2022 is a new season and the Grace Martin Trophy competition has expended to an impressive 12 team competition.
The competition will play like a tradition round robin for the first 11 rounds with every team playing each other once. After that, the league will split into two: with a top six and bottom six forming their own division.
Ahead of the season getting fully underway, we spoke to each team to get the low-down on how they are shaping up for the season.
Balmain A
Balmain A are a relatively new squad with six new players joining them this season. Coming up from Division 2, the team will be looking to remain competitive all season and develop both as a squad and as individual players.
A key signing for them is attacking midfielder, Emma McCarthy, who joins them from competition heavyweights, Leichhardt Saints.
This Balmain team is a real family affair with four groups of sisters including the Bogatais, the Goldsmiths, the Hobbs, and the Faulkners.
Concord A
The journey for this Concord A team to become the first team in the club to play in the Grace Martin Trophy for many years is a great lesson in teams sticking together.
Many of the players in the squad have been together since the age of seven-years-old, having moved up the age groups and division together – even competing in the Kanga Cup as juniors.
While there has been some player movement due to Covid and university commitments, the core of the playing squad remains and it will be this long history together (and strong team culture) that could be the telling point as they look to compete in finals football.
From the outset, the team had the full support from the club to enter and compete in the Grace Martin Trophy and with two Concord teams in the league now – they anticipate being a surprise packet for the opposition this season.
Concord B
The Concord B team is going to be a mystery to all opposition teams in the opening rounds. Not only is it their first time competing in the Grace Martin Trophy, 2022 will be their first time competing a full season of AAW football after last year’s season was ended prematurely due to Covid.
To add to the mystery, rain cancelled all the side’s planned pre-season matches – meaning no-one would be able to get a glimpse of the team before Round 1.
The team itself is quietly confident with the goal to remain in the top six after the division gets split into two (and a secondary goal of getting as many nutmegs against opposition players as possible).
Cooks River Titans
Cooks River Titans are the veterans of the competition with an average of 44-years-old in the squad with two players being over 50.
This is not as limitation though, with the experience of so many season of football something that could give the Titans and edge over less-experienced opponents.
While suggesting that a position in the top six might be too much for them this season, the team have their sights on a top two position in the bottom six when the league splits. To achieve this, the team started training late in 2021 and are focussed on achieving their goal under two well-organised coaches.
Enfield
Enfield are a potential dark horse coming into this season. Coached will and with some quality signings – opposition teams will be keeping a keen eye on how Enfield perform in their opening games.
Striving for a finals position, their title charge has been boosted by the signings of former Marconi player, Isla Susino, and Jasmine Maxwell. Together they bring a combination of experience, leadership, and pace to the team.
Hurlstone Park Wanderers
It’s a new-look Hurlstone Park Wanderers with the traditional Grace Martin Trophy title contenders going through a transition / development phase.
A new coach and a new squad sees a combination of exciting new signings joining a strong contingent of returning players – including stalwart Maree Paradisis who will play her 100th Grace Martin Trophy game this season.
They key to Hurlstone Par this season will be their new signings – with how they perform potentially the difference between a top two finish and missing out on the top six.
The new signings are a combination of inter-club promotions, a pair of signings from the St George District and even some interstate / international signings, such as Aino Lumiaro from Finland and Rachel Watson from Brisbane.
With a proud history in the Grace Martin Trophy, there are high expectation at Wanderers so the new squad will look to gel as quickly as possible.
Leichhardt Saints A
The six-time defending champions line-up for another tilt at the championship with a lot of new faces.
With the rain putting a dent on the team’s preparations, how quickly their new players can gel with the squad will play a big part in seeing if Saints can be as dominant as they have been in the past.
One familiar face who will be back on the field again is Mia Vallieres who missed out on last season. Vallieres will be a key feature in Leichhardt’s backline while Elissa Sugunanathan joins the team from Sydney University and will offer youth and flair in the attacking third.
Leichhardt Saints B
Leichardt Saints B team have been competing together since U10s in 2011 and this will be their first season in the Grace Martin Trophy, and only their second season in senior football.
While not strictly the same squad that came together 11 years ago, the core remains meaning the team is quite young with an age range of only 19-25.
A major change for the team is in the coaching ranks, after two years of coaching themselves the team has brought in a coach this year to help guide them through the Grace Martin Trophy competition and to get the best out of themselves.
Strathfield
With no Bill Brackenbury Cup team at Strathfield this season, the Grace Martin Trophy team is the only top division side at the club this season. It’s something the team is proud of and is looking forward to having a women’s team flying the flag high for the club.
The Strathfield squad has some new faces this year and are motivated to work hard and prove that some of their impressive results last season were not a coincidence.
Other teams
Balmain B, Canterbury Juniors, and Russell Lea are all competing in the Grace Martin Trophy this season but were unable to submit information in time for this preview to be published.
Feature image credit: Photographed with Love
