Coach: Vincenzo Ierardo
Home Ground: Banyul Warri Reserve
Brief overview: Project Greater Geelong Galaxy became a more succinct Galaxy United with the announcement of the NPLW for 2015. United have insisted that their club will be the hub for development in years to come for young female players in the area, and as such, their senior line-up is highly-reflective of this direction, with a strong blend of local talent and young stars in the making set to play their football out in the Surf Coast. A picturesque scene for football at Banyul Warri Reserve, the team will have plenty of bonding opportunities on trips into Melbourne on away game day’s. Will that chemistry translate onto the park?
Confirmed squad (2015 club in brackets):
- Whitney Knight (Senior NTC)
- Laura Spiranovic (Ashburton United)
- Sky Jensen (Boroondara Eagles)
- Sarah Sumner (South Melbourne)
- Kariah White (returning)
- Jade Feakes (South Melbourne)
- Aneta Komijat (Heidelberg United)
- Annabel Martin (Senior NTC)
- Melissa Taranto (Senior NTC)
- Adriana Taranto (Senior NTC)
- Kat Smith (returning)
- Katie Neville (North Geelong Warriors)
- Amelia Spiranovic (North Geelong Warriors)
- Britt Elsen (North Geelong Warriors)
- Jess Tay (Boroondara Eagles)
- Kelsey Quinn (Heidelberg United)
- Sadie Murphy (Heidelberg United)
- Jess Kenyon (Lara SC)
- Olivia Ortiz (North Geelong Warriors)
Pre-season:
Galaxy United 1 defeated by Heidelberg United 6
Galaxy United 1 defeated by Alamein United 4
Galaxy United defeated Bayside United
Players to watch: Galaxy United have almost become the hub for W-League players to ply their trade in the national league off season, with seven players holding a role at Melbourne Victory in some capacity this season, with Kelsey Quinn a train on at Melbourne City. Most interestingly of the seven will be Kat Smith and how she adjusts back to life playing football, most likely to take her coaching role onto the field to assist Ierardo. Whitney Knight unfortunately succumbed to a serious knee injury earlier in pre-season so she looks to be out for the 2016 season, with Kyriah White her likely successor in the XI. Annabel Martin and Sarah Sumner will fill the right- and left-back roles, respectively. It will be interesting to see how players like Jess Kenyon and the North Geelong Warrior girls adjust to life in the top-flight, but Ierardo remains supremely confident in their abilities, a good sign for the future. Laura Spiranovic perhaps holds the key to their success, and will be chomping at the bit to get on the park after suffering a serious injury playing for the Victory last season.
Coach comments:
Geelong Galaxy Coach InterviewAs one of the new entities in the NPLW Victoria, Galaxy United FC had their work out in putting together a squad, including appointing an inaugural coach. Vincenzo Ierardo discusses the club’s preparations for the impending season, and the league overall.#PS4NPLWVIC
Posted by The Corner Flag on Wednesday, 2 March 2016
What to expect in 2016: They’ve collected some of the best young and best local talent at the club for 2016 and brought together a lot of girls that have worked together before (three Heidelberg, two Boroondara and a wealth of Senior NTC/Melbourne Victory players) and most importantly, players that have been coached by Ierardo in the past. This may see them start in front of some of the other consortium clubs in regards to team chemistry and their understanding on the pitch, but they’ll have to capitalise on that in the early stages of the season. If they can get off to a flying start, expect the momentum to lift and carry the talented fledglings to a good season in the league.
Photo: Galaxy United