3 minute read
The Women's Super League in England is about to kick off with 14 Matildas set to feature - and one Aussie bloke also ready to make a splash.
Despite a miserable and rather chastening Olympic summer for the Matildas, Australian players' stock remains high enough for 14 of them from nine different clubs to be starting the Women's Super League campaign in England this weekend.
Yet could the most significant Australian signing be that of Dario Vidosic, an ambitious young Aussie guy, who's armed with a glowing reference from Ange Postecoglou and is promising a revolution as the new Brighton boss?
The 37-year-old, who took Melbourne City to the A-League Women Premiers Plate, is the first Australian manager of a WSL side since Joe Montemurro at Arsenal.
And the high-flying young boss has not been shy in talking up his chances of emulating Montemurro, who led the Gunners to the title in 2018-19.
"For me, I'm planning on winning it," Vidosic told the Brighton club podcast with bullish confidence, promising that attack would be his modus operandi.
"We'll go out to win every game, that's always been my mentality. Brighton have the goal of top-four and that's a great goal, but that's putting a ceiling on it. I told the girls on the first day, 'I want to win it'."
That's fighting talk at a club that finished ninth of 12 last season, but Brighton are thinking big, having brought in 11 new players, including England stars Fran Kirby and Nikita Parris.
Young Aussie international Charli Rule is also in their ranks but, as so many of the Matildas in the WSL have learned, the growing international strength of the line-ups means competition for places is ever stronger. Regular football is not guaranteed.
Still, that didn't stop Tottenham investing in two Europe-based Matildas, PSG's Clare Hunt and Real Madrid's Hayley Raso, to make it three Aussies in their squad alongside another international Charli Grant.
"The speed of the game is another level over here, you have to think fast and make quicker decisions," Grant, who's struggled to nail down a regular place, concedes.
Yet there's now the delicious prospect of the north London derby against Arsenal also becoming the WSL's main Aussie derby too, with Caitlin Ford, Steph Catley and Kyra Cooney-Cross still all featuring for the ambitious Gunners.
Most Australian interest, as has become the case over her five, goal-laden, trophy-stacked seasons with Chelsea, will naturally be on the return of Sam Kerr, but the Kingsmeadow faithful will have to wait a bit longer for her eagerly-awaited comeback after her ACL tear.
It's a new era for the five-time defending champions. They'll kick off their quest for six in a row at home to Aston Villa on Friday (Saturday AEST) with a new manager in charge as Frenchwoman Sonia Bompastor takes over from the all-conquering Emma Hayes, who's gone on to Olympic glory as US national team coach.
Kerr, who's been out since January, is adamant she won't rush back until she's completely ready but, at 31, it will be intriguing to see if she can return as the league's greatest striker, with Jamaica's Khadija Shaw now tearing it up at Manchester City.
It will also be fascinating to observe whether Mary Fowler, who was becoming increasingly influential for City last season as they were pipped for the title on the last day, continues to blossom alongside Shaw, showcasing her rare ability more regularly.
Her season, and City's evergreen defender Alanna Kennedy, will kick off against their international mates in a terrific opener on Sunday. Five Australians in action? It's almost becoming the norm in England.
AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS IN THE 2024-25 WOMEN'S SUPER LEAGUE
Arsenal: Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross
Brighton: Charli Rule
Chelsea: Sam Kerr
Everton: Clare Wheeler
Leicester: Courtney Nevin
Liverpool: Teagan Micah
Manchester City: Mary Fowler, Alanna Kennedy
Tottenham: Hayley Raso, Clare Hunt, Charli Grant
West Ham: Katrina Gorry (captain)