Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has announced its annual player-voted PFA A-League Women Team of the Season ahead of this Sunday’s Grand Final between Melbourne Victory and Central Coast Mariners.
The squad – made up of 18 players and a coach – features four players who will feature in this weekend’s decider, which will kick off at 3.15pm at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon.
Victory’s Kayla Morrison is in the squad for the fourth time in her career, alongside teammates Alex Chidiac and Courtney Newbon, while Central Coast’s Isabel Gomez caps off a fantastic season by securing a maiden appearance in the Team of the Season.
Gomez scored the decisive extra-time goal against Premiers Melbourne City to secure passage to the Grand Final.
Reigning premiers Melbourne City also have seven representatives in the squad following an ‘invincible’ regular season campaign, including Holly McNamara who was named captain after receiving the most votes from her peers, while fellow semi-finalists Adelaide United also have five players named.
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The Team
The team comprises of a 4-3-3 formation, with seven substitutes on the bench. All selected players received the most votes among their peers by PFA A-League Women members at the conclusion of the regular season. The members also voted on their coach of the season.
The Captain
Holly McNamara’s remarkable season has been capped off by being voted the Captain of the Team of the Season by her peers. McNamara received the most votes from the players.
McNamara – who makes her second appearance in the PFA Team of the Season – bounced back from a season-ending knee injury which curtailed her 2023-24 campaign. The Matildas forward registered an incredible season in Melbourne City’s attack, helping the team go undefeated and secure the Premiers Plate.
Despite having a delayed start to the season, McNamara still emerged as the league’s top scorer, scoring 15 goals in 18 appearances. The 22-year old’s goal haul earned her the A-League Women’s Golden Boot.
“I am extremely grateful to be voted by my peers as the Captain of the PFA A-League Women Team of the Season,” McNamara said.
“I wouldn’t have been in this position had it not been for the support of my teammates at Melbourne City who have helped me flourish in this amazing squad since returning from injury.
“We’ve achieved so many great things as a team this year; winning the Premiership, going undefeated for 24 straight games and being on the precipice of success in Asia.
“To be recognised by the broader player community and sit alongside so many incredible names to have been named captain in the past is a tremendous honour.”
The Goalkeeper
Adelaide United’s Claudia Jenkins‘ breakout season has been recognised by the players, with the Reds’ custodian registering the most votes among all goalkeepers to be named the starting shot-stopper in the Team of the Season.
Jenkins’ performances were a standout all season for the Reds. She recorded the second-highest number of clean sheets in the league (8), making 88 saves. Jenkins also won the PFA Player of the Month in January and received a maiden call-up to the New Zealand national team during the season.
The Defenders
Melbourne City trio Rebekah Stott, Taylor Otto and Alexia Apostolakis have been rewarded for their brilliant season for the reigning Premiers by being voted as three of the starting defenders in the Team of the Season.
This is the third time Stott has appeared in the PFA Team of the Season, making it back-to-back appearances in the starting back-four. Otto – who was on the bench last season – earns her second consecutive appearance in the squad and Apostolakis’ breakout first season at City has been rewarded with a first appearance in the Team of the Season.
They’re joined by influential Melbourne Victory captain Kayla Morrison, who helped her side secure the League’s best defensive record.
The Midfielders
Tameka Yallop’s campaign has been recognised with a second appearance in the PFA Team of the Season. The Brisbane Roar midfielder starred for the Queensland club, scoring 12 goals from midfield and finishing third in the Golden Boot.
Yallop is joined by Central Coast Mariners’ Isabel Gomez and Melbourne Citymidfielder Laura Hughes. Gomez made an enormous impact for the Mariners, winning the PFA Player of the Month twice in November and March and tallying nine goal contributions (six goals, three assists) – including the goal which sent the Mariners to the Grand Final.
Meanwhile, Hughes was a key part of City’s engine room across their undefeated season.
The Forwards
McNamara is joined in attack by all-time leading A-League Women’s goalscorer Michelle Heyman and Adelaide United’s Erin Healy.
Heyman – who was the captain of the Team of the Season last year – had another quality campaign, scoring eight goals. This is Heyman’s fourth time being voted in the Team of the Season.
Healy scored eight goals for the season and helped forge a brilliant attacking tandem with Fiona Worts, Emily Condon and Chelsie Dawber.
The Substitutes
Victory’s Alex Chidiac has secured a record fifth appearance in the PFA Team of the Season. Chidiac has equaled Australian football great Clare Polkinghorne for the most appearances (5) in the A-League Women Team of the Season.
Chidiac joins her teammate, Victory goalkeeper Courtney Newbon, who registered the most league clean sheets (11), and Adelaide United trio Fiona Worts, Lucia Leon and Ella Tonkin.
Annalie Longo – who recently announced her retirement – also makes the squad for the first time following a quality campaign with Wellington Phoenix, as does Melbourne City’s Leticia McKenna.
The Coach
In his first season as an A-Leagues coach, Michael Matricciani led Melbourne City to an undefeated Premiership campaign and a spot in the Women’s Asian Champions League semi-finals, earning him Coach of the Year honours as he succeeds last year’s winner, Dario Vidosic.
About the PFA Team of the Season
The inaugural PFA A-League Team of the Season was announced in 2009 and has been revealed annually in the A-Leagues Finals Series. Based on peer recognition, selection in the PFA Team of the Season remains one of the highest accolades a professional footballer can receive in Australia.
At the end of each season, PFA members from the A-Leagues are asked to vote on their best XI. The composition of the team is based on the number of votes tallied for each player in each position, with the substitutes bench comprising those players who finished below those in the starting XI positions. The player with the most votes is determined the Team of the Season’s captain.
