2020–21 W-League

W-League
Season2020–21
Dates29 December 2020 – 11 April 2021
ChampionsMelbourne Victory
(2nd title)
PremiersSydney FC (3rd title)
Matches played56
Goals scored180 (3.21 per match)
Top goalscorerEmily Gielnik
(13 goals)
Biggest home winBrisbane Roar 6–0 Melbourne Victory
(22 January 2021)
Melbourne Victory 6–0 Perth Glory
(28 March 2021)
Biggest away winMelbourne City 0–6 Melbourne Victory
(10 January 2021)
Highest scoringPerth Glory 2–6 Sydney FC
(25 February 2021)
Longest winning run6 matches
Sydney FC
Longest unbeaten run9 matches
Brisbane Roar
Longest winless run11 matches
Perth Glory
Longest losing run8 matches
Perth Glory
Highest attendance5,159
Adelaide United 3–1 Western Sydney Wanderers (16 January 2021)
Lowest attendance250
Perth Glory 0–1 Melbourne Victory
(16 March 2021)
Not including behind closed doors matches
(Note: Longest runs only include regular season results.)

The 2020–21 W-League season was the thirteenth season of the W-League, the Australian national women's association football competition. The season started on 29 December 2020[1] and ended with the Grand final on 11 April 2021.

Clubs

Stadiums and locations

Team Location Stadium Capacity
Adelaide United Adelaide Marden Sports Complex
Coopers Stadium
6,000
16,500
Brisbane Roar Brisbane Suncorp Stadium
Lions Stadium
52,500
5,000
Canberra United Canberra Viking Park 7,000
Melbourne City Melbourne Frank Holohan Soccer Complex[1] 2,000
Melbourne Victory Melbourne CB Smith Reserve
Epping Stadium
AAMI Park
Latrobe City Stadium
2,000
10,000
30,050
12,000
Newcastle Jets Newcastle Newcastle Number 2 Sports Ground
McDonald Jones Stadium
5,000
33,000
Perth Glory Perth Dorrien Gardens 4,000
Sydney FC
Sydney

Wollongong
Seymour Shaw
Jubilee Oval
Leichhardt Oval
WIN Stadium
5,000
20,505
20,000
23,000
Western Sydney Wanderers Sydney Marconi Stadium
Stadium Australia
Bankwest Stadium
Wanderers Football Park
9,000
83,500
30,000
1,000

Personnel and kits

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturers Kit sponsors
Adelaide United Australia Adrian Stenta Australia Dylan Holmes[2] UCAN SA Power Networks
Brisbane Roar Australia Jake Goodship Australia Clare Polkinghorne[3][4] Umbro Fuel Your Life[5]
Canberra United Australia Vicki Linton United States Kendall Fletcher[6] Apelle[7] DKD Consulting[8]
Melbourne City Australia Rado Vidošić Australia Emma Checker[9] Puma[10] Etihad Airways
Melbourne Victory Wales Jeff Hopkins Australia Angela Beard[11] Adidas[12] Fuel Your Life[13]
Newcastle Jets Australia Ash Wilson Australia Cassidy Davis
Australia Gema Simon[14]
Apelle[15] Greater Bank
Perth Glory Australia Alexander Epakis Australia Natasha Rigby[16] Macron[17] BHP
Sydney FC Australia Ante Juric Australia Teresa Polias[18] Under Armour[19] The Star[20]
Western Sydney Wanderers Australia Dean Heffernan Australia Caitlin Cooper[21]
Australia Erica Halloway[22]
Kappa[23] Intermain[24]

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position on table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Canberra United Australia Heather Garriock Sacked[25] 1 March 2020 Pre-season Australia Vicki Linton[26] 31 July 2020
Adelaide United Australia Ivan Karlović Appointed Head of
Women's Football[27]
4 August 2020 Australia Adrian Stenta[27] 4 August 2020
Perth Glory Australia Bobby Despotovski Resigned[28] 2 November 2020 Australia Alexander Epakis[29] 20 November 2020

Transfers

Foreign players

Club Visa 1 Visa 2 Visa 3 Visa 4 Non-Visa foreigner(s) Former player(s)
Adelaide United Chile María José Rojas England Fiona Worts Netherlands Maruschka Waldus United States Mallory Weber
Brisbane Roar Brazil Mariel Hecher New Zealand Olivia Chance England Billie Murphy
Canberra United New Zealand Paige Satchell United States Kendall Fletcher United States Chantel Jones
Melbourne City France Margot Robinne Japan Chinatsu Kira Norway Noor Eckhoff United States Samantha Johnson Serbia Tyla-Jay VlajnicA
Melbourne Victory Argentina Gaby Garton New Zealand Claudia Bunge United States Kayla Morrison United States Catherine Zimmerman Canada Natalie MartineauB
New Zealand Annalie LongoA
Newcastle Jets
Perth Glory England Gemma Craine New Zealand Lily Alfeld New Zealand Elizabeth Anton New Zealand Malia Steinmetz
Sydney FC
Western Sydney Wanderers Republic of Ireland Julie-Ann Russell

The following do not fill a Visa position:
A Australian citizens who have chosen to represent another national team;
B Those players who were born and started their professional career abroad but have since gained Australian citizenship;
G Guest Players;
R Injury Replacement Players, or National Team Replacement Players

Regular season

The regular season commenced on 29 December 2020,[1] and ran until 31 March 2021.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Sydney FC 12 9 1 2 26 11 +15 28 Qualification to Finals series
2 Brisbane Roar 12 7 4 1 29 12 +17 25
3 Melbourne Victory (C) 12 7 2 3 25 14 +11 23
4 Canberra United 12 6 4 2 21 16 +5 22
5 Adelaide United 12 7 1 4 22 18 +4 22
6 Western Sydney Wanderers 12 4 1 7 13 21 −8 13
7 Melbourne City 12 4 1 7 11 23 −12 13
8 Newcastle Jets 12 2 1 9 14 21 −7 7
9 Perth Glory 12 0 1 11 7 32 −25 1
Source: A-Leagues
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions


Results

Home \ Away ADE BRI CNU MCY MVC NEW PER SYD WSW
Adelaide United 2–1 2–1 0–1 1–0 2–0 3–1
Brisbane Roar 4–2 1–1 0–0 6–0 3–0 4–0
Canberra United 4–3 4–1 2–1 1–1 0–0 3–0
Melbourne City 2–3 0–6 1–0 2–1 0–2 0–4
Melbourne Victory 0–0 1–1 2–3 4–2 6–0 1–0
Newcastle Jets 1–2 1–1 0–1 0–2 1–2 4–1
Perth Glory 1–2 2–3 0–1 0–1 0–4 2–6
Sydney FC 2–1 1–4 4–0 2–1 2–0 2–0
Western Sydney Wanderers 2–2 1–2 1–0 2–1 1–0 0–3
Source: W-League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Fixtures

Round 1

29 December 2020 Brisbane Roar 0–0 Melbourne City Brisbane
15:35 AEST Report Stadium: Moreton Daily Stadium
Attendance: 1,174
Referee: Rebecca Durcau
30 December 2020 Western Sydney Wanderers 0–3 Sydney FC Parramatta
16:35 AEDT Report
  • Vine 27'
  • Ibini 60', 86'
Stadium: Bankwest Stadium
Attendance: 3,027
Referee: Kelly Jones
30 December 2020 Canberra United 4–3 Adelaide United Canberra
18:35 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Viking Park
Attendance: 1,167
Referee: Kate Jacewicz

Round 2

2 January 2021 Western Sydney Wanderers 2–1 Newcastle Jets Parramatta
19:05 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Wanderers Centre of Football
Attendance: 279
Referee: Kelly Jones
3 January 2021 Canberra United 2–1 Melbourne City Canberra
16:05 AEDT
Report Stadium: Viking Park
Attendance: 1,398
Referee: Casey Reibelt
3 January 2021 Melbourne Victory 0–0 Brisbane Roar Melbourne
18:05 AEDT Report Stadium: CB Smith Reserve
Attendance: 426
Referee: Lara Lee

Round 3

7 January 2021 Brisbane Roar 1–1 Canberra United Brisbane
18:05 AEST
Report
Stadium: Moreton Daily Stadium
Attendance: 1,079
Referee: Isabella Blaess
8 January 2021 Newcastle Jets 1–2 Sydney FC Newcastle
16:35 AEDT
Report
Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium
Attendance: 1,918
Referee: Isabella Libri
9 January 2021 Adelaide United 1–0 Perth Glory Adelaide
18:35 ACDT
Report Stadium: Marden Sports Complex
Attendance: 1,074
Referee: Georgia Ghirardello
10 January 2021 Melbourne City 0–6 Melbourne Victory Melbourne
16:05 AEDT Report
Stadium: CB Smith Reserve
Attendance: 729
Referee: Lachlan Keevers

Round 4

14 January 2021 Perth Glory 1–2 Adelaide United Perth
17:05 AWST
Report
Stadium: Dorrien Gardens
Attendance: 673
Referee: Georgia Ghirardello
16 January 2021 Sydney 2–0 Western Sydney Wanderers Sydney
19:40 AEDT
Report Stadium: Stadium Australia
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: Kelly Jones
17 January 2021 Melbourne Victory 2–3 Melbourne City Melbourne
16:05 AEDT Report
Stadium: Epping Stadium
Attendance: 1,034
Referee: Danielle Anderson
17 January 2021 Newcastle Jets 1–1 Brisbane Roar Newcastle
18:40 AEDT
Report
Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium
Attendance: 1,371
Referee: Isabella Libri

Round 5

21 January 2021 Adelaide United 2–1 Melbourne City Adelaide
18:35 ACDT
Report
Stadium: Marden Sports Complex
Attendance: 912
Referee: Isabella Blaess
22 January 2021 Brisbane Roar 6–0 Melbourne Victory Gold Coast
20:05 AEST
Report Stadium: Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre
Attendance: 1,455
Referee: Lara Lee
23 January 2021 Newcastle Jets 4–1 Western Sydney Wanderers Newcastle
16:05 AEDT
Report Stadium: No. 2 Sportsground
Attendance: 657
Referee: Casey Reibelt
24 January 2021 Canberra United 1–1 Perth Glory Canberra
16:05 AEDT Report
Stadium: Viking Park
Attendance: 1,041
Referee: Rebecca Durcau

Round 6

29 January 2021 Adelaide United 0–1 Melbourne Victory Adelaide
18:35 ACDT Report Stadium: Marden Sports Complex
Attendance: 1,105
Referee: Rebecca Durcau
31 January 2021 Melbourne City 2–3 Brisbane Roar Melbourne
16:05 AEDT
Report Stadium: AAMI Park
Attendance: 1,975
Referee: Casey Reibelt
31 January 2021 Sydney FC 2–0 Newcastle Jets Sydney
18:05 AEDT
Report Stadium: Cromer Park
Attendance: 1,329
Referee: Kelly Jones

Round 7

4 February 2021 Melbourne City 0–2 Sydney FC Melbourne
19:05 AEDT Report
Stadium: AAMI Park
Referee: Isabella Blaess
7 February 2021 Western Sydney Wanderers 2–2 Adelaide United Sydney
16:05 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Marconi Stadium
Attendance: 415
Referee: Rebecca Durcau
7 February 2021 Melbourne Victory 4–2 Newcastle Jets Morwell
18:05 AEDT
Report Stadium: Latrobe City Stadium
Attendance: 413
Referee: Isabella Libri
8 February 2021 Sydney FC 4–0 Canberra United Sydney
16:35 AEDT
Report Stadium: Jubilee Oval
Attendance: 1,337
Referee: Georgia Ghirardello

Round 8

11 February 2021 Western Sydney Wanderers 1–2 Brisbane Roar Sydney
19:05 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Marconi Stadium
Attendance: 494
Referee: Casey Reibelt
14 February 2021 Sydney FC 1–4 Brisbane Roar Sydney
16:05 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Leichhardt Oval
Attendance: 1,126
Referee: Lara Lee
14 February 2021 Adelaide United 2–1 Canberra United Adelaide
17:35 ACDT
Report
Stadium: Marden Sports Complex
Attendance: 969
Referee: Isabella Blaess

Round 9

30 January 2021 Canberra United 3–0 Western Sydney Wanderers Canberra
17:05 AEDT
Report Stadium: Viking Park
Attendance: 1,049
Referee: Lara Lee
18 February 2021 Western Sydney Wanderers 1–0 Perth Glory Sydney
19:10 AEDT
Report Stadium: Marconi Stadium
Attendance: 413
Referee: Rachel Mitchenson
20 February 2021 Newcastle Jets 0–2 Melbourne Victory Newcastle
15:05 AEDT Report Stadium: No. 2 Sportsground
Attendance: 652
Referee: Casey Reibelt
21 February 2021 Sydney FC 2–1 Adelaide United Sydney
16:05 AEDT
Report Stadium: Cromer Park
Attendance: 1,087
Referee: Rebecca Durcau
21 February 2021 Brisbane Roar 4–0 Perth Glory Brisbane
17:05 AEST
Report Stadium: Lions Stadium
Attendance: 1,639
Referee: Kelly Jones

Round 10

25 February 2021 Western Sydney Wanderers 1–0 Melbourne City Parramatta
19:05 AEDT
Report Stadium: Wanderers Centre of Football
Attendance: 334
Referee: Isabella Blaess
25 February 2021 Perth Glory 2–6 Sydney FC Perth
18:35 AWST
Report
Stadium: Dorrien Gardens
Attendance: 510
Referee: Isabella Libri
26 February 2021 Newcastle Jets 1–2 Adelaide United Newcastle
17:05 AEDT
Report
Stadium: No. 2 Sportsground
Attendance: 652
Referee: Lara Lee
28 February 2021 Melbourne Victory 1–1 Canberra United Melbourne
16:05 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Epping Stadium
Attendance: 562
Referee: Kelly Jones

Round 11

6 March 2021 Adelaide United 2–0 Sydney FC Adelaide
18:35 ACDT
Report Stadium: Marden Sports Complex
Attendance: 987
Referee: Casey Reibelt
7 March 2021 Canberra United 4–1 Brisbane Roar Canberra
16:05 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Viking Park
Attendance: 1,161
Referee: Rebecca Durcau
8 March 2021 Perth Glory 0–4 Newcastle Jets Perth
18:35 AWST Report
Stadium: Dorrien Gardens
Attendance: 310
Referee: Rachel Mitchenson

Round 12

11 March 2021 Melbourne City 0–4 Western Sydney Wanderers Melbourne
18:05 AEDT Report
Stadium: Frank Holohan Soccer Complex
Attendance: 547
Referee: Casey Reibelt
12 March 2021 Perth Glory 2–3 Canberra United Canberra
18:05 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Viking Park
Attendance: 942
Referee: Lara Lee
12 March 2021 Brisbane Roar 4–2 Adelaide United Brisbane
20:05 AEST
Report
Stadium: Lions Stadium
Attendance: 1,791
Referee: Isabella Blaess
14 March 2021 Melbourne City 1–0 Newcastle Jets Melbourne
16:05 AEDT
Report Stadium: Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Attendance: 326
Referee: Isabella Libri
16 March 2021 Perth Glory 0–1 Melbourne Victory Perth
18:35 AWST Report
Stadium: Dorrien Gardens
Attendance: 250
Referee: Rebecca Durcau

Round 13

19 March 2021 Perth Glory 0–1 Melbourne City Perth
18:35 AWST Report
Stadium: Dorrien Gardens
Attendance: 271
Referee: Kelly Jones
20 March 2021 Newcastle Jets 0–1 Canberra United Newcastle
17:35 AEDT Report
Stadium: No. 2 Sportsground
Attendance: 437
Referee: Rachel Mitchenson
21 March 2021 Adelaide United 3–1 Western Sydney Wanderers Adelaide
15:35 ACDT
Report
Stadium: Coopers Stadium
Attendance: 5,159
Referee: Lara Lee

Round 14

26 March 2021 Canberra United 0–0 Sydney FC Canberra
17:35 AEDT Report Stadium: Viking Park
Attendance: 1,411
Referee: Rebecca Durcau
28 March 2021 Melbourne Victory 6–0 Perth Glory Melbourne
16:05 AEDT
Report Stadium: Epping Stadium
Attendance: 508
Referee: Rebecca Mackie
28 March 2021 Brisbane Roar 3–0 Newcastle Jets Brisbane
17:05 AEST
Report Stadium: Lions Stadium
Attendance: 1,895
Referee: Georgia Ghirardello
31 March 2021 Sydney 2–1 Melbourne Victory Sydney
19:35 AEDT
Report Stadium: Cromer Park
Attendance: 1,111
Referee: Casey Reibelt

Finals series

Semi-finals

4 April 2021 Brisbane Roar2–6 Melbourne Victory Brisbane
16:00 AEST
Report
Stadium: Lions Stadium
Attendance: 1,985
Referee: Lara Lee
5 April 2021 Sydney FC 3–0Canberra UnitedSydney
15:00 AEST
Report Stadium: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Referee: Isabella Blaess

Grand final

Sydney FC0–1 (a.e.t.)Melbourne Victory
Report Cooney-Cross 120'
Attendance: 4,619
Referee: Rebecca Durcau[30]

Regular season statistics

Leading goalscorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Australia Emily Gielnik Brisbane Roar 13
2 Australia Michelle Heyman Canberra United 10
3 Australia Remy Siemsen Sydney FC 7
4 Australia Tara Andrews Newcastle Jets 5
Australia Melina Ayres Melbourne Victory
Australia Kyra Cooney-Cross Melbourne Victory
Australia Chelsie Dawber Adelaide United
United States Catherine Zimmerman Melbourne Victory
9 Australia Emily Condon Adelaide United 4
Australia Nickoletta Flannery Canberra United
Australia Rosie Galea Western Sydney Wanderers
Brazil Mariel Hecher Brisbane Roar
Australia Princess Ibini-Isei Sydney FC
Australia Cortnee Vine Sydney FC

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date Ref.
Australia Michelle Heyman Canberra United Adelaide United 4–3 (H) 30 December 2020 [31]
Australia Emily Gielnik Brisbane Roar Adelaide United 4–2 (H) 12 March 2021 [32]
Key
(H) Home team

Finals series statistics

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date Ref.
Australia Melina Ayres Melbourne Victory Brisbane Roar 6–2 (A) 4 April 2021 [33]
Notes
  • (A) – Away team

End-of-season awards

The following end of the season awards were announced at the 2020–21 Dolan Warren Awards night on 23 June 2021.[34][35]

See also


References

  1. ^ a b c "Westfield W-League Season to kick off December 29 with NEW broadcast agreement". Football Australia. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  2. ^ Filosi, Gianluca (19 December 2020). "Holmes honoured to be new Reds Captain". Adelaide United.
  3. ^ Odong, Ann (15 December 2020). "Clare Polkinghorne back to lead Brisbane Roar". Football Federation Australia.
  4. ^ "Ins & Outs: Season opener". Brisbane Roar. 28 December 2020. ...Clare Polkinghorne who will once again don the armband for the 2020/21 campaign...
  5. ^ "Fuel Your Life join as new Westfield W-League front-of-shirt partner". Brisbane Roar. 4 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Kendall to captain Canberra in 2020/21". Canberra United. 28 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Our Partners". Canberra United. Archived from the original on 14 March 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  8. ^ "DKD Consulting to sponsor Canberra United in upcoming Westfield W-League season". Canberra United. 18 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Team news: City confirm round 1 squads and lock in captains". Melbourne City. 28 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Manchester City replaces Nike with Puma in kit deal". BBC News. 28 February 2019.
  11. ^ Our first fixture may have changed a couple of times, but one thing didn't... our determination to make an early statement!. Twitter (Video). Melbourne Victory. 1 January 2021. Event occurs at 1:13. [Angela Beard Melbourne Victory Captain] ...and obviously me, as a fresh captain
  12. ^ "Melbourne Victory extends partnership with adidas". Melbourne Victory. 6 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Melbourne Victory and Fuel Your Life stand as one". Melbourne Victory. 25 September 2020.
  14. ^ Newcastle Jets [@NewcastleJetsFC] (18 December 2020). "The Newcastle Jets are pleased to announce that Gema Simon and Cassidy Davis will be co-captains of this year's W-League side" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "Newcastle Jets announces new partnership with Apelle". Newcastle Jets. 15 December 2020. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Captain Tash is back on board!". Perth Glory. 25 November 2020.
  17. ^ Morgan, Gareth (15 January 2021). "Glory confirms four-year extension to Macron partnership". Perth Glory.
  18. ^ "Sydney FC Unveil Westfield W-League Squad For 2020/21". Sydney FC. 13 August 2020. It's an honour to continue as Captain, Sydney FC is my home...
  19. ^ "Sydney FC In Australian First Partnership With Under Armour". Sydney FC. 1 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Sydney FC & The Star Sydney Sign Four Year Deal". Sydney FC. 8 October 2019.
  21. ^ "McGowan and Cooper named club captains". Western Sydney Wanderers. 23 December 2020.
  22. ^ "Halloway re-signs". Western Sydney Wanderers. 10 February 2021. Halloway's return will see her resume her captaincy duties, sharing responsibilities with co-captain Caitlin Cooper for the remainder of the season.
  23. ^ "Wanderers announce three-year partnership with Kappa Australia". Western Sydney Wanderers. 17 September 2020.
  24. ^ "Wanderers announce Westfield W-League major partnership with Intermain". Western Sydney Wanderers. Football Federation Australia. 26 September 2019.
  25. ^ Bertoldo, Lucie (6 February 2020). "Canberra United W-League coach Heather Garriock sacked". The Canberra Times.
  26. ^ Helmers, Caden (31 July 2020). "Vicki Linton leads Canberra United's new era as W-League coach". The Canberra Times.
  27. ^ a b "United appoint Head of Women's Football and announce new Head Coach". Adelaide United. 4 August 2020.
  28. ^ Morgan, Gareth (2 November 2020). "Despotovski steps down as W-League Head Coach". Perth Glory.
  29. ^ "Coaching rising star appointed Glory W-League boss". The World Game. SBS. 20 November 2020.
  30. ^ Kemp, Emma (11 April 2021). "Melbourne Victory beat Sydney FC to W-League title at the death of extra-time – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  31. ^ "Canberra United Women vs Adelaide United Women, Westfield W-League, Round 1, 30th Dec 2020". Westfield W-League. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  32. ^ Comito, Matthew (12 March 2021). "Gielnik hat-trick inspires rampant Roar to big win over Reds". W-League. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  33. ^ "'Disgrace': Roar aggrieved as Victory reach W-League grand final". The Guardian. 4 April 2021.
  34. ^ Monteverde, Marco (23 June 2021). "A-League: Milos Ninkovic and Ulises Davila share Johnny Warren medal honours". The Australian.
  35. ^ "See who picked up the top honours from the Dolan Warren Awards 2021". W-League. 23 June 2021.