NPLW season 2026 thread

[HonestSpursFan]

Maybe it would be better if ALW clubs had teams in their respective state leagues, I know some do but I don’t think they use players from the ‘run on’ squads.

That sounds good on paper, but they too develop academy players in the NPLW. Even if, say, Shelby McMahon (using her as an example because she's young and plays for the first team) at City, joined the NPLW team in the offseason, she's still taking the spot of a youngster who needs development. If it weren't for Junior/Young Matildas camps and the A-League teams having training and preseason, the Dub players would completely dominate the NPLW and if an NPLW player broke into any good stats then she'd be quickly signed by a Dub club. Without professionalism the only other option is getting another job during the offseason (like NPL and NPLW players do), but as Fab said not every player wants another job.

It wouldn't work though because some teams like Adelaide United and Sydney FC don't have reserve teams altogether and Wellington Phoenix would have to have a reserve side integrated into the Member Federation leagues, in addition to the fact that if Canberra United remain in the Dub then it would be more detrimental for them if they fielded their reserves in the Capital Football system due to the organisation's mismanagement.

Wellington Phoenix do have a reserves team. They play in the NZWNL, however. The men's teams of Auckland and Wellington also have reserve teams in the NZNL (and in Auckland FC's case the OPL).

 

[libelous]

That sounds good on paper, but they too develop academy players in the NPLW. Even if, say, Shelby McMahon (using her as an example because she's young and plays for the first team) at City, joined the NPLW team in the offseason, she's still taking the spot of a youngster who needs development. If it weren't for Junior/Young Matildas camps and the A-League teams having training and preseason, the Dub players would completely dominate the NPLW and if an NPLW player broke into any good stats then she'd be quickly signed by a Dub club. Without professionalism the only other option is getting another job during the offseason (like NPL and NPLW players do), but as Fab said not every player wants another job.


Wellington Phoenix do have a reserves team. They play in the NZWNL, however. The men's teams of Auckland and Wellington also have reserve teams in the NZNL (and in Auckland FC's case the OPL).

I agree there is no easy answer, I was just trying to stimulate discussion on what options there might be.

 

[mikes27091]

Home	Score	Away	Venue
Perth Azzurri SC	3 – 0	Sorrento FC	Dorrien Gardens
UWA Nedlands FC	1 – 1	Balcatta Etna FC	UWA Sports Park
Perth RedStar FC	1 – 4	Hyundai Football West Academy	RedStar Arena
Subiaco AFC	1 – 2	Fremantle City FC	Rosalie Park

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Balcatta Etna FC	10	6	3	1	26	7	+19	21
2	Fremantle City FC	10	6	2	2	22	9	+13	20
3	Perth Azzurri SC	10	5	3	2	17	6	+11	18
4	Hyundai Football West Academy	10	4	3	3	18	14	+4	15
5	Perth RedStar FC	10	3	3	4	17	17	0	12
6	Subiaco AFC	10	3	1	6	10	25	–15	10
7	Sorrento FC	10	2	2	6	8	24	–16	8
8	UWA Nedlands FC	10	0	3	7	7	23	–16	3

 

[mikes27091]

Home	Score	Away	Venue
Perth Azzurri SC	3 – 0	Sorrento FC	Dorrien Gardens
UWA Nedlands FC	1 – 1	Balcatta Etna FC	UWA Sports Park
Perth RedStar FC	1 – 4	Hyundai Football West Academy	RedStar Arena
Subiaco AFC	1 – 2	Fremantle City FC	Rosalie Park

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Balcatta Etna FC	10	6	3	1	26	6	+20	21
2	Fremantle City FC	10	6	2	2	24	10	+14	20
3	Perth Azzurri SC	10	6	2	2	20	7	+13	20
4	Hyundai Football West Academy	10	4	4	2	22	14	+8	16
5	Perth RedStar FC	10	3	3	4	15	17	–2	12
6	Subiaco AFC	10	2	2	6	11	27	–16	8
7	Sorrento FC	10	2	2	6	7	23	–16	8
8	UWA Nedlands FC	10	0	2	8	6	28	–22	2

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

Bentleigh Greens got the job done 1-0 over Boroondara Eagles in their NPLW Victoria matchday 16 game to finally get their first win of the season, with Keilor Park also running out winners over Bulleen Lions by the same scoreline. Avondale, Alamein, Essendon Royals and South Melbourne defeated the Melbourne Victory reserves, Melbourne City's reserve team, Spring Hills and Heidelberg United respectively, all by 2-1 scorelines, whilst Box Hill United got the job done 3-0 over Preston Lions.

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

NWS Spirit ran out 1-0 winners over Sydney Olympic on the road in their NPLW New South Wales matchday 14 game to earn their second straight win and second win of the season, with Naomi Chinnama scoring the only goal of the match in the 55th minute. The result sees them remain bottom of the ladder on six points with a for and against of -50 from 11 goals scored and 61 goals conceded, but they close the gap on 13th place Western City Rangers to just the one point.

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

APIA Leichhardt got the job done 3-0 over Sydney University, whilst the Western Sydney Wanderers reserves and Gladesville Ravens ran out 1-0 winners over Illawarra Stingrays and Northern Tigers respectively in the other NPLW New South Wales matchday 14 games. Bulls FC Academy defeated Hills United 2-1 and UNSW FC got the job done over Western City Rangers by the same scoreline to remain top of the ladder as the only unbeaten team left in the comp with eleven wins and three draws through 14 matches played. Manly United played out a 1-1 draw with Macarthur Rams in their game also.

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

NWS Spirit got the job done 4-0 over Western City Rangers to get NPLW New South Wales matchday 15 underway, earning their third straight win and third win of the season courtesy of goals to Skye Halmarick in the 22nd minute, Ella Abdul Massih in the 33rd minute, Tiana Fuller in the first minute of first half stoppage time and Olivia Page in the 57th minute, with captain Erin Pridmore also returning to the side after serving her suspension last week. The result sees them move to nine points and off the bottom of the ladder, swapping places with their opposition with a -46 for and against, moving to 15 goals scored for the year and 61 goals conceded.

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

NPLW Victoria takes a break for this week with the league shutting down to facilitate Nike FC Cup fixtures.

 

[HonestSpursFan]

NWS Spirit got the job done 4-0 over Western City Rangers to get NPLW New South Wales matchday 15 underway, earning their third straight win and third win of the season courtesy of goals to Skye Halmarick in the 22nd minute, Ella Abdul Massih in the 33rd minute, Tiana Fuller in the first minute of first half stoppage time and Olivia Page in the 57th minute, with captain Erin Pridmore also returning to the side after serving her suspension last week. The result sees them move to nine points and off the bottom of the ladder, swapping places with their opposition with a -46 for and against, moving to 15 goals scored for the year and 61 goals conceded.

If they stay up with 61 goals conceded that would be fucking EXTRAORDINARY to say the very least!