NPL 2 NSW Women’s 2020 Season Preview

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The long off-season has come and gone, it’s time for the National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Womens competition to get started!

All your favourites return again with Gladesville Ravens trying to defend their maiden Grand Final victory with the big challenges coming from Nepean FC, Marconi Stallions, Sutherland Shire FA and Central Coast Mariners.

North Shore Mariners get welcomed into the NPL 2 NSW Women’s competition looking to spring back to the top division at the first time of asking while SD Raiders FC, UNSW FC and St George FC all try to improve of their mid-table finishes last season with two regional sides in Western NSW FC and Southern Branch FC also finding their rhythm.

Lastly, Inter Lions try to brush off their wooden spoon in what shapes to be another exciting installment of the National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Womens competition. So, let’s get the boots on and get stuck into the preview for the season.

Central Coast Mariners

2019: Fifth (Eliminated in Finals, Week Two)

At times last season, Central Coast Mariners side resembled a hospital ward but the yellow and navy have a full bill of health ready to continue their development for the 2020 season. The talent is there and ready to hopefully bring some silverware back to Pluim Park.

Despite their casualties, Mariners once again featured in the finals and continued what Technical Director and coach Dan Barrett has dubbed their “two-fold” strategy to bolster the squad with talented youth and the best players in the region. Barrett also has two sharp attacking options in Danielle Wise and Gabrielle Blanch to spearhead the attack.

Barrett has also bulked up the squad to address the depth in the squad. Ready to go, Central Coast Mariners remain a tough trip for any side in NPL2 but time will tell if they can take the step forward to add to the trophy cabinet.

Gladesville Ravens:

2019: Champions (Third in the regular season)

Coming into the new season, Gladesville Ravens have turned from the hunter into the hunted after their maiden Grand Final success. The small but ambitious club has retained the nucleus of the squad heralded by custodian Eri Arikawa. Alongside her is poacher Emily Diaz and her strike partners Kasia Wojtowicz and Annaliese Schiraldi. The Ravens have farewelled captain and 20-year servant Ashleigh Smith who will leave a hole in their squad.

Hoping to fill that void is a pair of new signings – former Blacktown Spartan Georgia Vlangos and Jamaica Marshall. Ravens hope to soar into the top five again with brothers Alex and Albert Disciascio at the helm. The brothers are working hard on the Ravens structure which saw them tough to break down and make it a successful season.

2019 saw Gladesville Ravens take the step into the heavyweight contender category, so now the challenge for them is to remain consistent. Take those punches and roll with them, first up for them is their main antagonist from 2019, Sutherland Shire FA at Christie Park.

Inter Lions:

2019: Twelfth

The only way is up for Inter Lions headed into 2020. Inter finished wooden spooners with a single victory to their name. One of the old stagers in NPL2NSW Womens, they will want to keep up with the competition and not fall behind.

There is excitement in the Lions squad with a blend of the experienced heads from last season’s campaign flourished with some talented youth to make sure 2020 is a much-improved season for the Lions as they christen their new football complex.

Marconi Stallions

2019: Sixth

For a proud club, Marconi Stallions have been disappointing in their two campaigns in NPL2NSW Womens. Might 2020 be third time lucky for the proud club as they aim to turn their trot into a gallop for the new campaign.

New coach Andy Severin has made it a policy to bring familiar faces back into the fold at the Stallions. Leading the returning pack is first grade captain Renee Tonkins alongside Bankstown City duo Joanna Martino and Renee Krstanovska with their aim to get Marconi back into the finals for the first time in three seasons.

The ace in the hole for the Stallions is the retention of Jasmin Christie-Johnston (26 goals) as the Stallions aim to bridge the gap between their successful youth program and the senior side. Six of their first-grade squad including Emma and Hannah Voloder are the jewel in the crown with five years of service at the club. That pipeline alongside the returning cast might be the formula needed for an improved season.

Nepean FC

2019: Fourth (Eliminated Finals, Week One)

They say change is the only constant in life and Nepean FC will be a much-changed outfit for the 2020 season. The resident overachievers of National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Womens have lost almost half a century of experience in their squad but that has allowed the youngsters in the squad a chance to shine in their absence.

Nepean FC did restock some experience in Dural Warriors superstar Sarah Easthope, Bankstown City Lions Tayla Chaplin and Japanese duo Hitomi Maeda and Honoka Kuroda. 2020 will be a big year for young talents Imogen Lane, Ellen Berios and Maddie Fernado to stamp their mark on the NPL2NSW Womens competition.

For coach Alan Tasses, this season is about consolidation. Nepean FC will reprise their role as the David to the Goliaths of the NPL2NSW Womens competition. Eyeing a fifth straight finals appearance, 2020 might be their toughest test yet in a jam-packed competition. Nepean FC kick off their season with a home fixture against UNSW FC.

North Shore Mariners

2019: Relegated from NPL Women’s top tier

Relegation is a tough pill to swallow but now, North Shore Mariners have digested their fate and ready to show that 2019 was just a blip on the radar of the proud club. It won’t be a walk in the park but Mariners want to bounce back to the top division.

To help them in their quest, head coach Grant Lee has lent on experience for his squad with W-League stars Hannah Brewer (Jets), goalkeeper Trudy Burke (Sydney FC) alongside proven talent in Hannah Beard, Talitha Kramar and Evelyn Cromis. Former APIA defender Kerry Ryan has moved across town to strengthen their backline which should avoid the heavy defeats of 2019.

Three Mariners branded sides now reside in NPL2NSW Womens but can North Shore Mariners make their maiden voyage in the competition a successful one. They will also carry the pressure of being favourites but will they wilt or prosper – time will tell.

SD Raiders FC

2019: Seventh

It was a middle of the pack finish for SD Raiders FC for the second consecutive season as the former State League powerhouses have struggled to adjust to life in NPL2NSW Womens with rollercoaster form that ended in a 7th place finish.

SD Raiders FC remain committed to the development of women’s football in the south-west region and a shining example is Tara ‘Tiny’ Baudana. The 17-year old has already made her mark on first grade and can push on this season. Tegan Cox is their main recruit for the season as SD Raiders FC look to get themselves in the finals mix for 2020.

Southern Branch FC

2019: Eleventh

Improvement is the buzz word for Southern Branch FC. 2019 saw the Nowra based side finish in 11th spot and break the double-digit barrier. Now, headed into the new season, the pressure will be to continue to move upwardly and not stagnate in a NPL2NSW Womens competition that has become a competitive battle royale.

St George FC

2019: Tenth

Life in NPL2NSW Womens hasn’t been comfortable for St George FC. A pair of low finishes wasn’t ideal but the famous club hope this season represents a turn of the corner and make sure the Saints are coming for the top half.

The mood remains upbeat down by the sea, St George FC hope the seeds that have been sown over the last few years will sprout this season. Genevieve Russo returns to the club after a stint at Bankstown City while the coaching staff have high hopes for youngsters Jasmin Zouroudis, Julia Mamo and Charlotte Kensitt to break through and deliver results.

Sutherland Shire FA

2019: Second (eliminated in the preliminary final)

Sutherland Shire FA will chase that feeling again after the Shire side fell agonizingly short of a Grand Final appearance in 2019. Double act John O’Shea & Allan Edmondson take the reins and ready to harness the talent in the Shire.

Both Edmonson and O’Shea are excited for the talent that has been retained in the Sutherland Shire FA squad with the prolific striker Jordan Baker the highlight. Alongside Baker, the signing of Stevie Donougher from Koalas the only major acquisition to the squad as Sutherland Shire FA now sit amongst the competition elite after their success.

All these signs complemented with a talented core of youngsters – Ursula Bratjancsak broke through last year with her work at striker. Now, Sutherland Shire FA hope to foster an environment where the team can prosper both on and off the field, leading to going a step further in 2020.

UNSW FC

2019: Eighth

Headed into their third year, UNSW FC want to learn from the past two seasons which saw them start out like a firework before they fizzled out to finish eighth and tenth respectively. Steve Greenwood takes charge of a side ready to show the student has become the teacher.

There is talent through the squad for the Students with the major coup of Rio Darlaston back after her brief stint with Manly United in NPLWNSW1 last season and takes the armband. Her leadership with Hayley Marshall will help the swathe of talent signed from local powerhouse Dunbar Rovers to help the Students make 2020 more than just a pass mark.

UNSW FC aren’t backwards in their objectives for this season. Greenwood aims to make the side tough to beat as positivity permeates through the squad. They also have a bold message “Don’t sleep on us” for the season. Time will tell if this prophetic but the noise coming out the Students is positive.

Western NSW FC

2019: Ninth

One of the inaugural members of the NPL2NSW Womens competition, Western NSW FC are back for another season and remain the toughest trip for the 11 other sides. Four of five of their successes last season came in the Western region. Dropping the Mariners name, Western hope that it might spark a resurgence for the side as they enter their seventh season in NPL2NSW Womens.

By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)