After a fantastic 2022, the National Premier Leagues (NPL) Victoria Women's competition returns this week for the 2023 season.
Ahead of the season opener on Friday night, check out the season preview for all clubs.
Alamein FC
After finishing agonisingly short of a finals berth in 2022, Alamein is determined to go one better this season and once again contend for the NPLW Championship.
Alamein finished last season in fifth position on the NPLW ladder in fifth, ending the season with eight wins from 21 matches.
Alamein was ranked six for goals in 2022 and in need of more goal avenues to goal the club has turned to Rebecca Saber who has crossed from Ringwood, she scored 30 goals last season, in the Club's State League 1 campaign.
OPENING FIXTURES
Round 1: Alamein v Preston Lions
Round 2: Calder United v Alamein
Round 3: Alamein v Southern United
Bayside United FC
Coming off a season to forget in 2022, Bayside will be looking to pull off a miraculous turnaround and play finals football this season.
Bayside finished the last season with only one win to their name from 21 matches, ending the year in last place.
Head Coach Loui Spiridis is determined to turn the fortune of the club around off the back of his first full pre-season in charge.
Bayside has focused on attracting support for 2022 leading goal scorer Julia Budiongo (seven goals) in the off-season, while also bringing in younger talent from across the league.
In a major coup for the club, ahead of the upcoming season, the club announced an official affiliation with NPL club Bentleigh Greens.
OPENING FIXTURES
Round 1: Bayside United v Southern United
Round 2: Boroondara Eagles v Bayside United
Round 3: Bayside United v Heidelberg FC
Boroondara Eagles
The Boroondara Eagles have been a force in the VPLW for years and this year, they have the opportunity to show the football community they belong in the top tier.
The Eagles received a promotion to the NPLW following a standout 2022 campaign where they were only three points away from clinching the premiers plate and fell one goal short of winning the VPLW Grand Final to Preston.
The Eagles proved their credentials in last year's Nike F.C Cup, making it to the sixth round where they were defeated by eventual Champions Calder United.
The Eagles will look to make waves this season, but the main goal is to be competitive.
OPENING FIXTURES
Round 1: FC Bulleen Lions v Boroondara Eagles
Round 2: Boroondara Eagles v Bayside United
Round 3: Box Hill v Boroondara Eagles
FC Bulleen Lions
After falling at the final hurdle last year, FC Bulleen Lions are determined to go one better in 2023 and claim the NPLW Championship.
FC Bulleen put in a promising performance in the 2023 Community Shield, going down to the reigning NPLW Champions 3-2.
In the off-season, Bulleen has recruited defenders Katie Beck (Catawba College, US College), Ava Piazza (FNSW Institute, New South Wales), and Faith Stephenson (Olympic FC, Queensland) who will add some depth to an already impressive line-up.
OPENING FIXTURES
Round 1: Bulleen v Boroondara
Round 2: Heidelberg v Bulleen
Round 3: Bulleen v FV Emerging
Box Hill United FC
Following a disappointing season, can Box Hill United bounce back and climb up the ladder in 2023?
Box Hill experienced a high volume of turnover at the end of 2022 with Bobby Zdravkovski being announced as the new Senior Women’s NPL Head Coach.
Zdravkovski has extensive playing and coaching experience at junior and senior levels and is well respected within the industry, renowned for setting high standards. He was the Technical Director of Female Football at BHUFC for two years and has previously coached Moreland Zebras, FC Bulleen Lions, and Northcote City FC.
With players going down to injuries, opportunities arise for others, and Zdravkovski has given his younger brigade a chance to shine in the pre-season to lock in a spot for Round 1.
Despite losing a number of players at the end of last year, Box Hill has been able to replenish their list with Japanese duo Asuka Doi (Bunnys Gunma FC White Star) and Kanna Moriya (Ange Violet Hiroshima) adding some much-needed experience to the squad.
Defender Cicily Paraskevas has joined the Club from Alamein, however will need to bide her time for her first match after suffering a quad injury.
OPENING FIXTURES
Round 1: Box Hill v Calder United
Round 2: Box Hill v Southern United
Round 3: Box Hill v Boroondara
Calder United SC
A new-look Calder United has its sights set on reaching the top of the mountain once again in 2023.
Calder started the year on a winning note, claiming the 2023 Community Shield in a close 3-2 clash with FC Bulleen Lions.
Helen Winterburn and Nathan Maiorana have been appointed as Head Coached of Calder for the upcoming season with Mark Torcaso moving into a Head of Football position, following his appointment as Head Coach at Western United's women's side.
Winterburn joined Torcaso as an assistant coach at Western United and was named the 2022 NPLW Coach of the Year for her efforts in taking FV Emerging to the finals for the first time.
Maiorana worked as the senior assistant for Calder last season and has proven he has all the qualities both on and off the pitch to step up and continue building success for the senior team.
Calder has recruited well in the off-season to cover their A-League stars missing the start of the season.
The club has bolstered their midfield stocks with American Alexis Mitchell arriving from Launceston United and Japan via player Kiewa Hieda who dominated the VPLW last season with the Preston Lions.
FV Emerging trio Sienna Cappola, Lucy Richards, and Isabella Sewards have followed their coach to Calder and could be set for minutes early in the season.
OPENING FIXTURES
Round 1: Box Hill v Calder United
Round 2: Calder United v Alamein
Round 3: Preston Lions v Calder United
FV Emerging
After making it through to the Semi-Finals last season, FV Emerging is ready to make history once again; however, this time they have their eyes on going all the way.
FV Emerging was outstanding in 2022, winning 10 matches from 21 rounds to sneak into the finals before bowing out to eventual champions Calder United.
The squad has been hard at work since November to establish their brand of football.
Melissa Lum takes the reigns as head coach of the squad, while Turgut Fanoscu will be the senior assistant coach.
OPENING FIXTURES
Round 1: BYE
Round 2: FV Emerging v South Melbourne
Round 3: FC Bullen Lions v FV Emerging
Heidelberg United FC
Having just led Heidelberg United to its best finish in 12 years, Head Coach Johnathan Clemente is confident that the Bergers can once again contend in 2023.
Despite a narrow 2-1 defeat to FC Bulleen in the semi-final 2022 was a remarkable year for the club. Averaging almost 2.5 goals a game Clemente’s high-octane style of play drew plenty of praise from the footballing community.
Heading into season 2023, Heidelberg’s squad has experienced significant turnover due to the success of the squad, with a number of players gaining A-League contracts.
Although this will undoubtedly create some challenges around team chemistry, the strong foundations laid last year means optimism is high at Olympic Village.
In terms of player recruitment, Heidelberg has focused heavily on signing players who have proven winning mentalities and have been a part of successful squads in the past.
Olivia Bramley joins the club after playing a key role in West Adelaide Hellas’ treble winning campaign. The defender also spent two years with Leicester City and is expected to play a key role in the heart of Heidelberg’s defence in 2023.
Japanese midfielder Reona Omiya will be a familiar name for NPLW fans. Experienced and full of technical quality, she joins the Bergers after a successful stint with Adelaide United.
Adding more steel to the midfield, Alyssa Rose has signed from NPL NSW powerhouse Blacktown Spartans. Rose has A-League experience with Western Sydney Wanderers and has also been involved in Australia’s national setup as a junior.
In the final third one key loss for the Club is Golden Boot winner Danielle Wise. The star striker couldn’t stop scoring last season and recently made the switch to rivals South Melbourne.
Kylo Charalambous also joins the club after having stints with Perth Glory, Canberra United and most recently a title winning season with Macarthur Rams.
Adding to the experienced talent making their way to Olympic Village young guns Kat Nikpour, Karina Tolios and Tamsyn Smith have also joined ahead of the new season.
OPENING FIXTURES
South Melbourne v Heidelberg United
Heidelberg United v Bulleen
Bayside United v Heidelberg United
Preston Lions
In 2023, the Preston Lions make their long-awaited debut in the NPLW after dominating the VPLW. , can their stretch of domination continue or will they struggle against the higher level of competition?
The Lions were a class above in season 2022, claiming the VPLW seniors and reserves premierships.
Preston was dominant in attack and defence last season, ending the season with a +69-goal difference.
Striker Rachel Stirton claimed the golden boot with 28 goals, while Keiwa Hieda (15 goals) and Miri Nishimura (13 goals) were also among the top five scorers.
OPENING FIXTURES
Round 1: Alamein v Preston Lions
Round 2: BYE
Round 3: Preston Lions v Calder United
Southern United
Southern United returns to the NPLW for the first time since 2019 and has a point to prove upon their return.
In 2022, Southern United finished third on the VPLW ladder, bowing out in the semi-finals to Boroondara-Carey Eagles 3-1.
Southern has revealed Antonia Niteros as their NPLW Senior Women's team captain for the 2023 season. She was a key player in the Club's inaugural NPLW squad and returns with plenty of experience - including winning the 2017 NPLW Championship with South Melbourne.
The side may look near unrecognisable to onlookers this season with the club facing a large turnover of personnel from 2022.
OPENING FIXTURES
Round 1: Bayside v Southern United
Round 2: Box Hill v Southern United
Round 3: Alamein v Southern United