The NPLW Victoria was rolled out to much fan-fare in 2016 and in it’s inaugural season, has delivered in its promise to foster a more competitive womens top-flight competition. Nine teams slogged it out for 24 games plus finals as Calder United claimed a league double to establish themselves as the powerhouse of the competition. In full retrospect of the 2016 season, we honour some of the best performers of 2016 in The Corner Flag’s Team of the Season, which you can have your say in by voting for two players via the poll below.
Whether they’re tall or short, strong or petit, there never seems to be a shortage of quality centre half’s in the Victorian top-flight, none more so than this year’s crop, who are a good balance of steely, uncompromising labourers and the mobile ball, ball playing types with exemplary technical ability. These are the best centre backs of season 2016.
NPLW Victoria Team of the Season: Goalkeepers
NPLW Victoria Team of the Season: Fullbacks
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Rachel Binning (Calder United)
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The 19-year-old has firmly established herself as one of the league’s premier central defenders after another season of growth on the park. She is good technically, rarely beaten in the air, and is mobile despite her tall frame. Chipped in with three goals as she played every single minute in Calder’s run in to the Grand Final and was the unheralded cornerstone of her sides double winning season. 24 goals against was a league low, while Calder’s eight clean sheets was second only to Galaxy United.
Harriet Cordner (Alamein FC)
Much like her former Casey Comets teammate in Binning, Cordner has flourished since making the move to Alamein FC under the stewardship of Sinisa Cohadzic. An aerial expert, Cordner poses a real goal threat from set-pieces and has added plenty of experience and a ferociousness in the tackle to Alamein’s defence alongside Christine Pfeiffer. Had the third best defensive record in the league, keeping seven clean sheets and conceded more than two goals in a game just three times throughout the season.
Gulcan Koca (Calder United)
While she didn’t spend her whole season in the heart of defence, the Melbourne Victory stalwart was a key performer whether deployed as a centre half or in midfield. The signing of the impressive Kasha Meyer – who could’ve featured on this list had she played a few more games – allowed Koca to move into a shielding role in the latter end of the season, which culminated in a solid winning performance in the NPLW Grand Final.
Rita Mankowska (Heidelberg United)
Mankowska ticked over the 200 game mark for Heidelberg this season, making her the longest serving current player at Olympic Village, male or female. It’s a remarkable feat for one of the league’s leading defenders, with the 27-year-old boasting a wealth of experience, including a stint with Melbourne Victory. Her form this year is proof that defending is a fine art, that is refined with experience, a double century of games worth at that.
Maddie Richardson (Box Hill United)
The technically gifted defender has played a wide range of positions at Box Hill, from right back to central midfield, but it was an accomplished season at centre-back that has seen her win plaudits this year. Proven herself a very capable out and out defender, while still contributing over a dead ball with quality set-piece delivery. A very accomplished season for a team that conceded the least amount of goals out of the teams that didn’t make the finals series.
Jess Tay (Galaxy United)
In terms of the most unlucky players in recent seasons, Jess Tay would have to be close to topping that list. The former Boroondara utility was brilliant as the Eagles fell just short of an WPL title in 2015, while similarly she fell at the final hurdle in the inaugural NPLW season with Galaxy. That aside, Tay had a very memorable campaign as she spent time juggling a defensive and midfield role, often dictating play from behind the scenes with her good range of passing, while doing her defensive duties with no frills to help her side to the most clean sheets of the season.
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Honourable Mentions: Sky Jensen (Galaxy United), Antonia Niteros (Southern United)