Bulleen stand in the way of Heidelberg playing finals football. Photo by Anna Harrington.
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) top four is delicately poised heading into the final round of the home and away season.
Three crucial fixtures are likely to determine the makeup of the league’s finals series, with the battle for second place looming large in a Sunday full of footall.
Sandringham v South Melbourne
Despite suffering their first defeat of the season at the hands of Box Hill in Round 20, South Melbourne have wrapped up top spot, securing 56 of a possible 63 points.
It’s this team Sandringham will have to overcome if they are to end the season in second place – they hold a one-point lead over 2012 champions Box Hill with one game to play.
But Sandringham are no slouches – racking up 15 wins and five draws in their 50-point season to date – and will take heart from their Round 11 encounter with the table toppers, when they split the points 1-1 in a thrilling clash at Lakeside Stadium.
Key Players
Sandringham’s attack has been a revelation this season, with recruit Nicola Prins (10 goals), striker Emma Runnalls (10) and midfield mainstay Stephanie Tanti (10) among the league’s top scorers. If Matilda and Melbourne Victory defender Stephanie Catley is available for one of her few WPL appearances, Sandringham could even be elevated to “favourites” in the calculations of many.
South Melbourne will look to one of the league’s superior goalkeepers in Cassandra Dimovski to guard against Sandy’s multi-pronged attack, while the dual threat of Tiffany Eliadis (21 goals) and Laura Spiranovic (15) looms large at the other end.
Box Hill vs Altona
Box Hill are taking on cellar-dwellers Altona City and, having secured a 3-0 victory over the 11th-placed side back in Round 11, will be confident of leapfrogging Sandringham just a week before finals.
With only two defeats for the year, the 2012 champions loom large as a premiership fancy and will be high on confidence after dishing out a 2-1 victory to South Melbourne last week.
While Altona are well and truly out of the finals race, securing a point against one of the league’s powerhouses will ensure they stay ahead of cellar dwellers Preston, avoiding the dubious honour of the wooden spoon.
Key Players
While no Box Hill forward holds a place at the top of the league goalscoring table, it’s the side’s ruthlessness across the field which creates opportunities for a variety of dangerous forwards.
Seyma Erenli (6 goals) is explosive at her best, Stacey Papadopoulos (7) has the potential to tear sides apart with her dash down the wings while Ellvana Curo’s switch from South Melbourne earlier in the year has added another dimension to the side.
Michelle Duffy (3) and Aneta Komijat (2) are the only multiple goal scorers for Altona and it’s tough to see any player adding to their tally against a side which emphasises defensive pressure across the park.
Ashburton vs Bundoora
Bundoora have quietly gone about their business this season, cementing a top-four position with a round to spare.
Despite dropping five matches so far, Bundoora have the second-best goal difference in the competition (57) and are primed to challenge the rest of the top four come finals.
Just two weeks ago, Bundoora slammed seven goals past Ashburton and will look for a return to form, after suffering a 90th-minute heartbreak in last week’s 3-2 loss to Sandringham.
Ashburton have shown plenty of ability and will push for three points but could struggle to backup from a Wednesday night catch-up fixture with EAP earlier in the week.
Key players
Ashburton captain Christine Pfeiffer is a powerful presence both pushing through the midfield and up forward, scoring nine goals in 16 matches, while Kristin Stensholt is one of the league’s best defenders and has a knack for creating attacking opportunities.
But Bundoora has one of the most dynamic array of goalscoring options in the league – Caitlin Friend has scored 16 goals in just 11 matches, while Enza Barilla (11 goals), Gulcan Koca (7) and Sarah Richardson (7) are all dangerous forwards in their own right.
Bulleen v Heidelberg
Heidelberg may have won three on the trot but they will need to be on their game when they head to the Veneto Club for their clash with in-form Bulleen.
With only a three-point lead over Casey Comets, Heidelberg’s inferior goal difference means a failure to secure at least a draw against the Lions could cause a slip into sixth place – and out of finals contention.
Gun forward Leigh Gray (15 goals) will need to perform at her best, while Julia Nicolaci (8) will also play an important role in securing fifth position.
Rest of the Round
Casey will travel to B.T. Connor Reserve confident of launching themselves into fifth position in their final-round fixture against Preston.
The Comets thrashed Preston 8-0 back in Round 11 and will be eager to back up last week’s 4-0 victory over Ashburton.
For Preston, it’s all about pride, with both points and goal difference ensuring the Lions will finish the 2013 season at the bottom of the WPL table.
Meanwhile, EAP and Cairnlea will face off, with the latter looking to snap a six-match losing streak and finish their season on a high.
