It’s been an long, frustrating period for women’s football fans of the Victory persuasion as they’ve watched a number of their star players jump ship to neighbours Melbourne City. Finally however, some positive squad news has come out of the camp as The Corner Flag can reveal your Melbourne Victory W-League squad for the 2015-16 season. As it stands, 19 of the 20 spots have been filled, which leaves room for one more player to sign ahead of the season.
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The returning few:
The Victory have gone the tried and tested route of bringing back a number of familiar faces, while all together managing a fresh looking squad from last season. Returning to the Navy Blue shirt include names like Cassie Dimovski, Gulcan Koca and Alex Natoli, while we also see a return to top-flight football for Enza Barilla and Laura Spiranovic, who were both a part of Dave Edmondson’s 2013-14 squad. Finally, there’s the long awaited return of one of Victoria’s finest ever products Melissa Barbieri, who joins the Victory for the first time since 2011.
Melissa Barbieri (GK)
Not much needs to be said about the recently retired Matilda and FFV Hall of Fame inductee. A stellar career at the top saw her make 86 appearances for Australia as well as turn out for some of the nation’s best top flight clubs in the Newcastle Jets, the Lady Reds and of course Melbourne Victory. Turned out for local club Box Hill United during the state league season and performed admirably in a tough year for the club.
Enza Barilla (Mid)
The versatile midfielder will add both bite and calmness to the Victory midfield after a season’s break from the W-League. While diminutive in stature, she doesn’t shy away from a contest and is incredibly smart off the ball, adding four goals for Bundoora United in the Women’s Premier League in an impressive season. She’ll be hoping to stake a proper first team claim this year after making 56 appearances for the Victory between 2008-14.
Cassandra Dimovski (GK)
#ThingsCassiecouldsave was one of the highlight hashtags to have trended on Twitter last W-League season, and for good reason, as the expert shot-stopper put in a number of displays of the highest order when called upon due to Brianna Davey’s injury lay-offs. This season she looks set to compete with Bubs for the number one spot after a good season in net with FC Bulleen Lions in which she kept six clean sheets.
Best for @victorywleague so far @CassDimovski – killin’ it! Let’s make #thingscassiecouldsave a thing! #MVCvPER pic.twitter.com/ZzjQNG9gaQ
— Alen Delic (@AlenDelic) November 2, 2014
Gulcan Koca (Def)
The Turkish international helped steer Bundoora United to a finals berth this WPL season and continues on with the Victory for a seventh straight season. Adept in either defence or midfield, she’s comfortable on the ball and an expert reader of the play. Currently sidelined with a foot injury and will most likely miss the start of the W-League season.
Alex Natoli (Def)
The young centre-half links up for a third successive season for Melbourne Victory and will provide strong competition for a starting spot. Enjoyed a decent season for FC Bulleen Lions in the WPL, playing predominantly at right-back where she was able to showcase her technical ability more. Her stature and physicality makes her a dominant force in the air.
Laura Spiranovic (Fwd)
In the same mould as Barilla, Ashburton United forward Laura Spiranovic returns to the Victory set-up after a season’s sabbatical. She’s deceptively quick but more suited playing with her back to goal as a focal point for attacks, where she can hurt opposition with her hold up play. An expert finisher, the 23-year-old finished with 10 goals in the state league season.
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Off the couch:
A couple of names stand out amongst those set to turn out for the Victory this season as recently retired Matildas’ Selin Kurulay and Thea Slatyer have been convinced to do the W-League rounds once more with the Melbourne based club.
Selin Kurulay (Mid)
The 30-year-old Melbourne born Matilda – who made 17 appearances in the Green and Gold – is yet another name to return to the Melbourne Victory set-up, a club she made a handful of appearances for in 2008-09. She turned out for South Melbourne in the 2014 WPL season with her last stint in the W-League coming with Adelaide United in 2010.
Thea Slatyer (Def)
Retired from the sport three years ago, but has returned once more to add experience to what is a very young Victory W-League side. The 32-year-old has made 51 appearances for Australia, scoring three goals and turned out for both Newcastle Jets, Sydney FC and Canberra United in a distinguished playing career. A warrior on the pitch, she’ll be hoping to marshall her side to success this season.
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Internationals:
The Victory have filled their quote of international players, with three Americans and a Kiwi making up their contingent for the 2015 season. Returning to the fray is trequartista Christine Nairn, who is backed up by fellow countrywomen Brooke Elby and Jamie Pollock, the latter of whom spent time in the WPL this season. Finally, New Zealand youth international Brian Palmer links up with the squad after spending half a season with Ashburton United in the Victorian top-flight.
Christine Nairn (Mid, USA)
A great coup for the Victory is the re-signing of Christine Nairn, who brought so much to the league in her debut season in Navy Blue. The 25-year-old comes with a great pedigree behind her, having made two appearances for the USWNT as well as a long association with the National Women’s Soccer League in America where she’s turned out for the Washington Spirit and Seattle Reign. An expert passer with fantastic vision, she’ll be a key component to any success the Victory have this season.
Jamie Pollock (Mid, USA)
The second of Victory’s American trio, Jamie Pollock has been a revelation since arriving Down Under, steering South Melbourne to a surprise WPL championship. A product of the American college system, Pollock had great success in both her high school and tertiary football careers before signing for the defunct Atlanta Beat in the then top-flight competition in the US. Has a good eye for goal and finished the season with a best-on-ground performance in the WPL Grand Final.
READ MORE > Professional Pollock calls for mental edge
Brooke Elby (Mid, USA)
Much like Pollock, Brooke Elby has behind her a CV littered with achievements from a stellar college career where she starred for the highly-regarded University of North Carolina, one of the most successful colleges in the country. A co-captain of that outfit, Elby comes with a reputation as a hard-working midfielder despite missing 2014 with an ACL injury.
Briar Palmer (Wing, New Zealand)
While mainly utilised as a marauding full-back for Sinisa Cohadzic’s Ashburton United, former New Zealand youth international Briar Palmer should feature on the left wing for the Melbourne Victory. A good user of the ball, Palmer was often sighted over set pieces or bursting down the wing and delivering balls into the box.
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Senior NTC:
The Senior NTC – the Melbourne Victory youth feeder system – has been well represented in this year’s squad with five members of their squad from the season concluded making the cut. Included are skipper Annabel Martin, twins Adriana and Melissa Taranto, winger Whitney Knight and the baby of the squad Mindy Barbieri.
Melindaj Barbieri (Mid)
The youngest member of the Victory W-League squad at just 15 years of age, Mindy Barbieri had a stellar year for the Senior NTC, where she worked her way towards being a key member of the squad. An attacking minded player, Barbieri scored three goals in the WPL but impressed with her off-the-ball running and smart interplay.
Whitney Knight (Wing)
The speedster is drafted into the Victory squad on the back of a strong season running the wing of the Senior NTC. Capable of playing on both flanks, she’s lightning fast and very direct, scoring five goals in the WPL season. Well versed in playing the wide role of a 4-3-3 system which Dave Edmondson favours.
Annabel Martin (Def)
The Senior NTC captain and Under-17 Australian international Annabel Martin comes into the squad as a genuine utility player. While she spent her season playing as a right-back for the NTC, she’s capable of playing both flanks as well as in midfield. Adept with both feet and a tireless runner, she’ll provide good squad depth in a number of positions.
Adriana and Melissa Taranto (Mid)
It’ll be a fun game for Victory fans to try and tell the two identical twins apart, as not only do they look similar off the pitch, they’re just the same on it. Both are technically gifted midfielders with the ability to move the ball in tight spaces, and they also have an innate ability to create space with their precision passing. In terms of their seasons, Adriana played in a more attacking midfield role, with Melissa found just behind her and both – funnily enough – contributed two goals a piece for the NTC.
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New faces:
While there are plenty newcomers to the Victory W-League, there are only a couple remaining that haven’t been talked about just yet. Those two players are Jess Pitts and Hayley Raso.
Jess Pitts (Mid)
A product of the NTC system in Victoria, the U17 international Jess Pitts enjoyed a stellar season with Bundoora United in the WPL, where she linch-pinned the midfield in a deep-lying role. She has mounds of energy and traverses laterally across the pitch to shut down attacks, and is equally adept at using the ball too. This is her first ever W-League contract despite coming close in Edmondson’s last stint in charge.
Hayley Raso (Wing)
The young, exciting Raso is somewhat of a coup for the Victory after rumours of a move to Melbourne City failed to come to pass. She comes with international pedigree; the 21-year-old was selected in the Matildas 2015 World Cup squad after a strong season with the Brisbane Roar. She’d earlier played with Canberra United and even enjoyed a stint in America at the Washington Spirit where this season she played with Christine Nairn. A pace injection for the Victory Women.