GK: Erin Hudson (Bayside United)
Yes her team may have conceded four goals to Heidelberg United, but without the work of Erin Hudson, it could’ve been more. She made a number of crucial saves, some which she had no right getting to. All in all a disappointing day for Bayside United, but Hudson can hold her head high.
LCB: Alex Natoli (Bulleen Lions)
Natoli started at right-back before heading inboard to a central position, as she has done with regularity throughout the NPLW season to date. Stringing together a fine season at state level, Natoli was incredibly solid in her defensive duties, while adding a real threat going forward down the right wing, creating a number of opportunities for her teammates.
CB: Megan Fish (Alamein FC)
One of the most technically adept defenders in the league this season, Alamein’s Megan Fish helped create the first goal with a well weighted free-kick for teammate Emma Runnalls. She was fantastic throughout and hardly gave the high-flying Galaxy United a look in on goals.
RCB: Stacey Papadopoulos (Calder United)
Papadopoulos has found herself a staple of the NPLW Team of the Week so far this season, as she continues to impress onlookers with her form in a foreign position. The tricky winger has made the right wing back spot her own and has shown good adaptability to mix her usual attacking flair with tidy defensive work. Bombed down the wing to score her first goal in Calder United colours against Southern United.
CM: Jess Au (Calder United)
Another Calder player adjusting to a new position is Jess Au who played a more subdued role in the heart of midfield. Although she wasn’t tormenting defenders with pace down the wing, she was still able to give her opponents a tough time with some threading through balls and tidy passing to keep things ticking over quickly.
CM: MelindaJ Barbieri (Senior NTC)
The NTC captain played a large role in the mid-week win over Southern United with a commanding role through the middle of the park. Her delightful through ball sliced open the Southern defence to set up Akiesha Sandhu for the opener. Sandhu returned the favour to tee up Barbieri for a goal of her own in the second half.
RAM: Joey Cartwright (Heidelberg United)
Although she played on the left, we’ve had to shift her out onto the other flank to accomodate others. Cartwright put in another bright display to help put Bayside United to the sword, supplying the equalising goal and an assist to Leigh Gray to cap a great afternoons work. Steph Galea on the other side was another bright spark in the 4-1 win.
AM: Cindy Lay (Calder United)
Playing a second striker role, Cindy Lay floated between midfield and attack to perfection and put in a bright display.
LAM: Beattie Goad (Bulleen Lions)
The talented winger has taken the next step in her game, where she’s able to pull apart a game at NPLW level with frightening consistency. She was an absolute standout in the victory over Box Hill United and capped her performance off with a dazzling goal; dashing down the left and finishing into the near post from an acute angle.
ST: Emma Runnalls (Alamein FC)
The powerful striker grabbed her fourth goal of the season to equalise against Galaxy United. The well directed header from Megan Fish’s free-kick was a sign of things to come as she then laid on the winner for Melina Ayres with a similarly effective header to cap off a wonderful performance.
ST: Leigh Gray (Heidelberg United)
The Heidelberg United forward made it two hat-tricks in as many weeks with another clinical display at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex. The American was simply sublime in front of goals and made the most of her chances with three well taken efforts.
Bench
Lisa Fonua (Heidelberg United)
Things have started to improve defensively for Heidelberg United, which has helped the club to two very important results over the last fortnight. In the thick of things against Bayside United was Lisa Fonua who was brave and vocal in the centre of defence, repelling a number of charges forward from the pacy Bayside forwards.
Molly Burke (Senior NTC)
Despite her shorter stature, Burke was lionhearted in her efforts at the ball in defence for the Senior NTC. Put in a magnificent defensive shift despite conceding two goals and was just one of many standouts in the NTC defence. Their entire back four – including Hayley Richmond, Mia Lantieri-Bartley and Coby McInerney – performed admirably in the 3-1 win over Southern United.
Lia Privitelli (Bulleen Lions)
Unlucky not to make the starting line-up, Privitelli put on a show against Box Hill with a goal and and assist. She ran tirelessly all day and her blistering pace was on display as she bolted down the left to score a cracking goal. Earlier she had assisted Taryne Boudreau and also won a penalty for her side.
Taryne Boudreau (Bulleen Lions)
Another Bulleen player highly unlucky to miss the starting XI, Boudreau scored twice from open play to set up a three goal lead at half-time. She took both her chances well.
Rachel Alonso (Calder United)
Despite scoring a hat-trick, the league’s leading goal scorer Rachel Alonso will have to settle for a spot on the bench for this round’s Team of the Week. The forward could’ve had a handful more were it not for some wayward finishing at times.