The Corner Flag is back with the Team of the Season, rewarding the most consistent performers over the course of the Women’s Premier League campaign. In a new format, we’ll publish an article with two teams: our media select, along with a fan voted XI, where you select your standouts in 2015. Every few days we’ll post the shortlist for a particular position.
Whether they’re the physically imposing ones or the smaller nippy type with a poachers instinct, we’re paying homage to the strikers of the WPL who bang in the goals on a weekly basis. Often the cult heroes amongst the terraces, they are the players who often win games with late heroics and as such are much loved by the supporters.
Pick the forward that you believe have stood out most this season via the link at the bottom of the page. You can vote once per day and make sure you share this around to ensure your pick makes the cut!
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In alphabetical order:
Strikers
Taryne Boudreau (Boroondara Eagles)
One of the league’s most damaging players, former Canadian youth international Taryne Boudreau lit up countless grounds across the WPL in season 2015 with her dazzling footwork, dogged determination and expert finishing, which saw her finish the season with 25 goals (four of which came in the finals series). Possesses pace and strong core strength which allows her to slide through defenders, as well as a good eye for a pass that has seen her set up a number more goals.
Brittany Dudley-Smith (South Melbourne)
In the second part of Socrates Nicolaidis’ ambitious team plan behind Martineau at right-back, he had Tiff Eliadis and Brittany Dudley-Smith play a “dual 10” role, with both leading South’s line. However, it was the Kiwi that stood out in her first season at Lakeside since the move from Casey Comets, bagging 20 goals in the league and finals series, making a massive impact on the pitch. Strong on the ball and arguably the deadliest finisher in the league, Dudley-Smith works hard all over the pitch and that contributes greatly to her success.
Annabelle Gibney (Sandringham SC)
With key players Sienna Fogarty (moved into defence), Hannah Stuart and Emma Runnalls (both recovering from injury) not as influential in an attacking sense this year for their own separate reasons, Annabelle Gibney has stepped up to become a key cog in the way that Sandringham shape up. It was hard to place her however as she made the role of shadow striker her own, ghosting in from just behind the forwards to contribute 14 goals in a sublime season. But we’ll squeeze her in with the strikers rather than the midfielders when in fairness she could’ve been placed in either.
Anisa Guajardo (Heidelberg United)
While she arrived halfway through the season, then left for the World Cup before returning again, Guajardo settled in immediately and made such an impact it felt like she’d been here forever. Able to play comfortably across the front three and show all the attributes of a complete forward, the Mexican was an expert at beating her opponent, finding space on the ball and finishing with aplomb. Scored 10 goals including finals.
Select the ONE striker you believe should make the Team of the Season below:
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Left Wingers
Melina Ayres (Ashburton United)
We’ve been racking our heads trying to think of a 16-year-old with such a developed footballing brain. Answer: there probably isn’t, not in the WPL at least! While she cuts a strange figure on the left side of a front three – not lightning quick, nor the most physical – she makes up for that with an immense game sense, technical ability beyond her years and an innate ability to ghost into the right spots at the right time. In doing so, managed two bags of four goals in a season where she nabbed 19 goals. One of Victoria’s best prospects.
Beattie Goad (Bulleen Lions)
Sometimes it seems like time moves in slow motion when Beattie Goad is in possession. When afforded space on the ball, she’ll go on a mazy run and find a teammate in a dangerous position, or compose herself before hitting a curling shot. It’s both elegant and clinical, and she makes it look so easy. One of the highly touted youngsters to be picked up by Melbourne City for the W-League in a season which saw her pile on 11 goals.
Nicola Westwood (Sandringham SC)
Break, cut, shoot. It’s the modern day mould for the inside forward role that’s becoming all the more prevalent in modern football and it’s something that Nicola Westwood did to great success in 2015. Also spent some time centrally for Sandy in a season which saw her contribute nine goals and a handful more assists.
Select the ONE left winger you believe should make the Team of the Season below:
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Right Wingers
Rachel Alonso (Bundoora United)
Was pushed around to a number of different roles due to the spate of injuries faced by Bundoora United in 2015, but Rachel Alonso performed admirably wherever she was situated. Places high expectations on her own performances and for the large majority delivered, providing a relieving option from midfield to which her teammates could rely on to carry the ball away from danger. Linked well with her teammates, grabbing a bunch of assists, and showed a clinical touch to add 11 goals in another strong season.
Cristina Cardaci (Box Hill United)
Although goals were hard to come by personally for Christina Cardaci, the contribution to her team’s scoring wasn’t as the short in stature, tall in heart winger played out like a coaches dream. She possessed not only the flair and spark to create openings for those around her, but also the work-rate to push both up and down the flank to help out her defenders when necessary. A never-say-die attitude matched with her blistering turn of pace made her a constant pest for opposition defenders.
Georgia Cloepfil (Ashburton United)
The American import stood out in the competition, not just because of her height and athleticism, but for her ability to absolutely tear up a wing and terrorise opposition fullbacks. Her speed, directness and technical ability meant she could pick up a ball, run it to the byline and whip in a dangerous cross, or cut in and (Cloep)fill her boots – thanks, we’re here all night – scoring 20 times this season.
Select the ONE right winger you believe should make the Team of the Season below:
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