After a disappointing last season, the Wanderers are hoping some of their international signings will bring their winning ways with them as they try and avoid another bottom of the table finish.

Recent champions with the North Carolina Courage, Kristen Hamilton, Denise O’Sullivan and Lynn Williams all join the squad this summer and will be able to add some goals to the Wanderer’s tally.

But after conceding 30 goals last season, the Wanderers will also need to prove they’re capable of holding teams out.

Matilda and former cross-town rival Amy Harrison will swap the sky blue for red and black as she joins the Wanderer’s in the midfield.

Also fresh from a season in the US with the Washington Spirit, Harrison will be fit and ready to bring some control to a previously disorderly midfield. Hopefully more possession in this section of the park will limit the workload for an overrun defence.

Should teams break through this defence, the Wanderers will still have a strong chance to keep the ball from hitting the back of their net with Jada Whyman back between the sticks. Whyman was a vital part of the team last season with her incredible saves often keeping western Sydney in the game.

They’ll be out to prove they’re a different team this season as they take on Adelaide United at home in the first game of this W-League season.

WHAT WE LEARNED FROM LAST SEASON

A lot of things we possibly wish we hadn't, but almost nothing that we can take into this season under a brand new coach with a heavily refreshed squad.

Strike power and general cohesiveness up front was a huge issue for the cellar-dwelling Wanderers last season. From the ex-Wanderers we've spoken to in the lead up to this season, it appears the team had a genuine culture issue and a general lack of leadership.

The interesting question now becomes how Dean Heffernan and assistant Michael Beauchamp go about addressing these issues with what is still primarily a young squad.

The Strengths

Finishing at the bottom of the table last season, the only way is up for western Sydney. Despite only scoring 11 goals last season, the wanderers created many goal scoring opportunities.

They are quick on the counterattack and have pinpoint accuracy with through balls but sometimes lack composure on the finish. With the addition of several internationals with big-game experience, the wanderers will easily be able to convert these chances into goals.

The Challenge

After recording only one win and one draw last season, the real challenge for the wanderers will be keeping teams out of their defensive half.

Often losing by two or more goals, it will be up to western Sydney’s midfield to manage turnovers and minimise the number of counter attacks catching the defence off guard. Keeping possession in the middle of the park will be critical to the wanderers’ transition play and help them take control of the game.

With a number of new faces in the middle, it may take a game or two for the team to mesh. But the calibre of these players will ensure that once they get going, they’ll be tough to stop.

WHAT HEFFERNAN TOLD US

We’ve been working away behind the scenes now for a fair while now.

We started off watching every W-league game that the Wanderers played last season plus all the other W-League games throughout the year.

We went out and watched a lot of the other NPL games locally. And then we started to look overseas and at the World Cup for other players, so we’ve spread the net far and wide in terms of recruitment, and we feel like we have some of the best players from each of those areas

There’s still a couple of spots up for grabs for sure…we’ve just held trials for about 25-30 girls to come in and train with us for a couple of weeks on top of all the other scouting, and we feel like we have some really good options in terms of players who are going to push for scholarships and those last couple of professional contracts.

We’ve kept a small group of those players who can join in with the squad throughout preseason, and by the end of it hopefully a few of them get themselves contracts as well.

To be honest, I feel like all of our signings are really exciting. Every player we’ve spoken to we’ve sat down with them and had meetings, they’re all ambitious, they all want to achieve things this year for the club and also individually.

Heffernan in action for Western Sydney during his playing days

It’s an Olympic year after the season so there’s a lot to play for in terms of national team selection. Even with the Young Matildas, there’s a lot happening with them over the next couple of months as well. 

Obviously, girls in the NWSL mean it’s a very good league and it aligns with the W-League very well in that we can have players from there come to us on loan and still get back in time for their own preseason with their clubs. The NWSL is obviously something that you look for those top-quality players.

For us, we’re really happy with the squad we’ve put together. We’ve got a few surprises up our sleeves.

We’re just really excited about the season and delighted with everyone and the attitude and mentality of all the players we’ve signed so far.

It’s going to take time for us for sure, we’ve put together a team that’s definitely going to be there when there’s trophies to be won…one thing we’re definitely not going to be is there to make up the numbers…

It’s a great time to be a part of the Wanderers

Every player is a star signing, they’ve all got something individually that they add… everyone’s got their own individual goals that really fit in with the direction that the club is going in the W-League space… we just can’t wait to get started. 

Key Players

Lynn Williams

After coming second in the NWSL’s golden boot race to Australia’s own Sam Kerr, Williams will be eager to find the back of the net as often as she can while on Kerr’s home turf.

A versatile attacker, Williams is as good on her left boot as she is on her right and deadly when inside the box. She’ll also be able to set up her new teammates thanks to her speed up the wing and accurate crosses into dangerous areas.

Jada Whyman

Returning for her fourth season with the wanderers, Jada Whyman’s incredible saves kept the wanderers in the game throughout last season. Thanks to her efforts, Whyman rightfully won the W-league Wanderers’ Player of the Year award.

As the standard of competition increases her shot stopping skills will be needed again this season as the Wanderers look to improve on a last place finish.

Amy Harrison:

After her second ACL tear in early 2018, Amy Harrison has only come back bigger and better.

Representing the Matildas at the cup of nations and the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Harrison’s game experience will allow her to take control of the midfield and make key distributions to create goal scoring opportunities.

One to watch

Courtney Nevin

In what will be her third season in the red and black, Courtney Nevin is definitely a player to watch out for in this W-league season. The 17-year-old has come up through the ranks of Australian Football and has been given her first Matildas call-up, training with the team in preparation for their friendly matches against Chile.

Even if she doesn’t make her senior team debut this November, her experience from training with Australia’s best will definitely be applied when she plays for Western Sydney.