All the squads and matchday previews for round 9 of the Westfield W-League.
Canberra United v Melbourne Victory Saturday 15 December 2012 McKellar Park, Canberra Local kick-off: 2pm
Referee: Casey Reibelt
Catch the action live streaming online from 2pm AEDT at www.abc.net.au/w-league and nationally on ABC1 from 5pm
What a match-up this promises to be. The champions Canberra United against the in-form and increasingly resolute Melbourne Victory. It could well be that the winner of this week-s ABC televised match looks back on this contest as a decisive moment in their season.
After a trying few weeks, Canberra showed the fortitude of champions with consecutive hard-won victories over Perth Glory and Newcastle Jets last week, to well and truly put their title charge back on track.
Coach Jitka Klimkova will be happy to have defensive cornerstone Caitlin Cooper back from injury after the former Young Matilda missed a rare game last weekend. The pace of flankers Nikki Washington and Hayley Raso is proving to be a growing threat, while midfield ace Sally Shipard continues to make a welcome return to full fitness.
The Victory have always enjoyed good tough battles with the team from the nation-s capital, and given the Victorians have the best defence in the league, expect this to be no different.
Last weekend the Victory drew with Sydney FC on their own patch and were a shade unlucky not to secure all three points against the Sky Blues, something that have not traditionally been able to boast down the years.
Welsh midfielder Jessica Fishlock will be looking for yet another all-action performance in the penultimate match before her contract expires. On the debit side, the Victory last week lost Jacqueline Vogt to a serious knee injury - their third this season.
Canberra United squad: 1. Mackenzie ARNOLD (gk), 2. Caitlin COOPER, 3. Georgia YEOMAN-DALE, 4. Christine WALTERS, 5. Grace FIELD, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 8. Hayley RASO, 10. Snez VELJANOVSKA, 11. Michelle HEYMAN, 12. Sally ROJAHN, 13. Nicole SYKES, 15. Sally SHIPARD, 16. Catherine BROWN, 17. Ariane HINGST, 18. Samantha WOOD, 19. Jennifer BISSET, 20. Trudy BURKE (gk), 21. Nikki WASHINGTON (*four to be omitted)
Ins: 2. Caitlin Cooper (returns from injury), 4. Christine Walters, 10. Snez VELJANOVSKA, 12. Sally ROJAHN (all promoted) Outs: None Unavailable: Grace Gill (ankle/knee - 1 week), Ashleigh Sykes (hip - 2 weeks)
Melbourne Victory squad: 1. Brianna DAVEY (gk), 2. Danielle JOHNSON, 3. Maika RUYTER-HOOLEY, 4. Rebekah STOTT, 5. Laura SPIRANOVIC, 6. Petra LARSSON, 7. Stephanie CATLEY, 9. Tiffany ELIADIS, 10. Jessica McDONALD, 11. Caitlin Friend, 14. Enza BARILLA, 15. Amy JACKSON, 16. Georgie KOUTROUVELIS, 17. Gulcan KOCA, 18. Cindy LAY, 19. Rachel ALONSO, 20. Cassandra DIMOVSKI (gk), 22: Jessica FISHLOCK, 23. Jessica HUMBLE (*four to be omitted)
In: 9. Tiffany ELIADIS, 16. Georgie KOUTROUVELIS, 18. Cindy LAY, 19. Rachel ALONSO (all promoted) Outs: None Unavailable: Ashley BROWN (knee - season), Louisa BISBY (knee - season), Jackie VOGT (knee- season)
Adelaide United v Newcastle Jets Saturday 15 December 2012 Burton Park, Adelaide Local kick-off: 4pm
Referee: Katie Patterson
This contest between the league-s two bottom sides represents an opportunity to kick-start their respective seasons.
In reality the finals are now out of reach, but the opportunity to build some late-season momentum remains in the offing. After shipping 17 goals in their past four outings, coach Dave Edmondson has, understandably, wrung the changes at United.
One new face is Kristy Moore, a vastly experienced attacker who has spent the past four seasons in Norway with Stabaek, featuring in the UEFA Women-s Champions League. The Adelaide-born Moore is coming full circle having represented England before returning home in the twilight of her career.
Newcastle also have new faces in their squad, albeit players at the opposite end of their respective careers. Three youngsters - Mikaela Howell, Jasmin Courtenay and Grace McIntyre - have been called into the squad with the Jets suddenly losing a trio of key players.
Experienced duo Hayley Crawford and Kate Hensman are both nursing injuries, while midfield ace Emily Van Egmond misses the trip to the City of Churches after her red card last week.
Adelaide United squad: 1. Kristi HARVEY (gk), 2. Ruth WALLACE, 3. Alex NATOLI, 4. Jess WHAREPOURI, 5. Abby ERCEG (c), 6. Cassie TSOUMBRIS, 7. Racheal QUIGLEY, 8. Sarah McLAUGHLIN, 9. Marijana RACJIC, 13. Ann MAYO, 16. Jess WATERHOUSE, 18. Georgia MACRI, 20. Kelly BARLTROP (gk), 23. Kristy MOORE
Ins: 2. Ruth WALLACE, 18. Georgia MACRI, 20. Kelly BARLTROP (gk) (all promoted), 23. Kristy MOORE (Stabaek - Norway) Outs: 10. Jenna McCORMICK, 11. Grace HENRY, 12. Elise WHORLOW, 17. Laura JOHNS (all omitted) 19. Holly PATTERSON (returns to New Zealand) Unavailable: None
Newcastle Jets squad: 1. Eliza CAMPBELL (gk), 2. Hannah BREWER, 5. Tori HUSTER, 6. Angela SALEM, 7. Gema SIMON, 8. Madeline SEARL, 9. Tara ANDREWS, 12. Tiffany BOSHERS, 15. Alisha FOOTE, 16. Stacey DAY, 17. Mikaela HOWELL, 18. Michaela HATZIRODOS, 19. Jasmin COURTENAY, 20. Alannah ROSEWOOD (gk), 21. Grace MCINTYRE
Ins: Mikaela HOWELL, Jasmin COURTENAY, Grace MCINTYRE (all promoted). Outs: Hayley CRAWFORD (groin), Emily VAN EGMOND (suspension) Unavailable: Kate HENSMAN (hip)
Sydney FC v Perth Glory (Hyundai A-League double-header) Saturday 15 December 2012 Allianz Stadium, Sydney Local kick-off: 5pm
Referee: Kirralee Gardner
A grand stage for a grand occasion, as star-laden Sydney FC host leaders Perth Glory at Allianz Arena, in a curtain-raiser to the Hyundai A-League-s Sydney derby. The Sky Blues were unusually flat last weekend in trying Melbourne weather though held on for a share of the spoils.
Key personnel in Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Ellyse Perry are under injury clouds, but regardless Sydney will be anxious to atone for an unusually heavy 3-1 defeat in the west earlier in the season.
The Glory follow up an arduous three matches in seven days last week with yet another testing trip to the east coast. Not that Jamie Harnwell and his charges will want for motivation, with Sydney FC, and possibly a host of other teams, set to leapfrog the Glory should they lose this one.
Unfortunately midfield inspiration and captain Collette McCallum will be absent due to long-standing personal commitments for this weekend.
Sydney FC squad: 1. Sian MCLAREN (GK), 2. Teresa POLIAS, 3. Elizabeth RALSTON, 4. Sam KERR, 5. Meg McLAUGHLIN, 6. Natalie TOBIN, 7. Nicola BOLGER, 8. Amy HARRISON, 9. Caitlin FOORD, 10. Renee ROLLASON, 11. Annalie LONGO, 12. Chloe LOGARZO, 13. Larissa CRUMMER, 14. Alanna KENNEDY, 15. Hannah BROMLEY, 16. Ellyse PERRY, 17. Kyah SIMON (C), 18. Brittany WHITFIELD, 19. Emma KETE, 20. Sham KHAMIS (gk), 22. Lillie FENLON - BILLSON (* six to be omitted)
Ins: Meg McLAUGHLIN, Natalie TOBIN, Amy HARRISON, Hannah BROMLEY, Brittany WHITFIELD (all promoted), Ellyse PERRY (returns from injury) Outs: None Unavailable: None
Perth Glory squad: 1. Carly TELFORD (gk), 3. Carys HAWKINS, 4. Bronwyn STUDMAN, 5. Shannon MAY, 6. Sasha ANDREWS (c), 7. Aivi LUIK, 8. Ella MASTRANTONIO, 9. Rosie SUTTON, 10. Jaymee GIBBONS, 11. Lisa DE VANNA, 12. Kate GILL, 13. Elisa D-OVIDIO, 15. Liz MILNE, 16. Thia EASTMAN, 17. Marianna TABAIN, 18. Kirri BOLTON, 19. Shawn BILLAM, 20. Zoe PALANDRI (gk) (*three to be omitted)
Ins: 5. Shannon MAY (promoted), 6. Sasha ANDREWS (returns from injury), 10. Jaymee GIBBONS, 16. Thia EASTMAN, 18. Kirri BOLTON (all promoted) Outs: 2. Sarah Carroll, 14. Collette McCallum (both personal commitments) Unavailable: None
Western Sydney Wanderers v Brisbane Roar Sunday 16 December 2012 Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney Local kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Catherine Hoffmann
Another fascinating pairing sees the under-rated Western Sydney Wanderers host two-time champions Brisbane Roar in yet another test of credentials for the Westfield W-League-s newest club.
The Wanderers- midfield pairing of Louise Fors and Vanessa Hart are the equal of any in the league on their day, while an increasingly parsimonious defence is ably backed up by vastly experienced Icelandic goalkeeper Thora Helgadottir.
The Wanderers are building a strong record at their Campbelltown Stadium home having won three and drawn one of their four matches in Sydney-s south-west.
The Roar, too, though have their own fond memories of the venue winning their second crown there two seasons ago. Though they have been saved by late goals in recent weeks, the Roar have plenty of reason for optimism with their form ever-improving.
Their numerous national team players will be fully focused after their mid-season distraction that was the Matildas tip to China. A loss would be hugely damaging for either side, with the Roar having never missed the finals.
Western Sydney Wanderers squad: 1. Liz DURACK (gk), 2. Samantha SPACKMAN, 3. Alexandra HUYNH, 4. Alesha CLIFFORD, 5. Olivia KENNEDY, 6. Rachael SOUTAR, 8. Vanessa HART, 9. Sarah WALSH (c), 10. Servet UZUNLAR, 11. Louise FORS, 12. Jessica SEAMAN, 13. Catherine CANNULI, 14. Trudy CAMILLERI, 15. Teigen ALLEN, 16. Linda O'NEILL, 17. Alisha BASS, 18. Candace SCIBERRAS, 20. Thora HELGADOTTIR (gk) (*three to be omitted)
Ins: Rachael Soutar, Alisha Bass, Candace Sciberras (all promoted) Outs: None Unavailable: Jenna KINGSLEY (knee - season)
Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Hoshimi KISHI (gk), 2. Laura ALLEWAY, 3. Amy CHAPMAN, 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE, 5. Brooke SPENCE, 6. Ashley SPINA, 7. Erika ELZE, 8. Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 9. Emma PITTMAN, 10. Lana HARCH, 11.Vedrana POPOVIC, 12. Rebecca PRICE, 13. Tameka BUTT, 14. Georgia CHAPMAN, 15. Hannah BEARD, 16. Sachiko TATSUOKA, 17. Emily GIELNIK, 18. Kate STEWART (gk), 19. Katrina GORRY, 20. Joanne BUCKLEY (gk) (*five to be omitted)
Ins: 9. Emma PITTMAN, 12. Rebecca PRICE, 14. Georgia CHAPMAN, 15. Hannah BEARD, 20. Joanne BUCKLEY (gk) (all promoted) Outs: None Unavailable: None