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 and using the hashtag #NPLWTOTS.
Whether they’re the agile movers with lightning reflexes, part-time sweepers comfortable spraying passes from defence or the strong, uncompromising type that look to dominate their 18-yard-box, the ones in between the net have a crucial role in any good side. We pay homage to some of the best and bravest goalkeepers in the NPLW.
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Melissa Barbieri (Heidelberg United)
She may have only played a handful of games in goals, and was drafted in only as an injury replacement for Christina Fonua, but Melissa Barbieri was all class when she did don the gloves for Heidelberg, providing a calming presence to her defence before suffering an unfortunate ACL injury in a catch-up fixture against Calder United. Before that, she was one of the Bergers’ best outfield players of the season in midfield, where she contributed three goals, with her selection here a culmination of her good work in 2016 across all positions.
Freya Crocker (Southern United)
Although she spent the start of the season rotating in goals with former-Caulfield United Cobras keeper Jaye Todd, a wrist injury to the latter saw Freya Crocker make the number one jersey her own. The Tasmanian – formerly of Boroondara Eagles – was a safe pair of hands for Southern United despite having to wait until Round 20 for her first clean sheet against the Senior NTC. A lowlight was the 6-0 thrashing against a rampant Calder United, but it showed plenty about her mentality that she was able to recover to put in consistent performances in 2016.
Bethany Mason-Jones (Calder United)
The keeper behind the most stringent defence in the NPLW top flight, Bethany Mason-Jones helped herself to eight clean sheets in her best top-flight season to date and was amply aided by the solid defensive unit Calder United posses. The vocal youngster was a big presence and has added consistency to her game in 2016, which hasn’t always been present in past seasons. A strong shot stopper and decisive off her line to help alleviate pressure on her defensive teammates.
Emily Shields (Box Hill United)
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With the pre-season news that Melissa Barbieri was set to fall back into a coaching role with Box Hill United, coach Bobby McGuinness was forced into looking elsewhere for a replacement number one. He dipped into the lower leagues to pluck Emily Shields from the Yarra Jets, and it turned out to be a masterstroke as the American has repaid the faith in bucketloads. A classic shot-stopper, Shields can count her reflexes and diving as some of her stronger traits, making a string of high-class saves across the season, which saw her claim the coach voted Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Honourable mention(s): Lauren Farrugia (Bulleen Lions)
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