From a very young age it was clear that Sydney FC and Matildas’ striker Kyah Simon was a very special player.  The NSWIS graduate appeared to have it all; technical ability, electrifying pace and that all important eye for goal.

A stellar season for Simon | Cam Wheeler

“Everyone acknowledges she runs on jet fuel, which burns at twice the speed, but the havoc she creates in her 20 or 30 minutes is brilliant.” - Craig Foster, SBS Football Analyst

Picture this:

You are 18 years old and have been playing football for just two years and a goalkeeper for just six months. You are the first team's reserve goalkeeper and the team has just been promoted to the WA Women's Premier League.

Leading into the next game, the starting 'keeper is ruled out and your in. You're excited right?   Then you find out you are playing the Stirling Reds, the dominant side in the competition, and their striker is Lisa De Vanna.

De Vanna in full flight for the Matildas | Cam Wheeler

Brisbane's Tameka Butt started off the season on fire as she and her team mates carved up Canberra United in the grand final replay.  Since that match it has been a tougher road for Butt and her Roar team mates with midfielder/striker battling hamstring problems.

After some intense work Tameka is back and, as her game against Perth proved, it won't be long before 18 year is back to best.

During the period women’s football was in the wilderness with no national competition in sight, the women’s game lost some talented players to the sport for good.  Luckily for the game, and for Melbourne Victory, their captain Tal Karp could be cajoled out of retirement to wear the captain’s armband.

Tal is from the previous generation of Australian women footballers and Matildas who battled hard and laid the path for the current generation.  With her compatriots, including Cheryl Salisbury, Dianne Alagich and Joey Peters retiring, the game is lucky to still have Karp and her experience could be invaluable as the Victory gun for a finals place.