Image: Rachel Bach
Coach: Melissa Barbieri
2016 finish: 5th
Summary: It was a tale of two competitions as Heidelberg’s league form was hot and cold, finishing fifth, but one the other hand the club claimed its first major silverware since 2007 with a Team App Cup triumph over Bulleen Lions.
Ins: Sky Jensen (Galaxy United), Mikayla Lazic (Senior NTC), Sarah Sumner (Hoppers Crossing), Katie Neville (Galaxy United), Laura Phillips, Grace Abbey (Adelaide United), Ally Ladas (Adelaide United), Alex Chidiac (Adelaide United), Cortnee Vine (Brisbane Roar), Matilda Comley, Renae Pantelis (Pascoe Vale – Futsal), Sarah Richardson, Jessica Byrne
Outs: Julia Nicolaci (South Melbourne), Michelle Verzi (South Melbourne), Belinda Panella (retired), Leigh Gray (Galaxy United), Joey Cartwright (Alamein FC), Christine Fonua (Southern United), Lisa Fonua (Southern United), Monica Fonua (Southern United), Demi Mihaloudis (Southern United)
Re-signed: Hannah Ryan, Bonnie Barnes, Elly Torre, Katrina Tsalikidis, Samantha Black, Rita Mankowska, Eryiel McGookin, Steph Galea, Elise Mamanu-Gray, Ellie Gavalas
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Player Q&A: Rita Mankowska
How’s pre-season going? Where have you been with the team?
It’s been great, we are a brand new team so it was good getting to know eachother during our pre-season training camp in Rye where we did a bit of fitness and a bit of goal-setting too.
What have the club’s pre-season results been?
We haven’t been too focused on our pre season results – instead more so on our style of play and finding the right positions for each of our players.
How are the new signings settling in?
Really well. All but one of our interstate players feel like they’ve been a part of our squad for many months instead of a couple of weeks, and the new to the club players have been welcomed into Olympic Village with open arms.
Who are the Heidelberg players to watch in 2017 (new or existing) and why?
Our four Young Matildas Grace [Abbey], Ally [Ladas], Cortnee [Vine] and Chids [Alex Chidiac] are all really talented and play some exciting football, so definitely look out for them on the pitch. But that aside, the rest of our team is made up of 18+ hard working local athletes who will bleed for the club – watch out for how all develop together as a brand new team once we start to gel in the middle third of the season.
Who are the some of the bigger characters off the pitch and why?
Our car full of Geelong-based players are currently leading the pack for one-liners and jokes, closely followed by ‘dab-queen’ Hannah Ryan.
How’s Melissa Barbieri been preparing the squad?
Bubs has been great, she’s really just been getting down to basics and coaching the type of football philosophy that we are going to adopt for the season ahead.
Which team/player are you most looking forward to facing this year?
Every game this season will be an exciting one, each team having their own respective strengths, but it’s always extra special to play against our traditional Heidelberg rivals in Box Hill and South Melbourne.
Which opposition club(s) have impressed you most in pre-season?
Calder United are the team to beat, they showed us where the standard is in the Community Shield game last week.
What are the expectations/objectives in 2017?
We have high expectations of playing competitive football and making finals, but understand that this might take some time while our squad learns how to play together and really gel. Like all good things, it will take time.
What’s one headline we may see about Heidelberg this season?
‘Heidelberg United: the underestimated underdogs’