.

However Perth was in the ascendancy throughout thanks to an early goal from Katarina Jukic plus further strikes from Carys Hawkins, Elisa D'Ovidio and Marianna Tabain to stun the Jets and condemn Adelaide to bottom spot.

AAP

Tags: soccer, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted January 14, 2012 23:28:30

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W-League import gets Sydney FC home

Updated October 30, 2011 14:42:01

Sydney FC secured its first victory of the W-League season thanks to a late winner from star American import Megan Rapinoe, who completed a brief stint with the premiers in stunning fashion.

The 26-year-old midfielder, who played a key role in USA's run to the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup final, capped a dazzling performance with the decisive goal seven minutes from time to down a hard-working Melbourne Victory 2-1.

Sydney's Kylie Ledbrook opened the scoring in the early stages and a second-half Jodie Taylor penalty looked to have earned the visitors a share of the points until Rapinoe's late intervention.

After an indifferent start to her two-match stint last weekend in the 1-1 draw against champions Brisbane Roar, Rapinoe proved a constant threat to the Victory defence.

A virtuoso attacking performance could have yielded several goals and a thunderous long-range free-kick that rattled the crossbar was among the highlights.

The win took the Sky Blues to second spot, two points off leader Canberra United with the pair to meet next weekend in Sydney.

United maintained its early position at the top of the standings with a 3-2 comeback win against Perth Glory.

A second-half hat-trick from Michelle Heyman got Canberra home, after New Zealand international Emma Kete had given the visiting Glory a half-time lead on her W-League debut.

Heyman's 16-minute treble lifted her goal scoring tally to 25, one clear of Leena Khamis' previous W-League all-time record.

Newcastle Jets took to the field for the first time this season, following a bye in the opening round, and the new-look side did not disappoint on home soil.

The Jets ran out comfortable 3-0 victors against Adelaide United with new signing Lisa De Vanna bagging a double, and setting up the other goal for Linda O'Neill.

The league's other high profile international recruit, two-time German Women's World Cup winner Ariane Hingst, turned in a solid debut in defence.

So too did another new face, Matildas goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri, with the Jets' goal rarely threatened.

An overwhelmed Adelaide finished the game with 10 players after Katherine Ebbs was sent from the field late on for a second yellow card.

AAP

Tags: a-league, soccer, sydney-2000, nsw, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted October 29, 2011 18:00:11

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Star recruits help launch W-League

Updated October 18, 2011 16:53:53

The W-League has gone global with several star imports and foreign coaches arriving for the fourth season of the Australian domestic competition.

The new season was officially launched in Sydney on Tuesday, with several teams parading their star recruits ahead of the start of the competition on Sunday.

Sydney FC has secured United States national team star Megan Rapinoe for a guest stint, while Newcastle Jets recruited German defender and two-time Women's World Cup winner Ariane Hingst.

Rapinoe, 26, says the standard of the competition has improved since its inception in 2008/09.

"I've seen quite a bit of football in Australia over the past three years, as I've come over a lot when the W-League has been on," said Rapinoe.

"I think the standard of play in Australia has improved over the past few years along with the standard across women's football in general internationally.

"I'm really looking forward to play with Sydney for the first time."

Clubs have attracted international coaches for the first time, with Canberra United bringing in former Czech Republic international Jitka Klimkova and Adelaide United appointing former New Zealand Under 17s coach David Edmondson.

This weekend's fixtures include a rematch of last season's grand final, with champions Brisbane Roar facing Sydney at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.

AAP

Tags: soccer, sport, australia

First posted October 18, 2011 16:53:53

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