The Women's NPLSA 2020 season is finally upon us. We've teamed up with Metro Homes SA to analyse each WNPLSA team and analyse the contenders for this year's crown.
The information in this document has been provided to Football SA by clubs. While we endeavour to be as accurate as possible, changes in squads may have taken place between the time of submission and production of this document.
Adelaide City
After the extraordinary treble-winning achievement of 2019, Adelaide City will again be the team to beat in the 2020 season.
With such a deep squad of senior players last year, departures were inevitable. But a strong core remains including the 11 that started the epic 2019 grand final against West Adelaide.
City will also be boosted by Grace Abbey’s return after a long injury layoff. That will ensure that new coach Max Primaro will continue to have defensive depth to complement star ballplayers Nano Sasaki, Yuka Sasaki and Dylan Holmes, the latter having completed another summer in the heart of Adelaide United’s midfield.
Matilda McNamara and Georgia Campagnale will also return from W-League action, as will Chelsie Dawber and Isabel Hodgson who will join experienced forwards Tiarn Powell and Dani Di Bartolo in attack.
Can they be stopped?
Squad: GRACE ABBEY (14), ALICIA NICKOLAS (2),MATILDA MCNAMARA (3), DANIELA DIBARTOLO (4), ALYCE MCCAULEY (5), DYLAN HOLMES (8), GEORGIA CAMPAGNALE (12), BIANCA GRAY (15), CHELSIE DAWBER (10), TIARN POWELL (17), ISABEL HODGSON (11), KENDALL JENNER (GK) (1), YUKA SASAKI (40), NANAKO SASAKI (33), MIKAYLA VIDMAR (21), CAITLIN WHITE (9).
Ins: Grace Abbey (returned from injury), Caitlin White (from NTC)
Outs: Alison Atkins (to West Adelaide), Nora Peat (to Adelaide Uni), Daphne McLeod (to Adelaide Uni), Isobel Dahlen-Flight (Regional work commitments)
Adelaide Comets
The 2019 season was Comets’ first in the WNPL and to ensure they’d be competitive, the team made itself difficult to break down. Despite finishing the season in 7th spot, Comets conceded fewer goals than all but three of their rivals.
But that also meant fewer opportunities for gun forwards Victoria Mansueto – who showed enough quality to earn a contract with Adelaide United – and Sarah Chappel.
Comets might be primed for a stronger challenge this year with the addition of Monique Varricchio and overseas duo Lea Ann Cutshall (who memorably won the Women’s Premier/Division 1 Cup with Adelaide City among just four appearances in goals for the club) and Savannah Francis.
There will also be some genuine home ground advantage for Comets this year with three fixtures to be played at SA Athletics Stadium.
Squad: 1 Lea Ann Cutshall, 2 Vanja Todorovic, 3 Hannah Wall, 4 Carlotta Maag,5 Rukshaan Du Plessis, 6 Lisa Hurcombe, 7 Elise Garlick,8 Christine Skrembos, 9 Victoria Mansueto, 10 Georgie Nicola, 11 Emma Wiltshire, 16 Sarah Chappel, 21 Albane Navicet, 22 Savannah Francis, 24 Mariah Aplin, 26 Chantelle Reed, 30 Leslie Queguiner, 31 Rosie Coleman, 34 Emily Gale, 44 Monique Varricchio, 48 Caitline Wegener, 50 Taylor Garrett
Ins: Lea Ann Cutshall (Adelaide City), Monique Varricchio (Fulham United), Savannah Francis (IK Grand Bodo – Norway), Taylor Garrett (Salisbury United),Caitlin Wegener (Adelaide Uni)
Outs: Georgia Johnson (Overseas), Tessa Touchette, Abbey Flight (interstate), Caitlin Stalker, Charlotte Meszaros, Lea Abadou (overseas)
Adelaide University
Remarkably, Adelaide University has finished 4th or 5th at the conclusion of each of the last five seasons. But there was nothing predictable about its 2019 campaign with an early run of four wins followed by four consecutive losses. A strong finish to the season – seven games undefeated – saw the Blacks storm into the finals.
The 2020 season will see some big changes at Uni. Flying full-back Laura Johns – a club stalwart – moves to West Adelaide while the exciting Mawa Sumaoro is now with Football SA NTC.
But coming in are no less than four Adelaide City players with the group headlined by talented midfielder Nora Peat and former City captain, and defensive rock, Daphne McLeod.
Despite the number of changes, they might reinforce Uni’s reputation for being low scoring, low conceding team. From 21 games last season, the team scored just 28 goals and conceded only 27 times.
Squad: 1 Evelyn Goldsmith, 2 Ellie Pirintzis, 3 Gemma Macfarlane, 6 Alysia Panagakos, 7 Mia Lundquist, 8 Nora Peat, 9 Valeria Guajardo, 10 Georgia Iannella, 11 Meleri Mullan, 12 Georgia Box, 13 Mabel Day, 14 Pirrie Weeks, 15 Velvet Klass, 17 Natalie Hayman, 18 Ellie Sparrow, 19 Deva Kljajic, 20 Trinity Tytler-Kelly, 21 Sophie Burke, 22 Elyse Moon, 23 Nicole Robertson, 24 Daphne Mcleod, 25 Margarita Fitzharris, 27 Lauren Mather, 42 Aimee Benton
Ins: Ellie Sparrow (FFSA NTC), Daphne McLeod (Adelaide City), Nora Peat (Adelaide City), Julia Paneras (Adelaide Comets), Nicole Robertson (Adelaide City), Aimee Benton (FFSA NTC), Margarita Fitzharris (Adelaide City), Hannah Roffe
Outs: Laura Johns (West Adelaide), Mawa Sumaoro (SA NTC)
Football SA NTC
After a stunning 2018 season saw NTC finish 4th – and help a host of skilled players reach higher levels – the younger group of 2019 found the going a lot tougher and the team dropped to 8th.
Nevertheless, several players excelled and were rewarded by becoming train on players with Adelaide United. Midfielder Ella Tonkin even earned a W-League contract for the final weeks of the season.
Tonkin returns as one of the leaders of NTC’s 2020 campaign and other players to watch include defender Zoe Tolland (who was selected in the 2019 WNPL Team of the Year), goalkeeper Inana Toovey and forwards Katie Bowler and Emilia Murray.
With the additions of Mawa Sumaoro and some promising players from Football SA’s Under 15 program, NTC might enjoy a more competitive 2020.
Squad: 10 Kahl Adam Khan, 3 Michaela Belmonte, 20 Aimee Benton, 5 Katie Bowler, 9 Sarah Branford, 2 Abbey Burns, 24 Victoria Costanzo, 12 Libby Davy, 8 Gabriella DeMarco, 15 Lily Di Colo, 16 Stella Dracolopolos, 19 Jonti Fisher, 21 Michaela Hadaj, 22 Danielle Harmer, 30 Elisa Karas, 17 Abby Middleton, 23 Tanaye Morris, 11 Emilia Murray, 25 Hayley Needs, 26 Olivia Ravno, 7 Nicola Scalzi, 14 Ella Smith, 27 Nadia Sultani, 28 Mawa Sumaoro, 4 Zoe Tolland, 6 Ella Tonkin, 1 Inana Toovey, 29 Alanah Ursino, 13 Angelique Vreugdenburg, 31 Anastasia Willoughby, 32 Madeleine Wright
Ins: Aimee Benton, Victoria Costanzo, Libby Davy, Jonti Fisher, Danielle Harmer, Tanaye Morris, Hayley Needs, Nadia Sultani, Alanah Ursino, Anastasia Willoughby, Madeleine Wright (All SA NTC U15), Michaela Hadaj (Metro United WFC), Elisa Karas (Metro United WFC), Olivia Ravno (Adelaide City), Mawa Sumaoro (Adelaide University)
Outs: Elleni Apostolidis (Retired), Talia Bilardo (Metro United WFC), Alessia Curcio (Adelaide City), Kira Glinz (West Adelaide), Nikki Henkens (West Adelaide), Ivana Jaric (Fulham United), Lara Kirkby (West Adelaide), Erin Murphy (West Adelaide), Ellie Sparrow (Adelaide Uni), Hannah Toomey (Salisbury Inter), Charlotte Waters (Fulham United), Caitlin White (Adelaide City).
Fulham United
The last two years have been hard ones for Fulham United though the club did finish 2019 strongly enough – with just one loss in its last five matches – to climb to 6th by the season’s end.
To bolster the team, which struggled to keep opposing sides from scoring last year, several players have been recruited from Football SA’s programs. Much might also depend on the return to Adelaide of English striker Fiona Worts while Susan Bassett will add experience to the group.
Captain Natasha Vella and Amielia and Katherine Ebbs will again be crucial to Fulham’s hopes this season. But if its depth is tested during the season, returning to the competition’s top four will be difficult for the western club.
Squad: Susan Bassett, Matilda Comley, Kara Davies, Amielia Ebbs, Fiona Worts, Sarah Hunt, Caitlin LaRoux, Karin Yajima, Mia McGranagham, Sarah Mills, Chloe Mortimer, Laura Niejalke, Frankie Queale, Micaela Quinn, Katherine Ebbs, Josephine Trimboli, Zoe Turner-Davey, Natasha Vella, Charlotte Walters
Ins: Susan Bassett, Kara Davies (Football SA NTC), Fiona Worts (Coventry City, UK), Mia McGranagham (Football SA NTC), Charlotte Waters (Football SA NTC), Chloe Mortimer (Football SA NTC)
Outs: Sharni Tansell (Salisbury Inter), Monique Varrichio (Adelaide Comets)
Metro United
The only club apart from Adelaide City to claim championships in the last decade (and Premiers as recently as 2018), Metro United fell to 5th in 2019. An achievement for some but unchartered waters for a traditional front runner.
Injuries played a part but the size of the fall, which included a devastating run of nine losses from the last 12 rounds, would have shocked the proud club.
The 2020 season will test whether last year was an aberration. And any improvement will have to come, substantially, from the same group of players. The few new faces include the returning
Romy Franceschilli and Talia Bilardo who established herself in Football SA NTC’s WNPL side late last season.
A group that includes some famous names in local football – such as Rigon, Reed, Stockdale, Panagaris, Moore, Bills, Scalzi, Kyriacou and Cockayne – is going to win games. But can they win enough to return to the top half of the table?
Squad: Annie Green 24, Chrissy Panagaris 8, Donna Cockayne 14, Ebony Kyriacou 2, Ellie Bills 10, Emma Cotgrove 33, Hunter Strudwick (GK) 1, Isabella Scalzi 18, Kristy Moore 23, Laura Stockdale 6, Millie Scott 7, Mirella Scalzi 15, Olivia Bunge 55, Romy Franceschilli 16, Roxanne Dodd 9, Shelly Draper 12, Stella Rigon 17, Talia Bilardo 38, Vanessa Reed 13
Ins: Romy Franceschilli (Salisbury Inter), Talia Bilardo (NTC)
Outs: NIL
Salisbury Inter
The rise of Salisbury Inter has been one of the great stories of the last few seasons. Last year the club reached new heights with a 3rd place finish leading to a first ever appearance in the WNPL Finals Series.
And the northern club is continuing to bolster its squad in attempting to go at least one step better. Some massive inclusions are headlined by the return to the WNPL of Chilean goalscoring machine Cote Rojas. A potential forward pairing of Rojas and Emily Condon will challenge even the best of defences.
Midfielder Meleri Mullan – who made a W-League appearance in the 2018/19 season – will also strengthen the club, as will former West Adelaide captain Chrissa Pavlomanolakos.
The team’s main shortcoming last year was in conceding goals. But Chantelle Ryder and Nicole Calder are two of the competition’s top defenders and if they can lead a tighter unit at the back, Inter could be challenging for honours.
Squad: 1. Sian McLaren, 2. Melanie Comyns, 3. Mackenzie Gardner, 4. Amelia Moretti, 5. Isabella Kouimtzis, 6. Nicole Calder, 7. Meleri Mullan, 8. Emily Condon, 9. Sophie Fleming, 10. Chrissa Pavlomanolakos, 11. Nikki Frazzetto, 12. Chantelle Ryder, 13. Ruby Smith, 14. Emily Heazelwood, 15. Sharni Tansell, 16. Tia Pavlakos, 17. Sofia Tipouikidis, 18. Maria Pacheco, 19. Cote Rojas, 20. Erin Hood, 21. Shokria Hussain, 22. Zoe Pinnegar, 23. Mia Kasperski, 24. Rebecca White, 25. Breannah Harmer, 26. Penny Lokolo, 27. Khatima Sultani. 28. Adhour Kuol, 29. Nicola James, 32. Hannah Toomey
Ins: Sharni Tansell (Fulham United), Breannah Harmer (SA NTC), Meleri Mullan (Adelaide Uni), Cote Rojas (Santiago Morning FC CL), Chrissa Pavlomanolakos (West Adelaide), Emily Heazelwood (Launceston United SC).
Outs: Romy Franceschilli (Metro United WFC), Jasmine Hurst, Jasmine Hurst, Hannah Custance, Esther Haywood.
West Adelaide
The WNPL has seen few stronger teams than the West Adelaide of 2019. But last year’s Adelaide City side may have been the competition’s best-ever team and that relegated West to being runners up in the premiership, the cup and the championship.
There may have been some consolation for West in being the only side that could beat City, having done so twice in the regular season and once in the finals. Their offseason recruitment suggests they want to challenge even more strongly.
Joining this year are Lara Kirkby and Erin Murphy – both were near ever-presents for Football SA NTC last year – along with former Adelaide City midfielder Ali Atkins. And the addition of Laura Johns will undoubtedly be a massive boost. Former captain Chrissa Pavlomanolakos is the only notable player to move from West to another club.
Expect another big season from West. But will it result in silverware?
Squad: 2. Elena Psaroulis, 3. Ali Atkins, 4. Abby Touchette, 5. Christie Hillyer, 6. Christina Papageorgiou, 7. Lara Kirkby, 8. Georgia Macri, 9. Harriet Burnett, 10. Anna Pritchard, 11. Emily Hodgson, 12. Nicole Tilley, 13. Maddie Durieu, 17. Dragana Kljajic, 18. Izzy Czechowicz (GK), 19. Mina Nishitani, 20. Erin Murphy (GK), 23. Justine Hall (GK), 27. Laura Johns, 28. Siena Covino.
Ins: Ali Atkins (Adelaide City), Lara Kirkby (NTC), Erin Murphy (NTC), Laura Johns (Adelaide Uni)
Outs: Chrissa Pavlomanolakos (Salisbury Inter), Nenita Burgess (Retired), Katerina Mattheou (ACL), Ally Ladas (AFL)