W-League: 2014/15 Team of the Year

Another season of highly entertaining Westfield W-League action has almost come to an end with the Grand Final between Perth Glory and Canberra United primed for this Sunday (3pm on ABC 1).

This of course means the always controversial W-League Team of the Year from The Football Sack.

L-to-r: Shelina Zadorsky, Bronwyn Studman and Gabe Marzano. Image provided by Football West.

With writers covering every W-League team this season for The Football Sack, the W-League Team of the Year has revamped its selection process from previous editions.

Between ten writers The Football Sack has watched every single match of the season live and for the first time all ten have come together to collectively decide the Team of the Year.

Think we’ve still got it wrong? Tell us in the comments section below, on Facebook or on Twitter!

Some of the Contenders

Goalkeepers
Brianna Davey – Melbourne Victory. One of the W-League’s premier keepers. Missed games through injury but still managed to stand out.
Chantel Jones – Canberra United. American with a dominating presence in goal, possesses a massive goal kick.
Mackenzie Arnold – Perth Glory. Returned to Perth after two seasons in the East and conceded just eight goals for the season.
Melissa Barbieri – Adelaide United. The veteran goalkeeper again proved an inspiration to her young teammates.

Centre Backs
Alanna Kennedy – Perth Glory. The Matildas representative showed why she is one of the brightest young prospects in the country with another consistently strong season.
Clare Polkinghorne – Brisbane Roar. Played more in the backline than in recent seasons and didn’t miss a beat. Backbone of the Brisbane squad.
Ellie Brush – Canberra United. Gritty and experienced defender, always a threat from set pieces.
Lauren Barnes – Melbourne Victory. Returned after her successful five-game stint last year and excelled in defence.
Renee Rollason – Sydney FC. Possibly the final season for the Sydney FC legend and she made it one to remember.
Shelina Zadorsky – Perth Glory. A Canadian international who was rock solid in defence.

Wing Backs
Bronwyn Studman – Perth Glory. Relished a move from centre back to wing back and was one of the W-League's most improved players.
Elli Reed – Melbourne Victory. Part of the Victory’s American trio, Reed was a rock in defence all year.
Georgia Yeoman-Dale – Newcastle Jets. Joined from Canberra this season and made a massive impact on the right wing. Gave the illusion she was always playing in the forwards and defence at the same time.
Jenna McCormick – Adelaide United. The wingback built on a solid breakout season last year to improve even further.
Sally Rojahn – Canberra United. Hardworking youngster, always does her job for the team.
Sarah Carroll – Perth Glory. Speed and composure was a highlight of another promising season for this Perth youngster.
Steph Catley – Melbourne Victory. The Victory captain put in the most consistent season of her career and even managed to bag a couple of goals from defense.

Defensive Midfielders
Angela Salem – Newcastle Jets. Salem may have been one of the truest all round players in the comp this season.
Collette McCallum – Perth Glory. An impressive return from a serious knee injury for one of the W-League's classiest leaders.
Emily van Egmond – Newcastle Jets. Unyielding in midfield, Van Egmond was the anchor for the Jets; claiming goals and assists, often from nothing.
Gema Simon – Melbourne Victory. The midfield anchor (when she wasn’t playing elsewhere in the XI). Impressed in her first year at Victory.
Teresa Polias – Sydney FC. Always solid in the midfield. Sydney’s anchor.

Attacking Midfielders
Christine Nairn – Melbourne Victory. The American import was an assist machine in her first season in Australia. Phenomenal passing game.
Katrina Gorry – Brisbane Roar. The Asian Player of the Year was a shining light in a poor Brisbane side this season.
Keelin Winters – Western Sydney Wanderers. The Seattle Reign captain played a more advanced role than she’s used to. Was invaluable to her young teammates.
Lori Lindsey – Canberra United. Veteran midfielder, everything Canberra does goes through her.
Rhali Dobson – Newcastle Jets. Dobson’s skills at breaking down defence and linking up with the centre players is unmatched at Newcastle.

Wing Forwards
Ashleigh Sykes – Canberra United. A pacey winger, capable of creating something out of nothing.
Caitlin Foord – Perth Glory. Created regular headaches for opposition wing backs with her pace and ball skills.
Hayley Raso – Brisbane Roar. Had her most consistent season since making her debut. Lightning fast and with a cracking strike.
Helen Petinos – Western Sydney Wanderers. Has the potential to become a valuable goal scorer. Was a bright point in a poor Wanderers attacking line-up.
Jasmyne Spencer – Sydney FC. Scored some of the league’s most spectacular goals ever in her first season in Australia.
Sam Kerr – Perth Glory. Speedy attacker who scored 11 goals for the season, including eight in her last four matches, before her campaign was cruelly cut short by injury.
Stephanie Ochs – Canberra United. Winger from the U.S. able to play at both ends.

Centre Forwards
Kate Gill – Perth Glory. Found the back of the net 12 times, including a record five goals in a single match, to take out her second Golden Boot award in three seasons.
Kristie Moore – Adelaide United. Scored crucial goals for her side. A great final season before retirement.
Rachael Quigley – Melbourne Victory. Made the switch from Adelaide to Melbourne and brought the goals with her too.
Tara Andrews – Newcastle Jets. Six goals in 12 games showed just how much vice-captain Andrews dominated at the front for the Jets.

Coaches
Jamie Harnwell – Perth Glory. It takes a good coach to control good players and the Glory legend did it with aplomb this season.
Peter McGuiness – Newcastle Jets. Took a side of relative unknowns and got them to within a whisker of finals while playing good football.

W-League Team of the Year

Goalkeeper: Brianna Davey

Centre Backs: Ellie Brush & Alanna Kennedy

Wing Backs: Caitlin Foord & Steph Catley

Defensive Midfielder: Emily van Egmond

Attacking Midfielders: Christine Nairn & Katrina Gorry

Wing Forwards: Jasmyne Spencer & Sam Kerr

Centre Forward: Kate Gill

Coach: Peter McGuiness
Assistant Coach: Jamie Harnwell

Bench: Mackenzie Arnold, Renee Rollason, Collette McCallum, Georgia Yeoman-Dale, Rachael Quigley

Awards
Best Defender: Alanna Kennedy
Best Midfielder: Katrina Gorry
Best Forward: Kate Gill
Player of the Season: Kate Gill
Young Player of the Season: Sam Kerr