With a hugely-talented squad of locals plus a world class recruit in their ranks, Brisbane Roar will be a team to watch in the Westfield W-League.
With a hugely-talented squad of locals plus a world class recruit in their ranks, Brisbane Roar will be a team to watch in the Westfield W-League.
To say Brisbane Roar are perennial title challengers would be a massive understatement. Indeed their worst ever finish was third in 2010, and even then the Roar ended just two points shy of first-placed Sydney FC.
Throw in two Grand Final wins, plus two Premierships for topping the regular-season ladder, and it makes for impressive reading indeed.
This success has been achieved with almost exclusively home-grown products and this season is no different with all bar one squad member hailing from the Sunshine state.
The coming season is unlikely to be any different to any of the previous five, and it would be a massive surprise if the Roar are not pushing for a Grand Final berth.
Despite their reliance on local talent the Roar, somewhat ironically, will this season field the best-credentialed international player ever to step onto a Westfield W-League field in the form Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer.
A near-flawless performance from Angerer at this year-s UEFA Women-s EURO saw Germany retain their crown, despite having been pushed harder than ever before in their five previous consecutive triumphs.
Known affectionately as Die Katze (The Cat) thanks to her sharp reflexes, Angerer has two European titles, one FIFA Women-s World Cup winners- medal and is on the shortlist for this year-s FIFA Women-s World Player of the Year.
Between the sticks is just one area where the Roar have strengthened. Westfield Matildas central defender Kim Carroll returns from a year-s absence following injury, as does veteran wide-midfielder Joanne Burgess.
Former Canberra United flyer Hayley Raso returns to her home state boasting an ever-increasing reputation, while teenage utility Larissa Crummer is also considered a strong prospect after her debut season for Sydney FC last term.
A quartet of youngsters from the Queensland talent production line have also been elevated into the squad by coach Belinda Wilson, who undoubtedly has one eye on player development given her dual role as Australia U-17 coach.
Throw into the mix another half-dozen or so Westfield Matildas stars - Tameka Butt, Elise Kellond-Knight and Katrina Gorry to name but a few - and the Roar have depth that is perhaps unparalleled in the history of the competition.
“I-m very confident in the players we-ve got at the club this season and I-ve seen some promising signs throughout our pre-season preparations,” Wilson said.
“In any playing group, it-s important to maintain the right mix of experience and youth and it-s clear to see that we have that here at Brisbane Roar.
“With the current depth in the squad, I think we can make a real push for success in this year-s W-League season.”
Brisbane Roar (Coach Belinda Wilson)
Ins: Nadine ANGERER (1. FFC Frankfurt, Germany) Joanne BURGESS (returns from injury) Kim CARROLL (returns from injury) Larissa CRUMMER (Sydney FC) Hayley RASO (Canberra United) Sunny FRANCO (Queensland Academy of Sport) Brooke GOODRICH (Queensland Academy of Sport) Ayesha NORRIE (Queensland Academy of Sport) Natasha WHEELER (Queensland Academy of Sport)
Outs: Lana HARCH (retired) Hannah BEARD (Newcastle Jets) Ashley SPINA (Newcastle Jets) Rebecca PRICE (The Gap) Sachiko TATSUOKA (Redlands United) Emma PITTMAN (The Gap) Joanne BUCKLEY (Redlands United) Hoshimi KISHI Georgia CHAPMAN