Canterbury United Pride the team to beat

The 2017 edition of the National Women’s League football competition begins this weekend, kicking off a two-month campaign that culminates in a pre-final (second v third) on December 3, and a final on December 10.

Canterbury United Pride are the defending champions, after beating Capital 2-0 in last year’s decider. NORTHERN Coach: Hayley Stirling

Goalkeepers: Emily Couchman, Anna Leat Defenders: Claudia Bunge, Shayden Cathro, Bernadette Goulding, Casey Klyn, Hannah Mackay-Wright, Stacey Martin, Aneka Mittendorff, Saskia Vosper

Midfielders: Anya Gross, Kate Loye, Vegas McCaroll, Milly McWhirter, Catherine Pretty, Liz Savage, Malia Steinmetz Forwards: Jane Barnett, Cara Lonergan, Arabella Maynard, Jess Oulaghan, Trudy Sandle, Dayna Stevens, Sam Tawharu Last year:

Fourth - four wins, two losses; 21 goals for, nine against Draw: v Central, @ Auckland, v Central, @ WaiBop, v Canterbury, @ Northern

For the first time in years, Northern aren’t going to be able to rely on Katie Rood for goals, with the prolific striker now at Juventus in Italy. Midfielders Kate Loye and Liz Savage (nee Milne) ran the game for Glenfield Rovers in the National Women’s Knockout Cup final, and will be key figures if Northern are to bounce back, after missing the finals last time around. As always, there are plenty of age-group internationals involved, including promising midfielder Malia Steinmetz. Andrew Voerman

AUCKLAND

Coach: Gemma Lewis Goalkeepers: Nadia Olla, Brooke

Wylie Defenders: Liz Anton, Georgia Brown, Kate Carlton, Georgia Martin, Megan Robertson, Ally Toailoa, Amy Waters, Erinna Wong Midfielders:

Hannah Blake, Emily Gillion, Grace Jale, Nicole Mettam, Margot Ramsay, Lily Taitimu Forwards: Britney Cunningham-Lee, Maisy Dewell, Lily Dowsett, Kathryn Gow, Jacqui Hand, Tayla O’Brien, Maxine Rawnsley, Steph Skilton Last year: Fifth - two wins, four losses; 16 goals for, 19 against Draw: @ Southern, v Capital, Bye, @ Central, v WaiBop, @ Canterbury, v Northern

On paper, Auckland potentially have the strongest squad in the country, featuring a wealth of agegroup internationals - including the core of the current under-20 squad as well as a number of experienced hands. The big question will be how quickly they can gel, given they are largely starting afresh, unlike most of their rivals for a place in the finals. AV WAIKATO-BAY OF PLENTY Coach: Barry Gardiner

Goalkeepers: Georgia Candy, Angelique Tui Samoa, Amanda Wilshier Defenders: Grace Cox, Michaela Foster, Eileish Hayes, Tiana Hill, Toni Power, Hannah Reid, Kat Robinson, Kate Williams Midfielders:

Emma Cawte, Leah Gubb, Sarah Krystman, Sarah McLaughlin, Georgia Nixon, Leanna Ryan, Helen Talbot

Forwards: Kelli Brown, Chelsea Elliott, Ella Golding, Kim Maguire, Danaya McKenzie, Grace Wisnewski

Last year: Third - four wins, one draw, one loss; 20 goals for, 15 against

Draw: @ Canterbury, v Northern, @ Southern, v Capital, @ Auckland, v Central, Bye

Surprised more than a few people by making it to the finals last year, with the same record as the winners, Canterbury, and the runners up, Capital, who they lost to in the prefinal only on penalties. They have lost Helen Arjomandi from last year’s squad, who is taking the summer off, and will miss her goals and experience, but they have gained Sarah McLaughlin, who is making her return from successive serious knee injuries. Despite losing Arjomandi, they have great continuity, which will be key as they try to keep the likes of Auckland and Northern at bay. AV CENTRAL Coach: Simon Lees

Goalkeepers: Brooke Bennett, Aoife Gallagher-Forbes, Courtney Norman

Defenders: Jenna Barry, Mackenzie Barry, Rose Morton, Sarah Morton, Evie Newman, Amber Phillips, Kate Watson, Molly Woodhead

Midfielders: Aimee Atkins, Emma Crewe, Sophie Crewe, Leah Gallie, Anna Hinton, Ella James, Aniela Jensen, Chantelle Lebon Forwards: Georgia Barnett, Meisha Boone, Aleesha Heywood, Tilly James, Hannah Robert Last year: Sixth - one win, one draw, four losses; five goals for, 17 against Draw: @ Northern, v Southern, @ Capital, v Auckland, Bye, @ WaiBop, v Canterbury

The return of Simon Lees as coach after three years away is a cause for Central to be optimistic. He took the team to fourth place last time he was in charge in 2013, and will be hopeful of getting the best out of a side that consists largely of players from the Palmerston North Marist club. George Heagney CAPITAL Coach: Emma Evans

Goalkeepers: Natasha Ingram, Cushla Litchwark Defenders: Katie Barrott, Libby Boobyer, Ellen Fibbes, Francesca Grange, Emma Lavery, Serena Murrihy, Tessa McPherson, Carolyn O’Reilly, Rosie Wild, Ella Wilson Midfielders: Kennedy Bryant, Maya Hahn, Bex Jefferies, Maggie Jenkins, Lena de Ronde, Emily Stotter, Asha Strom, Forwards: Sarah Gregorius, Klara Gronevik, Emma Main, Jade Morrissey, Michaela Robertson Last year: Second - four wins, one draw, one loss; 16 goals for, eight against Draw: Bye, @ Auckland, v Central, @ WaiBop, v Canterbury, @ Northern, v Southern

Last year’s beaten finalists look even stronger this year. The return of New Zealand under-20 defender Serena Murrihy from WaiBop strengthens what was already a stingy defence. Up front, they’ve lost Briar Palmer, but have a more-than-handy replacement in 82-cap former Football Fern Sarah Gregorius. She scored 36 goals in 17 games in all competitions through the winter, and will join an already potent attack featuring her Upper Hutt teammate Emma Main, and Wellington United’s Swedish forward Klara Gronevik and her teammate Michaela Robertson. Throw in age-group stars Maya Hahn and Maggie Jenkins and it looks like another strong campaign ahead. Liam Hyslop CANTERBURY UNITED PRIDE Coach: Mike De Bono

Goalkeepers: Victoria Esson, Una Foyle, Briar Guyan Defenders:

Emma Clarke, Annie Gilchrist, Rebecca Gillett, Tahlia Herman-Watt, Chloe Jones, Rebecca Lake, Meikayla Moore, Gabrielle Rennie, Marisa van der Meer Midfielders: Beth Elliott, Macey Fraser, Whitney Hepburn, Annalie Longo, Mikayla Wieblitz, Sophie Williams Forwards: Mel Cameron, Britneylee Nicholson, Aimee Phillips, Arna Roberts, Jayda Stewart, Cody Taylor Last year: First - four wins, one draw, one loss; 20 goals for, nine against Draw: v WaiBop, Bye, @ Northern, v Southern, @ Capital, v Auckland, @ Central

The defending champions have set the benchmark in recent years

and again shape as favourites. Football Ferns squad members Victoria Esson, Meikayla Moore, Aimee Phillips and Annalie Longo won’t be available every game, but when they do front, they’ll be crucial to the team’s success. Brendon Egan

SOUTHERN UNITED

Coach: Terry Parle Goalkeepers:

Tessa Nicol, Samantha Richards, Morgan Whitson Defenders: Sophie Dijkstra, Mikaela Hunt, Kelsey Kennard, Coral Seath, Zoe Thomas, Laura Wallis Midfielders: Sophie Aitken, Sam Baldwin, Katie Foulkes, Kirsty Hayr, Eleanor Isaac, Holly Johnstone, Elise Mamanu-Gray, Olivia de Ronde, Shontelle Smith, Eva Zellekens Forwards: Renne Bacon, Mikayla Gray, Aynsley Martin, Emily Morison, Lara Wall Last year:

Seventh; no wins, six losses; nine goals for, 30 against Draw: v Auckland, @ Central, v WaiBop, @ Canterbury, v Northern, Bye, @ Capital

Every game is a cup final for Southern United, who are seeking their first win in this competition since 2013, when they beat the northern-based contingent of the national under-17 side. AV