Bulleen Lions v South Melbourne Grand Final Preview
SUMMARY
For the first time since 2018, the NPLW Grand Final will feature two teams who are not Calder United, and it will be the same finalists from that year that will reprise their battle for Victoria’s premier league trophy, as Bulleen Lions take on South Melbourne on Saturday evening.
Bulleen claimed their first-ever League Championship of any kind in 2018 with a comprehensive display against the then-reigning champions, winning 3-1 thanks to second-half goals from Amy Jackson, Dani Gudelj and Caitilin Friend, who along with Alex Natoli, Emily Shields and Tyla Vlajnic, are the only survivors from that all-conquering squad, albeit, Friend is now Head Coach.
South Melbourne have also regenerated heavily in the past five years, with a completely new squad under George Georgiadis, who took the helm at the club towards the end of a disappointing 2022 campaign after much promise was shown under Samuel Young in the abandoned 2021 season.
WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR?
Round 4: South Melbourne 1-3 Bulleen Lions
Goals: Zoe Lambi (SM) 43, Audrey Oastler (BL) 64, 76, Aroha Little (BL) 69
Round 15: Bulleen Lions 1-1 South Melbourne
Goals: Alana Jancevski (BL) 90+1 (P), Danielle Wise (SM) 71
Bulleen Lions
The Lions have been a measure of consistency, losing only twice in 21 matches this season, but with seven draws, still needed a final-day victory over Southern United to seal the Premiership.
Caitlin Friend has assembled the best defensive unit in the competition, with only 20 goals conceded in all matches played, leaving them comfortably ahead of their nearest challengers.
Gabby Garton has been a rock in goals, with six clean sheets and ample support from American centre-back Katie Beck, who will spearhead the defensive line, alongside Alex Natoli, Claudia Mihocic, and Faith Stephenson. Beck and Mihocic were particularly dangerous from a set piece in their Preliminary Final win over Calder, scoring both goals to seal their Grand Final berth.
Provider Paige Zois has created the most scoring chances from set pieces in the competition (25) and is supported in the midfield by A-League superstars Alana Jancevski (7 goals) and Maja Markovski (4 goals), who have added potency to the Lions since arriving in the mid-season transfer window. Rosie Rodger, Alana Burn and the experienced Tiffany Eliadis are all capable of contributing in attack, having scored three league goals this campaign.
For Caitlin Friend, a moment in history beckons as she aims to become the first woman to coach a team to a Championship in the NPL era, and as a result, the first individual to win an NPLW Championship as both a player and a coach. If successful, it will be Bulleen Lions' second NPLW Championship following that success in 2018.
South Melbourne
Having defeated one of the form teams of the season in Boroondara Eagles in the ultimate round to clinch a finals berth, South was rewarded with the same opponent in the Preliminary Final, and duly put them to the sword thanks to a goal in each half from Francesca Iermano and Tayla Christensen.
In New Zealand international Christensen (10 goals) and Danielle Wise (14), South have a potent strike pairing that can trouble any defence. With five goals from midfield, Janna Lawson has been dominant in the midfield, and with Iermano, Meisha Westland and Dragana Kljajic, will have a ding-dong battle with the Lions in arguably the strongest area of the pitch.
With the second-best defence in the league, South will rely on central pairing Leia Varley and American import Brianne Reed to stifle the Lions’ forward momentum.
Akeisha Sandhu and Sophie Papatsanis will also be on hand to provide plenty of cover as full-backs. Unfancied by some pundits for much of the season, George Georgiadis has South Melbourne primed and ready for a fifth top-flight Championship, backing up their WPL wins in 2011, 2014 and 2015 and their maiden NPLW triumph in 2017.
NPLW Grand Final
FC Bulleen Lions v South Melbourne
Date: Saturday, September 9
Venue: Home of the Matildas
Kick-off Time: 7:30 pm (AEST)
Broadcast: NPL.TV, FV Facebook/Youtube