Image: Rachel Bach
Alamein FC’s squad continues to take shape with four arrivals alongside three re-signings for the 2017 season.
Following Marianna Anthony’s arrival from Bayside United, the club also acquired the services of Joey Cartwright from Heidelberg United, goalkeeper Erin Hudson from Bayside, and defender Jaimee Williams from Box Hill United.
The young cohort is joined by Maria Patrikis, Cristina Cardaci, Anita Les, Rhea Schreuder and Amy Kane, who have all re-committed for 2017.
An Albury-Wodonga product, Cartwright’s stocks as a youngster grew with selection as a 14-year-old to the national squad to play AFC Under-16 qualifiers in Malaysia.
She switched to Olympic Village after being the NTC’s joint top scorer alongside Emily Harbis in 2015. At Heidelberg she scored three times in the 2016 season.
“We had some weaknesses in certain areas last year and I have identified Joey as one of the players that would fit in our philosophy and style of play,” coach Sinisa Cohadzic said.
“She is a very young and talented player that has lot of potential and I believe she will do great for us.”
Former NTC goalkeeper Hudson makes the switch from Bayside United, where she battled it out with Ingrid Philippe for first choice between the sticks.
She was also part of the Victorian squad that traveled to Tasmania and recently took out the Bass Strait Cup.
She’ll have big shoes to fill in W-League player Melissa Maizels’ absence for next season’s NPLW campaign.
“Erin is a promising and talented goalkeeper that I believe in to do the job for the team in absence of Melissa Maizels next season because of shoulder surgery. Sometimes these young players especially goalkeepers need that confidence from coaches to excel and believe in their ability.”
Williams, another NTC graduate, made the move to club land in 2016 after switching to Box Hill United.
She’s another defensive acquisition that, like Anthony, is capable of playing across the backline.
“I’ve been following Jaimee Williams when she played at NTC and always had a high opinion of her ability technically and in understanding the game,” Cohadzic said. “She is another young player that needs to have confidence to really show her full potential.”
“Marianna Anthony I am bringing over to be one of the leaders of the team even in such young age that she is. She has ability to play in many positions and has the ability to become one of the best players in the league.”
Meanwhile, Cardaci made the mid-season switch from Box Hill only to face her old club in her debut appearance.
For the most part she had to deputise for in-form wingers Melina Ayres and Hannah Keane.
“There’s a lot of the game that I still need to learn but I think that when you surround yourself with good players, you learn from them and off them. That was the most important thing,” she said at the time.
“[Sinisa’s] really good. He’s tough, he challenges you, puts you on your toes so you want to do everything you can to perform for him because you have that respect.”
“Cristina Cardaci is another player that hasn’t shown her full potential yet because of lot of reasons and I believe with a full pre-season and adapting to our style of play she will have a breakout season for us,” Cohadzic said.
Long-serving Ashburton/Alamein defender Patrikis has also committed to another year at HA Smith Reserve.
She is now approaching her seventh year at the year at club, having established herself at Ashburton in the state leagues before making the jump to the top tier in Victoria.
Joining from Caulfield at the end of the 2015 season, Les enjoyed a standout season for Sinisa Cohadzic’s side, earning TCF Team of the Season honors and W-League trials.
Having played a more advanced role at her previous club, her attacking instincts added an extra dimension to her game when transitioning to a left-back role at Alamein.
Amy Kane is also retained for 2017. Signed alongside Les from Caulfield Cobras after a 2015 campaign that yielded five goals, she added one more goal in 2016 and adds depth to Alamein’s forward line.
Rhea Schreuder signed on having featured for Alamein’s U18 squad in 2016. However, she possesses an abundance of pedigree, netting eight times in South Melbourne’s 2015 WPL winning campaign.