2024 League One Women’s Season Preview
The Football NSW League One Women’s returns for the 2024 season with the promise of another mouth-watering campaign.
There are 14 teams ready to go on the weekend in the chase of the Premiership come September.
We have run the rule over all of them for the season preview so let’s get to it.
Bankstown City Lions FC
Coach: Ante Covic
Last Season: Relegated from NPLNSW Women’s
We start this season preview with the team coming down from NPLNSW Women’s in Bankstown City FC who return to League One Women’s after a seven-year absence. Where there has been a coaching change in late pre-season with Ante Covic taking the reins.
Bansktown City FC have kept a core of the players who were key members of their NPLNSW squad led by captain Liana Gullo. With Skye Casacchia, Jess Frampton, Stephanie Ambrose and Maryam Mostaghimi among the others who hope to get them straight back to the top division.
They have also added Aya Seino from Geelong Galaxy and talented Japanese star Ena Harada to bolster the squad which should be a strong contender for the title in 2024.
Blacktown City FC
Coach: Michael Hawthorne
Last Season: Tenth
Headed into their third season in the FNSW League One Women’s competition, Blacktown City FC have found consistency in their squad and look to once again improve their standing in the competition in 2024.
Michael Hawthorne will be the First-Grade coach as David O’Keefe takes a step back to help with the development of Blacktown City FC. Hawthorne takes over a team which has retained their core and come off a fantastic trip to Japan which has buoyed the squad.
In that regard, Cassidy Chidgey is a talented goal scorer who will operate alongside talented attackers Alyse-May McCutcheon and Jenny Hughes up top. Hannah Plaatjes moves over from Mt Druitt and Eloise Hansen will add experience to the team who want to make strides in year three.
Camden Tigers FC
Coach: Alex Prophet
Last Season: Thirteenth
Camden Tigers move into their third season with a talented squad under the tutelage of new coach Alex Prophet who has molded the squad which he hopes will challenge for a top half finish in the League One Women’s table.
The Tigers have signed Grace Chambers and Cassidy Chambers from Mt Druitt Town Rangers while Ellie Lontis has joined the team from SD Raiders FC. Shae Paananen, Katie Ayling and Jade Hunt join from local football as the Tigers maintain much of their 2023 squad.
They are hopeful to not only improve their results in the League One Women’s competition but also see progress across their whole women’s program in 2024. Hopefully Alex Prophet can lead them to the promised land.
Central Coast Mariners FC
Coach: Dan Barrett
Last Season: Second
Coming into 2024, Central Coast Mariners have a few demons to banish after a rough end to their campaign last season. They were inches away from promotion and went out in the semi-finals in brutal fashion in the shootout.
Dan Barrett takes coaching duties again and the Mariners will once again be fighting for silverware in 2024. The Mariners boast a youthful and talented side that should have them challenge for the title and promotion again.
Hills United FC
Coach: Alan Tasses
Last Season: Third
It has been a case of a close but no cigar for Hills United FC who will hope that the third time is a charm in picking up the club’s first piece of silverware. Alan Tasses remains in the coaching seat for them again.
There have been 12 changes for Hills United FC from their Grand Final team and the squad has a fresh look headed into this campaign. Desiree Galea returns to marshal the defense after a year away as does Alix Attard up front.
Hills United FC have added NWS Spirit FC reserves captain Olivia Schembri to the squad alongside key additions Chisato Tokoro and Jordanian international Zaina Hasem. Rounding out their talented squad is half a dozen of their Grand Final winning U20s side who were led by Maddison Edmonds last season.
Inter Lions FC
Coach: Benhard Voloder
Last Season: Fourteenth
There is a sense of excitement and hope for Inter Lions headed into the 2024 season as the team hopes to get back to their glory days. Adrian Contarino has taken over as Technical Director for the club while Bernhard Voloder leads the first-grade team.
Together they have created the bones of a competitive side that starts to make the climb back up the League One Women’s ladder. Belinda Anderson is the captain for the Lions while Rosie Sullivan, Santina Wang and Olivia McBride are strong options for the team. Momoko Kawamura and Melina Visser are new additions ready to make an impact.
Marconi Stallions FC
Coach: Michael Beauchamp
Last Season: Eleventh
It is a new era for Marconi Stallions. They have appointed Michael Beauchamp to take charge of their League One Women’s side and help them back towards the top half of the table after a disappointing 11th place finish in 2023.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC
Coach: Ben Gough
Last Season: Seventh
Mt Druitt Town Rangers have gone all out for 2024 in hopes of getting towards their goal of promotion to the top division. Neil Ross moves up to the TD position which sees Ben Gough take the first-grade job with good back-room staff behind him.
They have matched their ambition off the field with some good signings which should have them right at the top of the division. The headline maker is Leena Khamis coming over from Macarthur Rams alongside Blacktown Spartans duo Rosie Galea and Tiarne Flavin. Emily Kos also makes the move up from Victoria in a strong off-season.
The Town Rangers have also kept some important members of last year’s team including defender Holly Williams, striker Rita Boateng and custodian Renee Krstanovska as they aim to charge up the ladder in 2024.
Nepean FC
Coach: Joseph Ellul
Last Season: Eighth
Nepean FC come into the new season looking to rebuild their squad after a huge overhaul of their squad which finished 8th last season. Joseph Ellul will be the man charged with getting them that experience.
He will do that with a team which has only retained three of their first graders from last season and has a youthful team at his disposal. Some of the names which will don the Nepean FC red this season include Paris Staal, Rachel Fry and custodian Jemica Artillaga alongside Jessica Robinson, Gemma Morgan and Olivia Burke who were retained.
SD Raiders FC
Coach: Bojan Radmillo
Last Season: Sixth
Looking forward to 2024, SD Raiders FC are a team that are on the rise and hope they can get themselves back involved in the top four contention. Bojan Radmillo who took over mid-season last year will once again be in charge.
SD Raiders FC have kept the core of their team together who have developed over the last few seasons while adding a few missing pieces to the puzzle. Brazilian attacker Taiana Almeida Silva brings pedigree to the side after stints in Brazil and China recently and will link up with Abigail Boag and Abuk Nyor up front.
They also have one of the best custodians in Natasha Pentecost and strong performers in international Tahlia Voskanian to lead them forward.
South Coast Flame FC
Coach: Daniel Naumovski
Last Season: Fifth
South Coast Flame FC enjoyed a fruitful season in 2023 finishing in fifth spot just three points outside of the finals and hope 2024 can see them break into the top four. They are another side with a stable coaching set up with Daniel Naumovski in charge again.
One big thing Naumovski has addressed is replacing the goals from last year’s Golden Boot Bronte Trew and he has added some quality names to help that. Paula Mitchell makes the move up from Victoria with a reputation as a prolific goal scorer while Mikayla De Jong and Jarrah Fuzz come from Shellharbour FC and South East Phoenix FC respectively.
They join a settled team which has plenty of talent across the park which can help them towards their goals in 2024.
South East Phoenix FC
Coach: Aaron Fuz
Last Season: Twelfth
South East Phoenix FC had an up and down campaign in 2023 which ended with them finishing in 12th spot moving up a spot from the previous year. The regional club will once again focus on the development of their teams this season with Aaron Fuz at the helm.
It will be a rebuilding year for South East Phoenix who have had some turnover from last year which has left the average age in the team at 19 going into the season. South Nowra Football Complex should also remain a tough place for teams to visit.
St George FC
Coach: Mark Greenfield
Last Season: Fourth (Champions)
St George FC marched to the title in 2023 with an impressive finals series performance and they hope to continue their success this season. Mark Greenfield will be at the helm again looking to march towards finals again.
They have kept a majority of the team which helped them towards the title last season and furnished the squad with a few key additions. Angelina Manos has moved over from Bulls FC while livewire attacker Lulu Lozano comes in from South Coast Flame FC.
Otherwise, Sutherland Strikers pair Janan Codmani and Christina Dendrinos join St George FC alongside Reagan Deeley and a promotion for Rebecca Cousins from their strong U20s side will have them challenging again.
Sutherland Strikers FC
Coach: Mick McGovern
Last Season: Ninth
Last but certainly not least, Sutherland Strikers FC boast a new name and a rebuilt squad with hopes to set the tone for the squad going into the future. Mick McGovern returns to the dugout for the Strikers after a four-year absence.
It is a brand-new squad for the Strikers headed into 2024 with a few important additions that have come in from the US college system to lead the team. Georgie Lewis will take the armband and lead from the front in every sense playing as striker. Alongside her, KJ Schmidt is the energizer bunny at the back while Leila Szszepanik, Rosie Degnan and Priyanka Gakhar are other names to watch out for this season.
Sutherland Strikers might take some time to gel but if they hit the ground running they could be a force to be reckoned with.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
