Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 1 Preview

Bring on round 1 of the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League for 2009!
With most clubs boasting a variety of new faces on their playing rosters this season it will be interesting to see if the leading clubs can maintain their dominance or if a new comer will rise to the top of the rankings. If we look at the final standings of last year?s competition you would think that this weekend?s opening round may produce some lopsided clashes. I have the feeling though that this season?s race to the finals may be a lot closer than many people think.
The match of the round would appear to be the clash between last season?s Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Club Champions/Grand Final winners, Illawarra Stingrays and the 2008 Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Minor Premiers/Grand Final winners, Macarthur Rams.
Whilst The Rams have lost the dominant Danielle Brogan from their defence their squad sees little change from last season?s competition winning outfit. With Kylie Ledbrook leading the way once more from midfield The Rams are sure to be hard to beat as they seek to win their third Arrive Alive Women?s Premier league title in a row. 
The Stingrays have recruited some major talent with both Trudy Camilleri and Ash Connor from the Marconi Stallions joining the South Coast girls. Whilst Connor will be unavailable this weekend whilst awaiting a clearance The Stingrays will have plenty of firepower up front with established strike pair of Michelle Carney and Michelle Heyman ready to take up where they left off in 2008.
This looks like a humdinger but I?m tipping The Rams to start the season on a winning note.
Manly United FC takes on Sydney University at Cromer Park. Manly finished fourth in last year?s competition but showed dashes of ability far beyond that placing during the season. With some young talent coming through to supplement the skills of the more established players Manly may take things a step further this season.
Sydney University started 2008 slowly but built some good momentum in the back half of the season. Many opposing coaches saw University as a side that was defence orientated but that opinion was put to the sword somewhat with a number of fine performances as the season progressed. I keep coming back to their win over NWS Koalas towards the end of the 2008 competition; it was a win that showed just what the Sydney University side were capable of.
Let?s go for what might be considered and upset here; I?ll tip a draw.
The 2008 Arrive Alive Women?s Premier league Club Champions, the Marconi Stallions, host Penrith Nepean United at Marconi Stadium. The Stallions have been laid a little threadbare by some significant departures but, when you consider the talent the club has throughout its girls/women?s programme, you?d be willing to bet that they?ll bounce back strongly. Coach Mauro Tacco blooded some of his younger players during 2008; a factor that may prove beneficial as this season progresses.
Penrith United had a fairly disastrous off season but the good news is that a) they still exist and b) they?re ready to football. The Penrith side proved a tough side to beat during 2008, putting up some solid performances against the competition?s main contenders. With a similar approach in 2009 Penrith will certainly give the finals race a shake. This is a big test for them first up though.
I?d be expecting a Marconi win in this encounter.
Last but not least we see the match between Sutherland Sharks and NWS Koalas at Harrie Dening Centre. The Sharks have lost a number of players from last season?s squad. They?ve been replaced by some youngsters coming up through the ranks and players from other clubs who?ve sought a new opportunity. Their trial form has been good but trial form doesn?t always equate to season proper success. Opponents will be casting a wary eye over The Sharks new line up in the early rounds.
The Koalas off season player drain has been a talking point but we?re not going to know until they hit the field just what effect the losses will have. The Koalas have never been caught out when it comes to finding new talent so you can be sure that they?ll already be planning a finals campaign for 2009. There was an ocean of competition points between these two clubs at the end of last season?s competition; a factor I find hard to ignore when assessing the outcome of this game.
I?m tipping The Koalas by two goals. I hope that Miss Congeniality is still talking to me after she reads this!
Good luck to all the clubs, their coaching staff and players as we commence a new season. I hope all of our Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League players stay injury free, out of trouble and are able to display their bondless talents to plenty of appreciative fans.
Let the games begin!
-By Ross Anderson