Time flies when you’re having fun and the season consisting of 22 rounds is relatively short. Yep, we’re halfway through the WPL season, with every team having now completed 11 games each. So how has your club fared in 2015?
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Ashburton United (4th, 7-2-2 +27)
The good: A rise from the ashes in recent years to become a genuine championship contender this season, with the muscle to lure players such as Melissa Maizels, Emma Checker, Georgia Cloepfil and Laura Spiranovic. Their football has been fluent and easy on the eye with an attacking focus.
READ MORE > Round 1-3 Player of the Month: Georgia Cloepfil
The bad: Dropping points more often than they would like, and perhaps slightly lacking in overall depth to cover injury crises adequately. Perhaps also a lack of a real plan B, as their 4-3-3 structure has been pretty much set in stone, but that’s just nitpicking.
Verdict: Top four is a good start to 2015, but you sense that Sinisa Cohadzic is in for the kill and won’t settle for anything less than a title challenge. But he’ll need see further improvement in the second half of the season to be able to do so. B+
Boroondara Eagles (1st, 9-1-1 +33)
The good: Unbeaten under Shaun Ontong, playing some of the most attractive football in the league. They’ve been spearheaded by super import Taryne Boudreau up front and Amy Jackson in the midfield, but have an impressive squad all the way throughout the XI.
READ MORE > Round 4-6 Player of the Month: Taryne Boudreau
The bad: A slow-ish start that saw a defeat and a draw put the Eagles slightly behind the 8-ball, but not much since then. They’ve yet to be fully tested without their big name players, which could spell danger in the latter stages of the season.
Verdict: A team in scintillating form that is the current benchmark and team to beat so far this WPL season. Top of the class so far for 2015. A+
Box Hill United (8th, 4-2-5 +6)
The good: Adaptability in the face of adversity, especially after losing key figures Melissa Barbieri and Ellie Brush for the time being. Melanie Camilleri has also been a top acquisition at Wembley Park, providing a strong focal point for in attack.
READ MORE > Round 1-3 Player of the Month: Ellie Brush
The bad: They’ve been quite sturdy in defence but need to develop more of an attacking flair, with only four multiple goal scorers, one of whom isn’t at the club anymore. What will signing Emily Hulbert add to this side?
Verdict: Currently occupy a spot outside of the finals positions as John Kyrgios battles to scale the heights he achieved at Heidelberg last season. But there’s plenty of time yet, and Box Hill look much closer to the top few than they do the bottom. C
Bulleen Lions (7th, 5-1-5 +7)
The good: A production line of young Victorian talent, playing an attacking game style with athletic and skilful purpose. There’s more potential there than the team’s position suggests.
READ MORE > Confidence in the camp building says Scott
The bad: Something is yet to tick for Bobby McGuinness’ side, with inconsistency preventing a charge up the ladder. Perhaps a bit of a lack of experience or killer instinct in burying chances, but long-term injuries to four starting players certainly doesn’t aid the cause.
Verdict: At the moments it’s a case of performance over results, with Bulleen playing an eye-catching brand of football, but yet to translate that into consistent points on the board. Though one feels something big is just around the corner. C
Bundoora United (2nd, 9-1-1 +17)
The good: A defensive wall, conceding the least amount of goals this season. At the other end, the team has a good spread of goal scorers all over the park. It looks like a settled and balanced squad for Torcaso and Kilpatrick with a strong blend of youth and experience.
READ MORE > Legendary Louisa kicking goals on and off the pitch
The bad: The one defeat to title rivals Boroondara, albeit without the attacking spark of Enza Barilla.
Verdict: They’ve won games by dominating teams, they’ve won games when not playing well, and they’ve won games by coming from behind. All the signs of a potential championship winning team. A+
Casey Comets (12th, 0-1-10 -34)
The good: Slim pickings, but at least the Comets don’t look too far off a maiden 2015 win, competitive in a number of games and unlucky to lose against the Cobras – things could pick up if recent imports fire.
READ MORE > New Comet Katrina determined to help Casey rise
The bad: There’s been plenty of bad, but perhaps none more so than already being overtaken by the two promoted sides, losing to both South Yarra and Caulfield this season.
Verdict: Just haven’t been able to re-live the former glory days or adequately replace departures of seasons’ past. A threadbare squad will be tested with the depth of the WPL season still remaining. E
READ MORE > How do the teams stack up compared to their pre-season expectations?