The 2023 BDAFA Umbro Women’s Premier League season is shaping up to be one of the best to date as female football continues to grow and develop across the world and especially in Bankstown!
This year we will see two new teams join our Umbro Women’s Premier League competition as our competition extends to 6 teams with all teams eyes set on being crowned as champions in 2023.
Lets check out how each team will be gearing up for the year with round 1 commencing this weekend.
Birrong Sports
Last Season AAL Div1: 3rd Place (Runners-up in finals)
Runners-up of the competition in 2022, Birrong will enter the competition disappointed from their defeat at the hands of Thistle in the Grand Final of the 2022 competition.
Birrong will look to build on momentum from a fantastic finals run in 2022 as they came from third position to make the grand final.
The return of Erin Celarc and Alley Besara will provide extra depth to their defence, while their midfield has taken a hit from 2022 as last year’s captain Natasha Pocovi as well as Juliana Dundonovic and Tori Preddy will be out for an extended period. They have also lost Haylee Ingle who has hung up the boots.
With so many experience players out for their side, they will look to strengths out wide in Emily McGrath who was the Bronze Medal winner in the competition for 2022 who will look to provide service to their to Emma Pavez who they will look to in front of goal this season. Their own goal will be well protected this year once again with Lauren Croucher as their experienced shot stopper.
Head coach Andrew Baker is excited for the season and its new challenges.
“It will be a tough year for us but we do look forward to the challenge. We have lost a lot of experience, however, I am excited for the younger players in the squad, especially the Mcnair sisters, to step up and become a force in this competition.”
“We showed towards the end of the last season what a tight knit group we are and hopefully that spirit continues.”
Birrong will look to start of the season strong in round 1 as they welcome Revesby Workers white to the competition.
East Bankstown Red
Last Season AAL Div1: 4th Place
Perennial semi-finalists East Bankstown Red are looking to improve on last year’s narrow semi-final loss to Birrong Sports.
Games against the top 4 sides in last year’s fixtures were decided by a single goal so Easts’ fingers are crossed that the bounce of the ball will go their way this year as they look for a top four finish to be competing in the finals series at the end of the year.
The Kookas have retained most of their 2022 squad with the exception of skilful midfielder Sihaem Saade and Alex DeWildt. However, this has been offset by the return to the team of former players and a couple of very promising acquisitions looking to make their team even more of a threat in 2023.
Easts strong defence led by Michaela Perugini and Patricia Mallios will look to continue to cause problems for their oppositions attack, while at the other end of the park, former golden boot winner and captain Chiara Nohra will look to be a constant threat in front of goal accompanied by Tara Edmiston who provides goals from midfield.
Easts coaching staff are confident their quality across the park will lead to a successful 2023 campaign, with coach Chris Millar eagerly excited for their derby against East Bankstown Yellow which could prove to be a season highlight.
East Bankstown Red will need to do it tough in round 1 as they take on 2022 champions Georges River Thistle in round 1 at Padstow Park.
East Bankstown Yellow
Last Season AAL Div2: 2nd Place (Runners-up in Finals)
East Bankstown Yellow are one of two teams to join our most our most prestigious women’s competition. Easts Yellow make the move up from the All-Age Ladies Division 2 competition having been narrowly defeated in the grand final to Revesby Workers White who will also join the UWPL competition for 2023.
Their coach Ivan Silvera will take charge of the side this year once again having been with the ladies’ side for several years now and has developed them to play a good brand of football with their passing game being one of their core pillars in recent success.
Although majority of this side are relatively young in their late teens, this could be seen as one of their biggest strengths as they have a very fast and athletic side with the ability to play an up style tempo of football for long periods of the game. Although, without many experience players, they may lack the maturity and mental toughness in their first season in WPL, something they will need to make up for with plenty of enthusiasm.
East Yellow will look to their captain, 19-year-old Amani Adra, who will look to lead their team with her presence on the field. Goalkeeper Ella Mitchell will be key to the Easts defence with her fearless approach to goalkeeping and great communication to her backline.
Coach Ivan Silvera is looking forward to the challenge of playing this season for the first time ever in the UWPL in the Bankstown District.
“After losing in the Grand Final last season in 2022, we are hoping to be competitive in all our games against seasoned UWPL teams.”
East Bankstown Yellow will start their season off against one of the more experienced UWPL teams Revesby Workers Maroon as they look to start their season off on the strong foot.
Georges River Thistle
Last Season AAL Div1: 1st Place (Champions)
Georges River Thistle will have a massive target on their backs in the 2023 competition as they look forward to a 2023 competition off the back of a club record in 2022, winning the minor premiership and grand final for the first time in the club’s history.
Thistle look to be a new team on paper with seven players from their grand final winning team moving on in the offseason as well as duel coach James Kermond heading to Macarthur Rams NPL.
The loss of several players and one of their coaches will bring a new challenge to the champion side. However, the team’s established and new players look to have gelled quite well through training and trial matches.
One of Thistle’s biggest strengths in their 2022 campaign was that goal could come from players all over the pitch highlighting their quality all over the pitch. However, it will be their defence that will be a focal point for the season as only one player remains from their defence in 2022 as they welcome new defensive players and a new goalkeeper to arguably the best defence of the 2022 competition that conceded only 10 goals.
Thistle coach Peter Fowler is excited for the new challenge in 2023 and hope’s to achieve his side’s goals.
“The squad’s aim is to build steadily to a top four finish and to get past the first round in the sapphire cup in 2023.’
Georges River Thistle will take on East Bankstown Red in their first round at Padstow Park as they look to build on momentum from 2022 and take home the three points.
Revesby Workers Maroon
Last Season AAL Div1: 2nd Place
This year will be a redemption year for Revesby Workers Maroon as they were surprisingly knocked out of the 2022 finals by Birrong Sports and were unable to make the Grand Final.
Revesby Workers Maroon look to have a mix of youth and experience in their team which could be a massive pillar for their success in 2023.
Revesby Workers Maroon are known for their threats going forward as they scored the most goals in the competition in 2022 hitting the back of the net 59 times.
Revesby Workers will also see Olivia Lambkin line up in 2023 who was the silver medallist winner of 2022 and important part of their success.
Revesby Workers coaching staff is hungry for redemption in the 2023 season.
“We went through some significant challenges last season and we are ready to come back firing in 2023.”
“Our aim is to play some good quality football for the entire season and put ourselves back in the hunt for the premiership.”
Revesby Workers Maroon will look to claim all three points in their first game for the season as they welcome East Bankstown Yellow to the competition.
Revesby Workers White
Last Season AAL Div2: 1st Place (Champions)
After a fantastic year in the All Age Ladies Division 2 competition, Revesby Workers White will be our second ladies team to move up into the Umbro Women’s Premier League Competition this year!
Revesby Workers White were crowned champions in the All-Age Ladies Division 2 competition last season after they defeated East Bankstown Yellow 3-0 in the Grand Final.
Although they will be competing in a much tougher competition, Workers are confident that they can make the step up and perform week on week against the top ladies sides.
In 2023, they will see their captain and infamous shot stopper Louise Cousins playing for them once again after she led them to be crowned champions in their 2022 season. Louise, with the help of her strong defence conceded the least number of goals in the division 2 competition and they will be key to their success in 2023.
Not only a great defensive side, they also scored the most goals in the division 2 competition and they will need to be clinical in front of goal as their objective is to be in the top four teams to be playing finals in 2023.
Revesby Workers White will host 2022 Division 1 finalists Birrong Sports with the hope of starting off their season with three points.
