A snapshot of round 16 of the A-League Women season

By: Adrian Warren, Alex Mitchell, Justin Chadwick and Neve Brissenden Time published 2023-03-05 at 08:12 PM (GMT +11:00)

A look at the action from round 16 of the A-League Women season, where Newcastle's misery continued with a 4-0 loss to Melbourne City.

MICHELLE HEYMAN.
MICHELLE HEYMAN. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

THEY SAID IT: "She's still the best number nine in Australia." - Canberra United coach Njegosh Popovich remains adamant his star striker Michelle Heyman should be in the Matildas frame, and since she's banged home seven goals in four games to drive United's winning run, it's hard to argue with him.

WOMAN OF THE WEEK: Heyman's hat-trick in a 4-2 win over Adelaide helped lift Canberra to their first four-game winning streak in seven years. She scored goals in the 11th, 30th and 76th minutes to seal the victory.

BEAT THAT: The top-of-the-table match between Western United and Sydney was 0-0 before the Sky Blues finally broke through. Winger Cortnee Vine sneaked a through-ball past Western United defenders to teammate Rachel Lowe, who found the net in a moment that kick-started the 3-0 victory. Lowe ended the match with two goals.

STAT ATTACK: Newcastle have conceded 45 goals, 20 more than the next worst side.

WORLD CUP WATCH: Matildas and Melbourne City dynamo Holly McNamara made a cracking return from an ACL injury which had kept her out for more than a year. Her direct running and willingness to shoot caused Newcastle huge problems and put her back on the Matildas World Cup watch list. Heyman gave her own cause a major boost with her superb hat-trick. The news wasn't as good for Matildas stalwart Elise Kellond-Knight, whose World Cup dream appears over after she tore her achilles tendon at Melbourne Victory training this week.

TALKING POINT: Heyman's latest heroics mean she is just six goals away from becoming the first A-League Women's player to notch 100 goals in the league. Can she do it this season? On her current form, she's every chance to reach the mark during the remaining four games.

UNDER PRESSURE: Newcastle have lost four out of five since Gary van Egmond was installed as interim head coach in early February. They have leaked 14 goals in losing their past three games by margins of four, six and four. They haven't scored in any of those matches.

WHAT'S NEXT: Sydney will start as hot favourites when they host last-placed Wellington on Saturday. Ladder leaders Western United face Brisbane, while Perth Glory face a crucial match on enemy territory against Adelaide. Western Sydney take on the surging Canberra United, while it will be third versus fourth on Monday, March 13 when Melbourne Victory play Melbourne City.