Season one of the W-League could not have gone any better for Brisbane Roar.  The Roar only dropped one match on their way to the title and will go in as season two favourites.  Coach Jeff Hopkins has the unenviable task of producing a sequel that is equal or better than the original.  Having said that, the Roar are well poised to do just that.

There are a couple of new faces in this year’s squad including ex-Matildas defender Pam Bignold, Aivi Luik and locals Leah Curtis and Emily Gielnik.  Brisbane has also added to their contingent of Matildas with midfielder Jo Burgess lured away from Sydney FC.



Brisbane Roar’s strength is their evenness all across the park.  Goalkeeper Casey Dumont and her defensive unit, boasting Clare Polkinghorne, Kate McShea and Karla Reuter, conceded the fewest goals (7) in season one with five clean sheets.

The defensive line was backed up by a formidable midfield led by the W-League Player of the Year, Lana Harch.  Harch, a creative playmaker, had considerable support through Matildas Tameka Butt, Lauren Colthorpe and Elise Kellond-Knight.  Headed by Courtney Beutel, Roar’s forwards were the beneficiaries of the supply and netted the highest number of goals for the season.

These are few and yet to be fully exploited.  With impressive depth and flexibility, they are a difficult unit to break down but it has been done.  To do so will require quick and efficient ball movement to get in behind the defence as was evident when Perth Glory, headed by the lightening Lisa DeVanna, placed 3 past them.

The second weakness, albeit a minor one, is that Roar are a known entity.  The other seven sides have made significant changes to their squads and will be unknown quantities.  Roar have maintained a large majority of their championship winning side and the other teams have a fair idea of what to expect leaving them open to ambush.

Admittedly that is easier said than done!

Clare Polkinghorne plays football a lot like her side; hard and uncompromising.


Clare Polkinghorne

“I suppose as a player I am not the most skilful, otherwise I would probably be in the midfield or scoring the goals.  I have to work hard on other areas and I like to be very physical.”

This season Polkinghorne adds to the Roar captaincy to the already long list of achievements.

“It came as bit of a surprise so it hasn't really sunk it.  I suppose when I lead the team out on Saturday it will all sink in.  But with the team we've got we have 11 leaders out on the field so I don't think there will be anything different on the field.  We all look to each other for support on the field so I don't think it will be too much different.”

Roar are the shortest of favourites for the title but complacency is not an issue.

“The players in our team have some unbelievable skill and commitment and I think what we do at the Roar is play for each other.  We work hard for each other and once we do the hard work the results just speak for themselves.  I think that is the key to our play, we want to go out there and look each other in the eye when we come off the field and say we have done out best and that's all we can ask for.”

Marshalling the Roar’s defence, Clare Polkinghorne’s performances will be sure to mirror Brisbane’s results. 

“Whether I am wearing the captain's armband or not I will give everything I've got so hopefully I can lead by example and the other girls can feed off me.”

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