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 via the poll below.
They carry the weight of expectation on their shoulders, but it doesn’t phase the very best forwards, who must count mental strength as a huge part of their respective game styles. Tasked with the biggest responsibility in football – sticking the ball in the back of the net – the forwards are smart, cunning and can manipulate the space in front of them to create openings for themselves and teammates to get on the score sheet. Between them, they shared 55 goals this season as we praise the goal scoring exploits of some of the NPLW’s finest.
NPLW Victoria Team of the Season: Goalkeepers
NPLW Victoria Team of the Season: Centre Backs
NPLW Victoria Team of the Season: Fullbacks
NPLW Victoria Team of the Season: Central Midfielders
NPLW Victoria Team of the Season: Attacking Midfielders
NPLW Victoria Team of the Season: Wingers
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Rachel Alonso (Calder United)
Alonso has in the past found herself playing in a number of different positions, from the wings, to central midfield and also up top. That’s where she found herself playing the majority of her football this year too as she helped herself to a brilliant 17 goal haul as she finished third in the Golden Boot standings. On top of that, her form secured her a top-10 finish in the Gold Medal tally, while she scored what will go down as the best goal in recent memory after netting a glorious bicycle kick at Wembley Park. Another fantastic season from one of the league’s best players.
Emily Coppock (Bulleen Lions)
Hauls of 15 and seven goals in her past two seasons respectively was built on once more as Coppock finished the season as one of eight players to hit double digits goals in the league. The once defender again proved her ability in leading the line as she provided a focal point for the plethora of talent Bulleen deployed in wide positions. An aerial specialist and solid finisher, the striker can be happy with the work she achieved this season as Bulleen Lions finished in a respectable third place.
Brittany Dudley-Smith (Southern United)
The former South Melbourne forward had to bide her time at the start of the season, as injury halted her progress with her new side. Dudley-Smith’s first goal of the season came in Round 11 against Alamein FC, and she didn’t look back, netting a further seven in her next 12 appearances. Her return coincided with an upturn in fortunes for her club, as they picked up 89% of their points for the season in the games she played in and they’d love to have her for more than just the 15 games in 2017.
Leigh Gray (Heidelberg United)
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The American took the league by storm in her first stint in Victoria in 2012, where she netted 19 goals at nearly a goal a game. She hardly missed a trick in her return season, netting 20 times, again at just under a goal a game. She finished second to Melina Ayres in the Golden Boot race in a season that included a league high four hat-tricks. A match winner on her day, Gray wasn’t able to help carry her team to a finals berth, but a treble in the 4-0 Team App Cup win over Bulleen Lions ensured Heidelberg took plenty out of their 2016 campaign.
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