GK: Ingrid Philippe (Bayside United)
While the bayside goalkeeper may not have produced save of the season with the array of chances Southern sent her way on Sunday, it was a composed and confident performance to maintain a clean sheet. Bayside keeps a clean sheet for the first time this season at the 18th attempt, a credit to the persistence of Philippe.
RB: Dani Gudelj (Calder United)
The right back is in strong form and was again impressive at right back on Sunday. Gudelj had to bide her time through the first half of the season with limited minutes, but the absence of Claudia Fruscalzo has opened the door for the off-season signing to show she is more than worthy of a regular place in the starting XI.
CB: Rachel Binning (Calder United)
While Calder’s lethal finishing may have given the team peace of mind for most of Sunday’s match, it didn’t mean a reduced workload for the defence. Binning was prolific in the air and busy on the ground under a bombardment of Alamein high balls and passes attacking the middle.
CB: Katie Lee (Bayside United)
Named by Bayside as their best, and it’s hard to disagree with a performance at the heart of defence that earned Bayside’s only second win of the season. Worked tirelessly for her side and had some crucial involvements throughout.
LB: Hayley Richmond (Bulleen Lions)
A shift that led to a clean sheet, combined with the winning goal, combines for an impressive day at the office for the fullback. Stood tall when Heidelberg advanced and held her nerve at the end.
CM: Maggie Eudes (Box Hill United)
It’s a Box Hill central midfielder that’s not Kristina Hall. While Hall was busy fouling and getting fouled non-stop, Eudes was the less whistled combatant at the centre of a Box Hill midfield that ran Saturday’s one-sided win.
RAM: Elaina Vatcky (Box Hill United)
Fotopoulos gets the accolades this week for her hat-trick but Vatcky was a worthy contributor also. Notched a goal and assist to her name and often stretched the NTC defence.
LAM: Natalie Martineau (South Melbourne)
An important goal against Galaxy highlighted Martineau’s work rate in midfield and class in the league throughout the season – and over many years in Victorian football. As prolific as ever, she played a key role in South’s comeback.
RF: Kate Fotopoulos (Box Hill United)
Wearing Mel Camilleri’s no.8 and playing centre forward, Fotopoulos took striker-for-a-day to the next level by netting a hat-trick. The central midfielder looked a natural up front as her close control and ability to read the play proved invaluable in front of the target.
CF: Caitlin Greiser (South Melbourne)
It’s hard to ignore a brace which helped peg back South’s deficit. Continues to do what a striker does, and that’s scoring goals – the first especially an impressive looping effort.
LF: Lulu Al-Huneidi (Galaxy United)
It was an often end-to-end game against South which played into the hands of attackers and Al-Huneidi certainly benefited. Got on the scoresheet with a neat effort catching the keeper off her line.
Bench:
Emily Shields (Bulleen Lions)
A game in which she and Heidelberg counterpart Katie Neville both did well, Shields was calm and composed when called upon, making a couple of important saves which helped preserve the clean sheet.
Annabel Martin (Galaxy United)
While defensively it was a bit all over the place for all sides, Martin’s drive down the wing to complement the attack was a hallmark of the contest and gave Galaxy an added layer of attack.
Cindy Lay (Calder United)
We’ve sung the praises of Calder’s defence which stood tall against Alamein but at the other end the likes of Cindy Lay also excelled to put three past their opponents, with the latter providing an assist of sorts for the first and good footwork for her goal.
Maddie Richardson (Box Hill United)
While her teammates got the job done at one end, Richardson was also uncompromising at the back to seldom allow the NTC a sniff at the other.