2025 Grand Final Preview – NPL Women’s NSW
The National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s Grand Final is finally upon us this Saturday at Jubilee Stadium, the Premiers Bulls FC Academy take on APIA Leichhardt.
Two teams that finished the regular season neck and neck and saw the Premiership come down to a final day showdown between the two, will give us another blockbuster this weekend.
They were the best two teams across 26 rounds and deservedly have booked their place in the big dance to try and secure the final trophy of 2025.
As mentioned earlier, the Bulls secured the Premiership with a 2-1 win over APIA in round 26 at Lambert Park.
On that occasion though, the Bulls secured the points and first place after two APIA errors, showing just how tight things were and how costly mistakes were punished.
The Bulls run has been incredible, losing only two games in 20 matches, one of those abandoned with 20 minutes to go.
Marty Garces, his first year in charge of the Bulls, has overseen major changes at the club in 2025 including backroom staff and playing stock and the results have been incredible.
Isabella Coco Di Sipio comes up against her former employers once more, having a break out year in 2025, scoring 17 times in the league this campaign, some of those very important goals.
Another one that could be the difference maker and most definitely was in their last clash was Petria Phillips, scoring a brace on that occasion and taking her season tally into double digits.
Defensively the Bulls have been solid and in no small part to their captain and leader Liz Grey who will face the tough task of keeping Ash Crofts quiet.
Crofts at the other end has 20 goals for the season, another prolific campaign for one of the all time great NPL NSW Women’s strikers.
Her rise in form coincided with APIA’s, also putting up impressive numbers in the second half of the season, only losing to UNSW and the Bulls.
Their midfield trio of Estelle Fragale, Mona Walker and Sophie Hoban is arguably the best in the league and if they can win their battle, APIA will feel one step closer to the only trophy that has eluded them since their rise to the top tier.
Another player that’s seen significant improvement in their game this season is Charlotte Lancaster, who makes her third straight Grand Final appearance (the first being in Bulls colours) will finally look to get the monkey off her back.
Another three former Bulls players will line up for APIA in this one, Jess Seaman, Ash Brodigan and Alyssa Rose.
Brad Attard will look to last season’s disappointment to spear head his team and lead APIA to a historic victory.
Tale of the tape:
Round 13 –
Bulls FC Academy 1-1 APIA Leichhardt
(Souza 34’ – Crofts 27’)
Round 26 –
APIA Leichhardt 1-2 Bulls FC Academy
(Pipino 77’ – Phillips 37’, 83’)
