Match of the Round
Maitland FC v Lake Macquarie City FC
Cooks Square Park, Sunday 4pm
Lake Macquarie City FC coach Gabrielle Blanch is quietly confident that her “underdog” side can get the job done on Sunday against reigning premiers Maitland FC.
The Roosters will play their first match in the NPL Women’s NNSW competition away from home at Cooks Square Park against the reigning premiers after taking over the licence from Warners Bay FC.
Blanch is a highly experienced coach, having worked at the Central Coast Mariners Academy and Terrigal United. She was realistic about the challenge Maitland posed but believed her side had what it took to win three points in round one.
“I guess as a coach, I have never been someone to look too much into what the opposition are bringing. I don't know how Maitland play, I don’t know who their players are. I know they will be good and will play a good style of football,” Blanch said.
“On the pitch we want to compete, not just in terms of this season as a whole but every weekend regardless of who the opposition is.
“We will focus on ourselves and having a good mindset and attitude that translates onto the pitch.
“It would be an absolute delight to come out as an underdog and get the job done.
“It will be difficult but I am an optimist and believe it is possible that the roster will be strong enough to put up a contest. It only takes one opportunity and being disciplined to get the job done.”
Lakes have nothing to lose and everything to prove, with new players, coaches and women’s program.
They have signed multiple experienced players from local and international leagues including Brooke Summers (Newcastle Olympic), Keziah White, Emily Loader-Weston and Sunny Mitchell (Broadmeadow Magic), Taylah Gray and Maddi Thornton (Charlestown Azzurri), Tahlor Thackray (Terrigal United) and Ani Jensen (Grand Canyon University).
Blanch believed that being unknown could be an advantage to the club this season.
“There is no doubt coming up against teams that have played together for quite a while will provide a disadvantage for us. But for us our one advantage is that we are a little bit of the unknown,” Blanch said.
“I am hopeful that there is no pressure on us to do anything outside of what we expect of ourselves.
“We are feeling like we are ready to move into the competition phase. We have had a massive preseason, the girls have been working hard on and off the pitch.
“We have been working a lot on our shape and our preferred style of play. It takes time for it to come together and no means are we there yet with our style of play.
“Bringing an entire group of new players together; we are realistic of what we expect of that.
“What I ask for is the effort and intensity to be at 110 per cent. Personally, I place a big focus on the culture that we set at the club and NPL women’s space. I am big on an inclusive culture. A culture full of happy players that produce good results goes hand in hand.”
The Roosters will be without White (away) but are set to have the rest of their key starters available.
Maitland’s new head coach Joe Wright said his side will not be complacent as they head into round one against the league’s newest club.
“It is an exciting game to be a part of with Lakes taking over the licence from Warners Bay. They have recruited fairly well and with the players and staff they have they will make it a challenge for any team this season,” Wright said.
“It is always a challenge to be the first cab off the rank against a new team.
“We will focus on what we can internally and then adapt if we need to adapt.
“I think you want to start the season off well. I feel as though we are tracking okay. It would be nice to get three points and start the season well.
“There will be no complacency for us. Lakes will be a big challenge. They are not a team to write off. We will have to be at our best.”
Wright stepped up into the first grade role after a highly successful stint as Maitland’s reserve grade coach which saw the side secure the premiership-championship double in 2024.
Maitland lost some key players in the offseason including 2024 van Egmond Medal and Golden Boot winner Bronte Peel (Heidelberg FC) but Wright has made some significant recruitment moves to help bolster the squad.
South African International and Olympian midfielder Marry Ntsweng, Renee Pountney (Gladesville Ravens) and Josie Morley have joined the club for the 2025 season.
Wright said the transition into the top job has been smooth so far and was impressed with how the new players have integrated into the club.
“It is going really well. I have been very fortunate to have worked with the group for a few years now. It is good to have some familiar faces,” Wright said.
“There has been a little bit of change over and there are many different facts that contribute to that but that won’t be an excuse for us this season.
“Obviously it is a challenge to try and replace Bronte after the season she had last year. But I think for me this year it will be about sharing the load. We have some players that are in for a good season. I am not expecting one player to score all of those goals.
“We have added some really experienced players into the group as well as promoting some exciting youth players.”
“Marry [Ntsweng] has fit in quite seamlessly. She has been great around the group and then gives you everything on the field. She will be great for the club. If anyone wants advice she is willing to help.”
The Magpies will be at full strength except for Larna Kearny (ankle injury).
New Lambton FC v Charlestown Azzurri
Alder Park, Saturday 6pm
New Lambton striker Tara Andrews says her side won’t be waiting for their A-League players to return to hit their strides this season starting on Saturday night when they face Charlestown Azzurri.
The Golden Eagles will kick off their season at Alder Park with a point to prove against the reigning champions.
They have fallen short of finals two years in a row, gaining Newcastle Jets players Cass Davis and Lauren Allan in the second half of the season.
But Andrews believes that her team will be able to hit the ground running in 2025.
“We are feeling good. Better than where we were last year at the start of the season. We have some new players,” Andrews said.
“Last year it felt like we were waiting for Cass and Lauren to come back from the Jets. Then we had a nine game run that nearly got us into the semis but we didn’t quite make it. But this year we are going to be a lot stronger from the start of the season.
“We want to make semi-finals. We are trying to focus on the first half of the season to make sure that we get enough wins. So that if we can win half of them or more then we are in a much better place to see out the second half of the season.
“We are looking really good which I am excited about.”
New Lambton has recruited some experienced players including attacker Caitlin Pickett (South Melbourne FC) and midfielder Rosie Copus.
18-year-old goalkeeper Isabella White will step into the number one goalkeeper position after Ally Boertje signed with the Newcastle Jets Ninja A-League team.
Andrews was pleased with how the team has clicked with the new recruits coming in.
“We are gelling really well,” Andrews said.
“I was quite surprised that from even our first pre-season game we were able to play the ball out and move it forward and get those connections, especially up the top half of the field.”
Azzurri will hope to keep the good times rolling after they beat Newcastle Olympic out on penalties to take out the 2025 HMRI Charity Shield last Friday.
The reigning champions have heavily recruited in the off-season after losing key players including Joey Peters Medal winner Ella Joyce, 2023 van Egmond Medal winner Cassie Corder (Magic) and goalkeeper Taylor Gray (Lake Macquarie City FC).
Heath Whyte has brought key Broadmeadow Magic players Kalista Hunter, Madi Gallegos, Chelsea Lucas and Kiarra Lewis into his squad as well as Sara Knowles (Newcastle Jets), Brianna Williams and goalkeeper Danielle Bartells (Macarthur Rams FC).
But one of the biggest boosts to the side is the return of A-League striker Melina Ayres, who made a significant impact off the bench last week.
Whyte would hope that his new combinations can continue to grow and his team can start the 2025 season with three points.
Broadmeadow Magic v Newcastle Olympic
Magic Park, Sunday 6pm
A new-look Broadmeadow Magic will be eager to start their 2025 campaign with three points when they welcome Newcastle Olympic to Magic Park on Sunday evening.
Broadmeadow has undergone a mass personnel change as Jason Konjarski has stepped into the head coach role on a permanent basis and former captain Kalista Hunter, Madi Gallegos, Chelsea Lucas and Kirra Lewis have all jumped ship to Charlestown Azzurri.
J. Konjarski has recruited heavily to help fill in the gaps with Warners Bay duo Callie Thomas, Jennifer Reeves, 2023 van Egmond Medal winner Cassie Corder and Alexis Andrews who has played at Eagles ECNL and LA Premier FC.
Adrianna Konjarski has also been named in the 2025 squad after she stepped away mid-way through last season when she announced she was expecting her first child.
Olympic will look to build on their promising performance in the HMRI Charity Shield against Azzurri where they lost on penalties.
New signing Maddy Howard (Maitland) and young gun Olivia Weeks stood out against Charlestown and will be eager to put their mark on the competition.
This weekend Olympic will have an extra boost with the injection of captain Jemma House and former Newcastle Jets, Western Sydney Wanderers and Napoli defender Alex Huynh to bolster the team from both ends.
The red and blue derby is set to end round one of the NPL NNSW season with a bang.
Bye – Adamstown Rosebud JFC