GK: Alyssa Dall’oste (Box Hill United)
Dall’oste is enjoying a stellar season in net, with the youngster producing yet another game-changing performance. It was a display of good pure shot-stopping as she finished the round as just one of two keepers to retain a clean sheet.
LB: Tayla Evans (Southern United)
The fullback found the back of the net with a finish befitting of a forward, while simultaneously working to nullify Galaxy’s attacking options with a tough, no-nonsense approach to defending.
CB: Rachel Binning (Calder United)
The mobile centre half was on form once again for Calder, helping marshall her side to a clean sheet and three points, finding the back of the net to seal a 2-0 result against Heidelberg United.
RB: Georgia Koutrouvelis (Box Hill United)
The talisman figure for Box Hill put in a balanced performance at fullback to help set up victory against Bayside United. With her opponents not afraid to push forward away from home, Koutrouvelis was forced onto the back foot but responded well to help keep a clean sheet.
CM: Elisabeth Robers (Southern United)
The younger sister of Calder United’s Emma has enjoyed plenty of first team action at Southern United after completing a switch from Bayside in the pre-season. She – alongside midfielder partner Natasha Dakic – did a sterling role to stifle the impact of Galaxy’s creative figures in midfield and it was her two corner kicks that helped contribute to two goals in her side’s surprise win.
CM: Emma Robers (Calder United)
It was a good weekend for the Robers’ with Emma also enjoying a stellar Saturday afternoon on the other side of the city. The midfielder put her side into the lead with her second goal of the season and has been one of the form players for the reigning champions. Mindy Barbieri was another strong performer on her starting debut for Calder.
AM: Courtney Hueston (Southern United)
The main contributor in an attacking sense for Southern United was their attacking midfielder Courtney Hueston, who found the back of the net twice to put Galaxy to the sword with two brilliant solo goals. The first saw her sink an effort from 35-yards out, before a mazing run through the midfield saw her round the keeper into an open net.
RW: Lia Privitelli (Bulleen Lions)
Privitelli provided what was arguably Bulleen’s most potent attacking outlet in the goal-fest at Lakeside Stadium. She provided directness down the flank and also a good level of forward pressure, which forced what proved to be critical mistakes from the South Melbourne backline that she was able to profit from to score.
RF: Melina Ayres (South Melbourne)
Although it was business as usual for Ayres with yet another league brace in 2017, the fashion in which she scored her goals showed off a facet of her game that has seen a noticeable improvement. The forward netted with two diving headers and has grown into a real aerial threat this season. She is playing her way back into Young Matildas contention, although she faces stiff competition with Princess Ibini, Cortnee Vine and Remy Siemsen all in good form in their respective league’s.
LF: Kyra Cooney-Cross (Senior NTC)
It’s been a memorable week for one of the NTC’s most precocious talents. At just 15 years and two months, Cooney-Cross struck a first ever senior hat-trick at NPLW level on the weekend, then followed that up with a brace in the midweek fixture against Galaxy United.
LW: Janna Lawson (Alamein FC)
The former NTC graduate broke open Alamein’s fixture against her former side by playing a telling role in the Dashers’ first-half comeback. Grabbed two goals and an assist for Amy Kane in a quick-fire spell.
Bench:
Molly-May Ramsay (South Melbourne)
Although there were a number of nervy moments late on in the contest against Bulleen, Ramsay put in a good display of out-and-out shot stopping, including a brilliant stretch to deny Caitlin Friend from the penalty spot.
Steph Parton (Bayside United)
Voted as Bayside’s best on, Parton gave little to the Box Hill attackers despite conceding twice. Fast becoming a strong leader for the South-East based outfit.
Aimee Medwin (South Melbourne)
After a couple of “nearly” performances, Medwin breaks in for her first Team of the Week after a defensively sound performance, where she was not at fault for any of South’s four conceded. The technically impressive wingback got forward for two vital assists, the first a raking cross to Ayres, the second setting de Vanna on course to net the winner.
Anita Les (Alamein FC)
It was a combative 60 minutes from Les who continued in her central midfield role as Alamein persisted with a back three. In a match where few seemed interesting in defending, Les’ commitment and energy in midfield perhaps contributed to her being sacrificed just two-thirds of the way through the game
Adriana Taranto (Galaxy United)
While Taranto grabbed an assist in the 5-2 loss to Southern United over the weekend, the midfielder grabs her spot in the team based on her solid performance midweek against the NTC. She played a killer ball in the build-up to Laura Spiranovic’s goal, before getting the assist from a free-kick for their late equaliser.
Hayley Geurts (Box Hill United)
Although the temptation was there to include Kristina Hall for a fifth Team of the Week appearance after yet another strong performance – including a brilliant assist for Box Hill’s second – the bench spot instead goes to match-winner Hayley Geurts who netted a brace in the win against Bayside. The youngster is in good form in 2017 and netted a further three midweek in Pythagoras’ cup win.
Lisa de Vanna (South Melbourne)
The bar was set sky-high for South’s return to Lakeside Stadium with a healthy crowd packing in to observe the introduction of Matildas co-captain Lisa de Vanna. The start forward was able to justify the hype with a stunning half-hour of football, which included a goal, assist and a big presence which helped South clutch a thriller.