2025 NPL Women’s NSW Season Review
The 2025 National Premier League NSW Women’s competition will be one to remember for the Bulls FC Academy winning both the Premiership and Championship in an incredible campaign.
But it didn’t start so brightly for the most recent ‘double winner’.
It was in fact the newly promoted Mt Druitt Town Rangers that got their return to the top tier off in style, Ben Gough’s team flying out of the barriers, undefeated in their first nine games of the season and showing defence of steel, conceding only four goals.
APIA were the early season favourites and after winning their first three games of the season the hype looked right on the mark, only to go on a run of only one win in almost two months, seeing them sit in eighth place at the half way mark of the season.
There were strong starts for both Manly United and the Illawarra Stingrays who were keen to secure top four position before the season kicked off.
UNSW FC, NWS Spirit, Gladesville Ravens and Northern Tigers promised early on but inconsistent starts to the campaign for both had them hovering on the edge of finals football.
Sydney Olympic got off to their worst ever start to a season since their promotion to the top tier, not winning a game until round 9, while 2024 Champions Macarthur Rams were also off to a slow start following a re-build under new coach Vic Guzman.
New team to the competition the Western Sydney Wanderers enjoyed a mix bag of results in their first season, while fellow academy club Newcastle Jets again found the going tough.
The Jets found some spark in the mid point of the season, defeating both the Rangers and APIA but again fell away, only to bounce back with a massive win against Sydney Olympic to give themselves some hope of survival in the closing weeks of the season.
Sydney University SFC had a solid second half of the season, coinciding with the arrival of the talismanic Talia Kapetanelis.
The Ravens, Tigers, Spirit and Rams continued to struggle to find form as their finals hopes got away from them.
Sydney Olympic had to recruit and that they did well, Aideen Keane and Alyssa Whinham proving the difference, in scintillating form from their arrival at Peter Moore.
Both Manly and the Stingrays continued their good form, sitting in the top four for the majority of the season.
The Bulls were picking up form and quickly closing down on the leading Mt Druitt who in the mean time made the Sapphire Cup final where they were defeated by an excellent APIA Leichhardt who secured the first trophy on offer in 2025.
It was the cup victory that spearheaded APIA’s season revival, moving up the ladder and potentially giving themselves hope of challenging for the Premiership in the closing rounds.
As the season approached the final month, there were four teams challenging for the Premiership and an extra two hoping to sneak into finals football.
Despite the Jets giving themselves a fighting chance with that victory over Olympic, it wasn’t to be, the blue and whites getting the job done to secure their survival and relegate the young academy side.
But the heat would really turn up in the final three rounds.
The Stingrays had themselves in a position to challenge for first place, but instead went winless in their last three and fell away from not only the Premiership race, but missed out on finals football as well.
Manly found some terrific late form, but three wins in their last four games saw them just miss out on what was an impressive season from the northern Beaches side.
Mt Druitt’s difficult schedule going into the run in home was always going to test their squad depth and with fate in their own hands, they only managed one win in their last five games seeing them miss out on the Premiership but secure a very well earned finals place.
UNSW were the form side entering the finals, rapidly chasing everyone down with an incredible eight wins from their last 10 games. Their last four wins coming with incomprehensible stoppage time winners, securing third place and finals football.
The regular season would end though in the most spectacular way possible, a head to head shootout between the top two teams of the competition for the Premiership, APIA Leichhardt v Bulls FC Academy.
For Marty Garces’ side a point would be enough but there was no way his team would come into this one with that mentality, win at all costs was the focus.
And it started perfectly for them, as Petria Phillips scored her 10th of the season.
APIA struck back, Brad Attard’s side with all the momentum moving into the final 10 minutes of the game.
But one of the star’s of Bulls’ campaign popped up again, Petria Phillips scoring a late winner to secure the first ever piece of silverware for her club in the top tier.
Special mention also to 17-year-old Skye Halmarick who took the regular season by storm, scoring 23 goals in 22 games for NWS Spirit FC and earning a contract with Sydney FC in the Ninja A-League.
The finals kicked off with Bulls hosting Mt Druitt and what should have been a routine victory for the newly crowned premiers was anything but, requiring extra time to over come a spirited Rangers team, Leena Khamis signing off in style with a special goal for her side.
At Lambert Park, APIA secured their spot in the grand final with a surprisingly comfortable win over UNSW, 2-0.
Then came the Grand Final, one of the all time great fixtures which will be spoken about for years to come at Jubilee Stadium.
APIA took a 2-0 going into half time, Sophie Hoban and Allyssa Rose on the score sheet.
But two penalties in the second half, converted by Tamires Souza and Claudia Valetta meant this one was level and headed for extra time.
And with momentum, it seemed the Bulls will run away with it, only for the fighting APIA to go back in front through substitute Ash Brodigan.
Again though, the Bulls would fight back, this time Jynaya Dos Santos equalising for the Premiers.
With the game moving toward a penalty shoot out, Bulls captain Liz Grey rose highest and headed her team in front for the first time in the match.
It was APIA’s turn to fight back though and fight back they did, Ash Crofts winning a penalty moments after the Grey goal.
The ever-reliable Crofts stepped up struck her penalty which was saved by the magnificent Mio Nemoto as the Bulls held on to claim the double in what was not only a breathtaking match, but a fascinating season.
-By Nikola Pozder
