ROUND 17 OF THE A-LEAGUE WOMEN COMPETITION AT A GLANCE:
THEY SAID IT: “I had a really good feeling about the game ... some weeks you have a good feeling and there was no real need for me to say too much to the players.” Melbourne Victory Jeff Hopkins was right to let his players do their thing, as they smashed Western Sydney 4-0 on Friday night.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sarina Bolden can’t stop scoring. The Newcastle striker boasts a brilliant 11 goals in 12 games after her hat-trick against Brisbane and her form has the Jets firmly in the frame for the finals.
KEY STAT: Five straight wins for Western United have carried them to the top of the table in a flash. They’re the first team this season to record a five-game winning streak.
BEAT THAT: Emily Gielnik’s stunning long-range strike in the Victory’s strong win was clearly the goal of the round. It’s the sort of form that could easily secure a return to the Matildas squad in the near future.
TALKING POINT: When will Canberra United and Sydney play their game abandoned on Saturday afternoon due to lightning strikes? Canberra are already scheduled for six games in March after next week’s international break.
UNDER PRESSURE: Brisbane have lost three consecutive games and conceded eight goals in that span. They simply couldn’t handle Bolden, and are long-odds to get back into the top six mix.
WHAT'S NEXT: Top-ranked Western United kick off the weekend hosting bottom side Canberra. Western Sydney’s derby clash with Sydney FC has genuine finals ramifications, while Melbourne City will again look to get things back on track when they head to face Brisbane. Melbourne Victory host Wellington, Central Coast tackle Adelaide and Newcastle take on the struggling Perth Glory.
