By the numbers: A history of the Westfield W-League

The Westfield W-League is heading into its 11th season in 2018/19.

With that in mind, we’ve delved into the archive to find eleven facts you need to know heading into the new campaign.

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11 – The biggest win in the Westfield W-League belongs to Sydney FC, who hammered Perth Glory 11-0 on December 3, 2011.

That result saw Kylie Ledrook, Renee Rollason and Leena Khamis all tally hat-tricks.

A little known 17-year-old Mackenzie Arnold was in between the sticks for Perth that day. Now a Westfield Matildas regular, she’s gone on to win the Golden Glove three times – sharing the joint most with Westfield Matildas teammate Lydia Williams.

Leena Khamis celebrates one of her three goals against Glory.
Leena Khamis celebrates one of her three goals against Glory.

10 - In last season’s Westfield W-League Grand Final win, Melbourne City overtook Sydney FC as the club with the most Championship wins, igniting intense discussion over which of the two clubs rightfully boast the label of the competition’s most successful team.

While no one can argue with Melbourne City’s sensational start to Westfield W-League life, not even City can hold a candle to Sydney FC’s incredible consistency.

The Sky Blues have not only claimed two Premierships and two Championships but have qualified for the finals series in every single year – 10 times in all – they are the only team to do so.

Sydney FC has qualified for the Westfield W-League Finals Series every season.
Sydney FC has qualified for the Westfield W-League Finals Series every season.

9 That’s how many goals stand between Westfield W-League icon Michelle Heyman and Westfield Matildas striker Sam Kerr prior to the new season kick off.

Heyman, currently on 62 career goals, has recently signed with Adelaide United and will be looking to maintain her status as the competition’s leading goalscorer.

She’ll face fierce competition from her Australian colleague though.

Kerr sits on 53 Westfield W-League goals and after her incredible goalscoring exploits over the past 12 months, who’s to say she won’t make up the gap this season?

Michelle Heyman
Michelle Heyman is currently the competition's greatest-ever goalscorer.

8 That’s the number of times Melbourne City have suffered defeat in their three seasons.

The side is undoubtedly a Westfield W-League benchmark, and they’ll be heading into the new season as favourites once again.

They won all 12 games in their inaugural season and have won a remarkable three Championships in as many years.

Melbourne City celebrate a goal
Melbourne City has rarely tasted defeat in their Westfield W-League existence.

7 – Sam Kerr holds the record for the fasted hat-trick in a Westfield W-League game – just seven minutes.

She completed a famously devastating treble last year in Perth Glory’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Newcastle Jets last season.

Kerr struck in the 77th, 82nd and 84th minutes.

Sam Kerr celebrates one of her two goals against the Wanderers.
Sam Kerr's hat-trick last seven came in an incredible seven minutes.

6 – That’s the record amount of active Westfield Matidas to play for one Westfield W-League club in a season.

It came about when Alanna Kennedy, Kyah Simon, Leena Khamis, Nicola Bolger, Servet Uzunlar and Teresa Polias plied their trade together for Sydney FC for the 2015/16 campaign – after Australia’s FIFA Women's World Cup campaign.

It was a feat previously held by Perth Glory, who had Collette McCallum, Kate Gill, Caitlin Foord, Sam Kerr, Alanna Kennedy and Mackenzie Arnold on their books for the 2014 season.

Sydney FC assembled a star-studded roster in the 2015/16 Season.
Sydney FC assembled a star-studded roster in the 2015/16 Season.

5 – That’s the record for most goals in a single Westfield W-League match, and it belongs to Perth Glory striker Kate Gill.

The Auckland-born attacker notched her five-star performance against Western Sydney Wanderers on October 5, 2014 – a match Glory won 10-1.

Kate Gill celebrates one of her five goals against the Wanderers.
Kate Gill celebrates one of her five goals against the Wanderers.

4 That’s how many finals series Melbourne Victory have made in their Westfield W-League career.

But if they are unable to make the cut this season, it will be the fourth consecutive year without finals football.

Wanderers v Victory
Victory will be out to end their finals drought in the upcoming season.

3 -  Only three Westfield W-League players have registered multiple hat-tricks in the competition.

And all of them are Westfield Matildas: Tameka Butt, Michelle Heyman and Sam Kerr.

Tameka Butt
Tameka Butt is one of three players to have scored multiple hat-tricks in the Westfield W-League.

2 - Last year two Westfield Matildas icons became the first players in history to claim two Julie Dolan medals: Clare Polkinghorne and Sam Kerr.

Sam Kerr’s heaving trophy cabinet must surely be close to breaking point after he continued success on home soil and abroad in the last 12 months.

The Perth Glory striker last year became the only Westfield W-League player in history to claim the Julie Dolan Medal twice, albeit sharing it with Westfield Matildas teammate Clare Polkinghorne.

Samantha Kerr
Sam Kerr with the Julie Dolan medal.

1 - Westfield Matildas stalwart Clare Polkinghorne needs just one Westfield W-League appearance to join Sydney FC midfielder Teresa Polias and Marianna Tabain as the all-time appearance maker in the competition.

That’s a record that could be set to fluctuate throughout the upcoming campaign with Polias and Tabain still plying their trade for Sydney FC and Perth Glory respectively.

Clare Polkinghorne
Clare Polkinghorne
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This article was originally published on the Westfield W-League website.
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