After one of the most dominant seasons in the history of women’s football in Victoria - let alone NPLW Victoria - the question facing the other seven NPLW Victoria clubs heading into 2020 is the same one that tortured them in 2019: can anyone stop Calder United?
Head Coach Mark Torcaso’s side took on and defeated all comers that year, finishing their season with a goal difference of +110 from 27 games and as Community Shield, Nike FC Cup, NPLW Victoria Premiership and NPLW Victoria Championship winners.
And now the first step in their quest to repeat, and perhaps even better, their 2019 feats will arrive tomorrow night when the attempt to claim a second-straight Football Victoria Women's Community Shield to their trophy cabinet.
“We only lost two [games] last season,” Calder captain Emma Robers said.
“So I think this year we almost want to beat that and try not to lose a game at all. We’ll just work hard towards that. We want to be better than the year before.”
But standing in the way of Calder will be their closest on-field rivals from 2019: FC Bulleen Lions.
It will be the second straight Shield meeting between the two sides, a brace from Catherine Zimmerman and a strike from Polly Doran reducing Kayla Morrison’s 87th minute goal to naught but a consolation as Calder ran out 3-1 winners at Green Gully Reserve in its 2019 iteration.
But although the task ahead of them is a daunting one, the Lions can take some heart from their performance in the 2019 NPLW Victoria Grand Final, when they pushed Calder to the limit in an emotional contest at AAMI Park.
Taking the field as underdogs, the Lions held their foes to a 1-0 scoreline that day; Alycia Eicke’s seventh-minute goal, when she poked home a ball loose in the penalty area after an Angie Beard free-kick, proving the difference between the two sides.
But Bulleen’s Caitlin Friend did twice rattled the post of Calder as that contest wore on, and Rachael Quigley had a golden one-on-one chance saved by Calder glove woman Alyssa Dall'Oste on the hour mark.
Calder, of course, can respond to a rundown of the Lions’ feats by pointing that they were very stiff to not receive a chance to double their lead from the penalty spot moments after Quigley’s chance when Beard was brought down inside the area by Bulleen keeper Emily Shields.
But with a new season brings new opportunities, and under new Head Coach John Flores Bulleen will be looking to return to the heights of 2018, when they lifted the NPLW Victoria Championship.
The club has confirmed on their social media that key contributors such as Quigley, Lia Privitelli, Alex Natoli and Shields will all be returning to the Veneto Club for the season ahead, joined by new additions such as former Alamein and current Perth Glory player Julia Sardo.
Their availability for the Community Shield, however, is mixed as the W-League’s regular-season has just concluded and Privitelli’s Victory still in contention for a championship.
Across from the Lions, Calder, as one would expect from a side that was so dominant a season ago, has largely kept their side intact.
2018 and 2019 NPLW Vic Player’s Player of the Year Aleksandra Sinclair, Beard, Robers and the Taranto twins – Mellissa and Adriana – have all been confirmed on the club’s social media as returning for 2020.
Reinforcing this already formidable line-up will be new signings Laura Spiranovic, who most recently played with Croatian side ZNK Split and is a well-known and respected figure in NPLW Victoria, and former Box Hill standout Natasha Dakic.
“It’s looking really strong,” Robers said.
“Most of the girls from last year are still in the squad, which is awesome and a couple of new girls as well which is really adding to the depth.
“We’ve got not only a great starting XI, but our bench is packed with young girls who are stepping up and really looking forward to the season.”
The 2020 Community Shield is set to take place at City Vista Reserve, Fraser Rise – the home of Caroline Springs George Cross FC and training base of A-League club Western United - this Friday night.
As with the NPL Victoria men’s Community Shield, the contest will be linked to Victorian Bushfire Appeal in order to raise awareness and raise funds for those affected by the devastating events of the past months.
There is no entry charge for the contest, but all donations made at the gate will go to the appeal.
Should a victor not be found within 90 minutes on Friday the game will proceed straight to a penalty shootout. Five substitutes can be named and used for the contest.
For those that can’t make it, the game is set to be streamed live and free across Football Victoria’s NPLW Victoria Facebook and You Tube social media channels.
Friday, March 13, 2020
Football Victoria Women's Community Shield
Calder United vs FC Bulleen Lions
City Vista Reserve, home of Caroline Springs George Cross FC, City Vista Rd, Fraser Rise, near Taylors Hill.
Kick-off 7:45pm
FREE EVENT
All gate donations going to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.