THE STRENGTHS

WSW have plenty of promising young talent. Lowe, Phonsongkham, and Nevin have been selected in the Young Matildas squad for the upcoming AFC U19 Championship qualifiers. Nevin was also the joint winner of this year’s NSW NPL Player of the Year award, alongside new fellow Wanderer Ledbrook.

Whyman will be entering her fourth W-League season, despite only turning 19 the day before the season opener. She has been in red-hot form recently winning the 2018 NSW NPL Goalkeeper of the Year award for her stellar performance between the sticks for the Football NSW Institute.

Barrett has also recruited experienced players to complement his young stars with creative midfielder and dead ball specialist Ledbrook and W-League veterans Khamis, Uzunlar, Yeoman-Dale, and Cooper, all of whom have experience at the highest levels. These new players will not only bring attacking quality and determination to improve on last season’s 13 goals, but also a more organised defence, having previously conceded 21 goals.

THE CHALLENGE

The Wanderers have not seriously challenged the W-League heavyweights since entering the league but the addition of multiple players with Matildas experience brings new expectations and also raises a number of questions.

The biggest question is how quickly will this diverse group find the type of cohesion and chemistry necessary for silverware? They will be coming up against teams who have been playing together for several years at national and international levels. Can the players build those on-pitch relationships fast enough to ensure they can mount a viable challenge to these more experienced teams?

Who will partner Cooper in central defence? Cooper is comfortable in that role, however, the question of who will best complement her there remains unanswered. Miramontez is still young and new to Australian football, while Nevin has yet to make an appearance in the W-League. Uzunlar has plenty of experience but is better known as an outside back or defensive midfielder.

Halloway will also be moved from her usual position as a striker to left back this year. Could this be a stroke of genius by Barrett, or will the move backfire? Halloway’s entire football career to date has been about scoring goals, not stopping them.

WSW biggest issue in seasons past has been converting their chances. Remy Siemsen was impressive at Sydney FC since her debut in 2016-17, making a name for herself predominantly as a substitute striker. She will now be WSW’s main goalscoring threat after a productive stint in the US. Can Siemsen live up to the hype and fire the Wanderers into their first ever top four finish? Or will the weight of expectation be too much for the Young Matilda?

The disappointing performances of the last few seasons continue to hang over the Wanderers like a dark cloud. Since their inception in 2012-13, their best ever finish has been sixth place. Dan Barrett’s aggressive off-season recruitment campaign suggests this final four drought may be about to end, but this new look team have a number of questions to answer before they get there. 

KEY PLAYERS

Remy Siemsen (Forward)

Siemsen’s successful off-season in the US, coming on the back of productive seasons with Sydney FC since 2016, makes her WSW’s most potent attacking threat. Not only does Siemsen boast a record of 42 goals in 50 appearances in the NSW NPL, but she also has a proven talent for making or breaking games, scoring 10 goals in 25 appearances for the Sky Blues, many of which came off the bench. With Siemsen now being deployed as WSW’s starting centre forward, there’s no knowing how many more she could put in the back of the net by season’s end.

Kylie Ledbrook (Midfield)

It’s impressive to win the W-League’s Golden Boot Award; it’s even more impressive to have done it from central midfield at the age of 32. Resurgent ex-Matilda Kylie Ledbrook’s experience at the highest levels of football will be crucial in guiding the new-look WSW team to their potential first-ever top four finish this season. Her ability to control the game from the central midfield, including incisive passes in between defenders as well as her unrivalled abilities over a dead ball, could be exactly what the Red & Black need to carry them to their first finals appearance.

Caitlin Cooper (Defence)

Like Ledbrook, Caitlin Cooper has several years’ worth of knowledge and experience to draw upon as she looks to cement her spot at a starting centre-back. With over 100 appearances in the W-League, Cooper’s seen it all, and the wisdom she’s gained in the back line at both national and international levels will be key if WSW wants to ensure a more successful season. Versatile, physical, and a good leader, Cooper will be a key figure for the team in dictating play from the back and shoring up the defence.

ONE TO WATCH

Susan Phonsongkham (Midfield)

With tricky feet and a blistering turn of pace, Young Matilda Susan Phonsongkham will be Western Sydney’s breakout star this season. Having made only a few appearances off the bench in her debut season in 2017-18, which included a long-range strike against Melbourne Victory in Round 12 (which won Goal of the Round), Phonsongkham has worked on her attacking game in the off-season, scoring 16 goals in 23 appearances in the NSW NPL. Deployed primarily as a left-winger, her ability to dribble past defenders and break through the line will make her one to watch in the red & black this season.

SQUAD

Jada WHYMAN, Erica HALLOWAY, Rachel LOWE, Susan PHONSONGKHAM, Leena KHAMIS, Kylie LEDBROOK, Georgia YEOMAN-DALE, Courtney NEVIN, Lo'eau LABONTA, Caitlin COOPER, Liana DANASKOS, Caitlin JARVIE, Remy SIEMSEN, Servet UZUNLAR, Elizabeth ADDO, Sydney MIRAMONTEZ and Talitha KRAMER