National Youth League

"The National Youth League provides players aged between 16-20 years of age a clear pathway from youth leagues to senior level and then on to professional level. When combined with existing State-based competitions, players in the national youth league will play between 35-40 games each year. Youth Players must have a minimum time on the park if in the squad.
Please note that squads are subject to change, and (OA) depicts overage player (born before 1 January 1991). The first round of the 4th season of the National Youth League started on 21 October, 2011

Fixtures

Round 9 draw

Friday:
16 Dec - 5:00pm - Newcastle Jets FC Vs Sydney FC - Adamstown Oval, Newcastle
Saturday:
17 Dec - 2:30pm - Adelaide United FC Vs Gold Coast United FC - Burton Park
17 Dec - 3:00pm - Melbourne Victory FC Vs Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) - Kingston Heath Soccer Complex, Cheltenham 17 Dec - 4:00pm - Brisbane Roar Youth Vs Central Coast Mariners - Suncorp Stadium
Sunday:
18 Dec - 5:00pm - Perth Glory FC Vs Melbourne Heart FC - 6PR Stadium, Inglewood

Westfield W-League

The first round of the 10 rounds of the 4th season of the Westfield W-League is being held from 22 October, 2011. This is a 7 team league after withdrawal of funding by FNSW and the resultant demise of Central Coast Mariners before season 3.

Round 9 draw

Melbourne Victory FC v Brisbane Roar FC

Saturday 17 December 2011 - Simonds Stadium, Geelong - Local kick-off: 3pm; Live: ABC TV

Yet another pivotal Westfield W-League match-up with third-placed Brisbane Roar visiting fourth-placed Melbourne Victory. A win in this encounter will almost certainly guarantee finals football and quite possibly a top-two berth. Incredibly the Victory will go second for the first time in their history if they can collect another three points on Geelong’s manicured turf. Melbourne have improved incrementally over the course of the season at both ends of the park and it is paying dividends. The Victory have, perhaps for the first time in the four-season history of the league, started to find consistency in front of goal having bagged 11 in their last four outings.

Jodie Taylor’s treble last weekend took the English striker to second on the Westfield W-League goalscorers list with seven strikes, just one behind the prolific Michelle Heyman. At the other end of the field a resolute defence has been breached just twice in the past month. Victory’s defence against the Roar’s numerous attacking outlets will be a fascinating sub-plot and likely to be crucial to the outcome of this contest. Last weekend Brisbane struggled to break down Adelaide’s well organised and swarming defence scoring twice, with the second coming only in injury time. When Melbourne visited Brisbane a month ago it finished 1-0 to the Roar and it would be a major surprise if this weekend is not similarly tight.

Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Brianna DAVEY (gk), 2. Rebekah STOTT, 3. Maika RUYTER-HOOLEY, 4. Kendall FLETCHER, 5. Danielle JOHNSON, 6. Rita MANKOWSKA, 7. Stephanie CATLEY, 8. Ashley BROWN, 9. Georgie KOUTROUVELIS, 10. Jodie TAYLOR (c), 11. Caitlin FRIEND, 12. Jackie VOGT, 13. Katrina GORRY 14. Enza BARILLA, 15. Amy JACKSON, 16. Louisa BISBY, 17. Gulcan KOCA, 18. Stephanie TANTI, 19. Laura SPIRANOVIC, 20. Cassandra DIMOVSKI (gk) * five to be omitted

In: None; Out: None; Unavailable: None

Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Casey DUMONT (gk), 2. Laura ALLEWAY, 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE (c), 5. Brooke SPENCE, 6. Joanne BURGESS, 7. Kim CARROLL, 9. Catherine CANNULI, 10. Lana HARCH, 11. Aivi LUIK, 13. Tameka BUTT, 14. Vedrana POPOVIC, 15. Sasha MCDONNELL, 16. Michaela HATZIRODOS, 17. Emily GIELNIK, 18. Olga CEBRIAN GARCIA, 19.Ellen BEAUMONT, 20. Hoshimi KISHI (gk), 21. Rebecca PRICE * three to be omitted

In: None; Out: None; Unavailable: Elise Kellond-Knight (knee – season), Ashley Spina (knee – season)

Adelaide United FC v Perth Glory FC

Saturday 17 December 2011 - Burton Park, Adelaide - Local kick-off: 4.30pm - National Youth League double-header

They might be based at the wrong end of the table but the two sides will consider this somewhat of a cup final. Undoubtedly long marked on the calendar by both sets of players, this will be a great opportunity to return winning ways for two struggling teams. While dreams of finals football have long been extinguished, this match will certainly have much pride on the line and an up-tempo contest can be expected if the last meeting is any gauge. Six weeks ago Perth were 2-1 victors on home turf against Adelaide in a match that was in the balance throughout. While results have not been going their way, Dave Edmondson’s Lady Reds have undeniably improved over the course of the season.

This match will represent a wonderful opportunity to break their winless streak which, for the statisticians, now stretches over 34 matches to November 2008. Their last draw, meanwhile, was achieved 19 matches ago in November 2009. The Glory will be hoping their nightmare has finally ended with last week’s 5-0 defeat at home against Melbourne Victory. The scoreline could, in truth, have been higher and was on the back of a record breaking 11-0 loss the week before.

Sandwiched between those defeats, the Glory released two of their international imports leaving Jamie Harnwell’s squad depleted. On the positive side, the Glory will at least welcome back influential English midfielder Katie Holtham from suspension for their trip to the City of Churches.

Adelaide United squad: 1. Sian MCLAREN (gk) 3. Anna GREEN, 4. Daniela DI BARTOLO, 5. Abby ERCEG (c), 6. Ebony PHILCOX, 7. Racheal QUIGLEY, 8. Leanne SLATER, 9. Marijana RAJCIC, 11. Ashleigh GUNNING, 12. Greta FRENCH-KENNEDY, 14. Donna COCKAYNE, 15. Emma CHECKER, 16. Grace HENRY 17. Katherine EBBS, 18. Georgia MACRI, 19. Nenita BURGESS, 20. Kristi HARVEY (gk) * two to be omitted

In: None; Out: Vanessa Reed (injured); Unavailable: Angela Fimmano, Ruth Wallace (both injured)

Perth Glory squad: 1. Mackenzie ARNOLD (gk), 2. Shawn BILLAM, 3. Carys HAWKINS, 4. Erika ELZE, 5. Shannon MAY, 6. Katarina JUKIC, 7. Sadie LAWRENCE, 8. Tanya OXTOBY (c), 9. Katie HOLTHAM, 11. Ella MASTRANTONIO, 12. Danielle CALAUTTI, 13. Elisa D’OVIDIO, 14. Emily DUNN, 15. Lara FILOCAMO, 17. Marianna TABAIN, 19. Sarah CARROLL, 20. Kristy TESCHINSKY (gk) * two to be omitted

In: Shawn Billam (promoted), Katie Holtham (returns from suspension); Out: None; Unavailable: Jaymee Gibbons (hip – season)

Newcastle Jets FC v Canberra United FC

Sunday 18 December 2011 - Adamstown Oval, Newcastle - Local kick-off: 3pm

An intriguing contest awaits in Newcastle where the erratic Jets will hope to return to form at the expense of unbeaten leaders Canberra United. Last weekend Canberra held Sydney FC to a scoreless draw to leave the destiny of the premiership in their own hands. This will mark the first of three remaining matches in which Canberra - should they claim victory in each - can claim its maiden silverware and, with it, a home final. The last time the pair met Canberra ran out comfortable 3-1 victors and the form book points to a similar outcome. United have won five and drawn two of their seven matches thus far, with the draws coming in the last fortnight against competition heavyweights Brisbane Roar and Sydney FC.

United will be boosted by the return of skipper Ellie Brush from suspension and coach Jitka Klimkova should once again have a full squad to choose from. Newcastle had the bye last weekend which captain Ariane Hingst said was a positive and left the players refreshed and eager. The bye was well timed as the Jets prepare for the first of two crucial matches in five days, with a postponed home fixture against Perth Glory looming next Wednesday. The week off has also allowed young midfield tyro Emily van Egmond to recover from a nagging ankle injury which kept her out of the Melbourne Victory match a fortnight ago.

Newcastle Jets squad: 1. Melissa BARBIERI (gk), 2. Hannah BREWER, 3. Alanna KENNEDY, 4. Gemma PEARCE, 5. Alex HUYNH, 6. Nicola BOLGER, 7. Gema SIMON, 8. Linda O'NEILL, 9. Tara ANDREWS, 10. Emily VAN EGMOND, 11. Lisa DE VANNA, 12. Monnique KOFOED, 13. Stacey DAY, 14. Bronte BATES, 15. Rhali DOBSON, 16. Cassandra KOPPEN, 17. Ariane HINGST (c), 20. Alison LOGUE (gk) *three to be omitted

In: None; Out: None; Unavailable: None

Canberra United squad: 1. Lydia WILLIAMS (gk), 2. Caitlin COOPER, 3. Georgia YEOMAN-DALE, 4. Christine WALTERS, 5. Kahlia HOGG, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 8. Hayley RASO, 9. Grace GILL, 10. Snez VELJANOVSKA, 11. Michelle HEYMAN, 12. Sally ROJAHN, 13. Nicole SYKES, 14. Ashleigh SYKES, 15. Sally SHIPARD, 16. Ellyse PERRY, 18. Taryn HEMMINGS, 19. Jennifer BISSET, 20. Aroon CLANSEY (gk) * four to be omitted

In: None; Out: None; Unavailable: Leah Blayney (injured)

This week's BYE - Sydney FC

Chris Dunkerley for BOTN - 15 December, 2011 (from information supplied, including by FFA)

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