GK: Freya Crocker (Southern United)
Up against the league’s freest scoring outfit in Bulleen Lions, Southern United stopper Freya Crocker might’ve been expecting a busy night coming into the game. What she got was a player-of-the-match performance, after denying the Lions with a number of sublime saves at the Veneto Club. Put her name in the hat for a save of the season contender to tip wide Lia Privitelli’s driven effort from outside the area, while also denying substitute Taryne Boudreau from point blank range.
RB: Annabel Martin (Galaxy United)
Galaxy United’s exceptional defensive record continued on the weekend, as they secured a fourth clean sheet for the season, an equal league high. At the forefront of that was fullback Annabel Martin who continues to string together an impressive 2016 season. The entire team worked well as a unit, but Martin was one of the standouts as she helped put in a shift at both ends of the park.
CB: Christine Pfeiffer (Alamein FC)
The Alamein FC centre-half had a busy first half, as she swept up a number of promising attacks for Box Hill United. She read the play ahead of every other player on the park and earned a much deserved clean sheet out of the tie. Defensive partner Harriet Cordner also put in a good shift at her new club.
CB: Jamie Pollock (Bulleen Lions)
Grabbed the assist for Beattie Goad in the first game, and dictated the tempo from behind the play exceptionally well in the second, midfielder Jamie Pollock has proven herself an ample stop-gap solution for a centre-back role, as she did in the W-League season. The American was brilliant across the match week, and even scored the sealer against the Senior NTC last night.
CB: Rita Mankowska (Heidelberg United)
The talented centre-half marshalled her defence with distinction, to help mount a stunning two-goal comeback against Calder United. Copped a couple of goals early with Enza Barilla finding herself in some good positions, but was solid throughout.
LB: Liv Ellis (Bulleen Lions)
Another player to put in two solid performances over the weekend, Bulleen’s second entrant in the Team of the Week was sublime down the left flank, offering plenty with her passing range to help set up attacks, but also in shutting down her direct opponent. Has the technical ability of a winger, and that adds another dimension for Bulleen to attack with.
CM: Enza Barilla (Calder United)
The Calder United midfielder was in the right place at the right time in the first half against an in-form Heidelberg United, grabbing two poachers goals to put her team 2-0 up at the break. While her impact wained in the second half, as Heidelberg struck through the heart to complete a stunning 3-2 come-from-behind win, her performance was still deserving of a Team of the Week berth.
CM: Jess Miller (Southern United)
Competing against a potent Bulleen Lions midfield, Jessica Miller was able to provide a solid match up for Southern United, working tirelessly all game to create chances and nullify her opposition, in a performance that won admiration from those watching on.
LW: Melina Ayres (Alamein FC)
While the wingers around the ground impact wasn’t to the high esteem we hold her to, Melina Ayres was able to flick the switch and break the game open against Box Hill United with a stunning hat-trick, including two brilliant solo goals.
ST: Leigh Gray (Heidelberg United)
A third hat-trick in the space of four games serves as proof of the form the American forward finds herself in at the moment. She was clinical against Calder United, taking her second half chances with aplomb to complete a memorable comeback victory. Melissa Barbieri was another strong performer in a supporting role.
RW: Ash Lefevre (Senior NTC)
Lefevre has stepped her game up in 2016 and has been one of her sides most consistent performers to start the season. She gets reward for her hard work with a berth in the Team of the Week. Her nomination is a culmination of a few good weeks work for the speedster, and it was capped off with another bright performance on the wing against Bulleen Lions.
Substitutes:
Christine Fonua (Heidelberg United)
The Heidelberg United number one was forced to make a number of stunning saves in the second half, in order to keep Calder United at bay. Her performance was a huge catalyst for the Warriors’ turnaround in the second half, with her long kick from defence even setting up a goal for Gray.
Antonia Niteros (Southern United)
The centre-half, turn striker, turn centre-half again returned to form against Bulleen. She was up against it especially in the second half when the Lions began to charge, but held firm, with their goal breached just once in the contest. Anouk Meereboer was another strong performer from the tie.
Emma Littlewood (Box Hill United)
Littlewood did an incredible job nullifying Emma Runnalls’ impact on the right wing in the first half, forcing Sinisa Cohadzic into a change to rotate both Christina Cardaci and Melina Ayres a chance against the fullback. The Box Hill defender was up to the challenge and read the play well enough to not get caught out, barring one moment of magic from Ayres.
Olivia Edwards (Alamein FC)
Might have played just the half of football, but the Alamein FC fullback was a standout during her time on the pitch, with her tough tackling and numerous interceptions down the left.
Lia Privitelli (Bulleen Lions)
Like Pollock, the Bulleen Lions winger was a standout in both fixtures for her side, proving the most threatening attacking outlet in the first game against Southern United, but spurned a number of opportunities. It was a similar tale in the win against Senior NTC, as she proved a valuable asset going forward on the left wing, but wasn’t able to make the best of her opportunities.