Westfield W-League Round 3 preview

So is this the round that the Mariners prove they are real Westfield W-League title contenders? They are up against Brisbane Roar - the inaugural champions who so far haven't missed a beat. Then there is the team that met Brisbane in the grand final of the first season, Canberra United, who haven't registered a single point this year. Can they get any against Perth?

SATURDAY, ADELAIDE UNITED v MELBOURNE VICTORY at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide. Local kick-off: 2.30pm (3.00pm AEDT)
Referee: Lee Corey
Melbourne Victory only just lost to Brisbane Roar last weekend thanks to an 84minute scramble in goal that was eventually awarded to Ellen Beaumont and had an impressive 2-0 win over Perth in Round 1. They have looked impressive, while Adelaide have not. Adelaide, like Newcastle, are also yet to score a single goal so far this season. Adelaide have their captain Christina Papageorgiou back, while Melbourne welcome back former Matilda Selin Kuralay who was suspended after recieving two yellows (and apparently having a bit of a physical tiff with Perth's Lisa de Vanna's as well) in Round 1. Still another game where I won't be able to watch Melbourne, if anyone does go, let me know how they go? Are they a real challenger? If they are they should deal with Adelaide fairly easily.
Adelaide United squad: 1.Sian McLAREN (gk), 2.Ebony WEIDENBACH , 3.Renee HARRISON, 6.Thomai KEZIOS, 7.Racheal QUIGLEY, 9.Angela FIMMANO, 10.Marijana RAJCIC, 11.Georgia CHAPMAN, 12.Katerina BEXIS, 13.Lauren CHILVERS, 14.Donna COCKAYNE, 15.Tenneille BOALER, 16.Christina PAPAGEORGIOU (c), 17.Karina ROWETH, 18.Rochelle KUHAR, 20.Kristi HARVEY (gk)
*one to be omitted*
In: Christina PAPAGEORGIOU (c) (return from injury)
Out: Nenita BURGESS (not selected)
Unavailable: Ruth BLACKBURN - injured (season), Ashlee FAUL (international duty), Ruth WALLACE (international duty)
Melbourne Victory squad: 1. Melissa BARBIERI (gk), 2. Vedrana POPOVIC, 3. Marlies OOSTDAM, 4. Tal KARP, 5. Laura ALLEWAY, 6. Maika RUYTER-HOOLEY, 7. Sarah GROENEWALD, 8. Katie THORLAKSON, 11. Julianne SITCH, 12. Monnique HANSEN KOFOED, 13. Katrina GORRY, 14. Selin KURALAY, 19. Enza BARILLA, 20. Nicole PAUL (gk), 21. Kara MOWBRAY
In: Selin KURALAY (returns from suspension)
Out: Ursula HUGHSON (omitted), Deanna NICESKI (omitted)
Unavailable: Caitlin FRIEND (international duty) Stephanie CATLEY (international duty)

NEWCASTLE JETS v SYDNEY FC at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle. Local kick-off: 3.00pm Referee: Kirralee Gardener
Live and exclusive on ABC1 and ABC HD from 3.00pm AEDT
So Newcastle, like Adelaide, are still goal-less after two games. Can they break the drought against Sydney FC? Well going on results so far, while Sydney have a massive amount of strike power, their defence is not THAT hard to get past. It's just that outscoring Sydney, who have Leena Khamis, Sarah Walsh, Catherin Paaske, Julie Rydahl and Heather Garriock is one hard task - as Canberra found out last week. So its not unlikely that Newcastle will score, I think it's just unlikely they can win. As Alen Stajcic said after the game last week, basically his best players flew in a few days before the season started so the first two games have been their preseason. Now they will really start to hit their straps. Also, where has Danielle Small gone? Beside her name in the team list it just says departed club, to where? I will try to find out.
Newcastle Jets squad: 1. Alison LOGUE (gk), 2. Libby SHARPE, 3. Pelay INGLES, 4. Loren MAHONEY, 5. Stacey DAY, 6. Amber NEILSON, 7. Gema SIMON, 8. Bronte BATES, 9. Kate HENSMAN, 10. Hayley CRAWFORD (c), 11. Carlie IKONOMOU, 12. Emma STEWART, 13. Caitlyn JARVIE, 14. Hannah BREWER, 16. Kirstyn PEARCE, 17. Maddy SEARL, 18. Leia SMITH, 20. Emma-Kate DEWHURST (gk)
*four to be omitted*
In: Emma STEWART (promoted), Libby SHARPE (promoted), Bronte BATES (promoted), Hannah BREWER (promoted)
Out: Tara ANDREWS (international duty)
Unavailable: Nil
Sydney FC squad: 1. Nikola DEITER (gk), 3. Danielle BROGAN, 4. Alesha CLIFFORD, 5. Lisa GILBERT, 6. Servet UZUNLAR, 7. Heather GARRIOCK (c), 8. Julie RYDAHL, 9. Sarah WALSH, 10. Kylie LEDBROOK, 11. Cathrin PAASKE, 12. Michelle CARNEY, 13. Catherine CANNULI, 15. Kyah SIMON, 16. Linda O’NEILL, 19. Leena KHAMIS, 20. Carla MONFORTE (gk)
*One to be omitted.
In: Linda O’NEILL (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Teigan ALLEN (international duty), Nicola BOLGER (international duty), Danielle SMALL (departed club), Brittany WHITFIELD (international duty).

PERTH GLORY v CANBERRA UNITED at Clipsal Stadium, Inglewood. Local kick-off: 3.00pm (6.00pm AEDT) Referee: Casey Reibelt
So the master meets the apprentice, as in former United assistant John Gibson up against the man who taught him his trade when Gibson was a scholarship coach at the AIS, Ray Junna. And according to Collette McCallum, expect to see very similar game plans. No doubt the only issue is for Canberra is that Perth have waay more Matildas caps to use at their disposal. Plus Perth have an out an out star goalscorer, Lisa de Vanna, who Canberra United actually tried to recruit this off-season and now unfortunately it's the only thing Canberra area really missing - someone to put the ball in the back of the net. Perth won't be too confident though, they were up 2-0 last year before two goals in final five minutes handed Canberra a point. United will have one distraction though, the ref Casey Reibelt, was on the end of some controversial decisions last season including the red card to Thea Slatyer within 10minutes in the game against Adelaide United.
Perth Glory squad: 1. Emma WIRKUS (gk), 3. Carys HAWKINS, 5. Shannon MAY, 6. Ella MASTRANTONIO, 7. Elissia CANHAM, 8. Tanya OXTOBY (c), 9. Dani CALAUTTI, 11. Lisa DE VANNA, 13. Elisa D’OVIDIO, 14. Collette McCALLUM, 15. Alex SINGER, 16. Sadie LAWRENCE, 17. Marianna TABAIN, 18. Ellis GLANFIELD, 19. Katarina JUKIC
In: Nil
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Sam KERR (international duties), Zoe PALANDRI (overseas)
Canberra United squad: 1. Lydia WILLIAMS, 3. Bronwyn STUDMAN, 4. LIN Chiung Ying, 5. Kahlia HOGG, 6. Ellie RAYMOND, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 9. Grace GILL, 10. TSENG Shu O, 11. Cian MACIEJEWSKI, 12. Snez VELJANOVSKA, 14. Ashleigh SYKES, 15. Nicole SYKES, 16. Ellyse PERRY, 19. Jennifer BISSET, 20. Jocelyn MARA
In: Nil
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Rebecca KITING (back – 1 week), Emily van EGMOND (international duties – 2 weeks), Christine WALTERS (calf - indefinitely), Sally SHIPARD (waiting clearance – indefinitely)

SUNDAY, BRISBANE ROAR v CENTRAL COAST MARINERS at Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
Local kick-off: 6.00pm (7.00pm AEDT), Referee: Pru Donohue
So it's a top of the table clash up in Brisbane and we get to find out whether or not the Mariners first-up thrashing of Sydney FC was a fluke. Given that Sydney and Brisbane are set to be the benchmark this year, this game will be telling. Brisbane have a nice bonus in that Matilda Jenna Tristram is back from her knee injury. She snapped her ACL in Round two against Canberra last year. It's the first time this year she has been named and with Sasha McDonnell starting last week against Melbourne, expect that Tristram will come off the bench. Mariners are still at full strength. Should be an enthralling match. Now if only all the games were live on ABC TV. Oh well, hopefully in seasons not so far from now they will. Enjoy Round 3!
Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Casey DUMONT (gk), 2. Kate MCSHEA, 3. Karla REUTER 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE (c) 5. Brooke SPENCE, 6. Joanne BURGESS, 7. Pam BIGNOLD, 8. Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 9 Jenna TRISTRAM, 10.Lana HARCH, 11. Aivy LUIK, 12. Steph LATHAM 13. Tameka BUTT, 14.Sasha MCDONNELL 15. Leah Curtis 16. Lauren COLTHORPE 18. Courtney BEUTEL, 19. Ellen BEAUMONT, 20. Kate STEWART (gk)
*four to be omitted*
In: Jenna TRISTRAM (return from injury)
Out: Nil
Unavaible: Emily GIELNIK (Foot)
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1. Jillian LOYDEN (gk), 2. Caitlin COOPER, 3. Lyndsay GLOHE, 4. Rachael DOYLE, 5. Jessica SEAMAN, 7. Teresa POLIAS, 8. Kelly GOLEBIOWSKI, 9. Renee ROLLASON, 10. Kendall FLETCHER, 11. Michelle HEYMAN, 12. Samantha SPACKMAN, 13. Tudy CAMILLERI, 14. Ashleigh CONNOR, 15. Elizabeth O'REILLY, 16. Jenna KINGSLEY, 17. Britt SIMMONS, 19. Lydia VANDENBERGH, 20. Rachel COOPER (gk).
*three to be omitted*
In: Lyndsay GLOHE (promoted), Elizabeth O'REILLY (promoted), Britt SIMMONS (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Nil