Western United’s injury crisis continues as star stiker ruled out for remainder of season
Western United’s hopes of lifting some silverware this season have taken another huge knock with star striker Hannah Keane ruled out for the season.
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The uncertain future of two teams, injuries and new contracts, player returns and more, all feature in ERIN SMITH’s likes and dislikes in this week’s ALW Tackle.
DISLIKES
ANOTHER UNITED STAR RULED OUT FOR SEASON
Western United’s hopes of lifting the trophy this season are looking a lot less likely with the club losing it’s third key player in as many weeks.
Star striker Hannah Keane has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering a terrible injury in the weekend’s clash with Western Sydney Wanderers.
Keane was left in considerable pain after the incident and had to be stretchered off the field.
Scans and assessments have confirmed the 30-year-old American import has ruptured her patellar tendon in her tight knee.
While not an ACL the injury can still take six to 12 months to recover from.
A Western United spokesman said Keane would undergo surgery next week and miss the remainder of the season and be off the pitch for quite some time.
Keane is the third United star to fall to injury in the past few weeks with Chloe Logarzo (hip) and Adriana Taranto (ACL) also out for the remainder of the season.
The side has struggled to deal with the losses with Western United losing the last three games of the season.
Keane has had another remarkable season scoring 10 goals and recording four assist – the side’s leading goal scorer for the season.
“Thank you so much to everyone who has reached out to me with the kind and supportive
messages,” Keane said.
“Things like this are always tough, but injuries come with playing sport and now
the focus is on doing everything I can to get back onto the field,” she said.
Western United’s spot in the finals series is locked in but unless they can get back in the winner’s circle against Central Coast Mariners on Thursday night they are going to struggle to find form and earn their second grand final appearance.
TEAM UNCERTAINTY
The A-League’s women’s regular season wraps up next week – and two teams have no idea if they will exist next season.
Answers are needed now over the future of Canberra United and the Newcastle Jets – not in two to three weeks when the men’s regular season wraps up.
Unlike the men once the season ends the majority of women’s players won’t receive another paycheck until the season restarts later this year.
Losing two women’s teams, after the league’s first full home and away season has proven so successful, would be a massive step backwards for the competition.
It would also leave up to 40 players without a contract and unlikely to play professional football in Australia next season.
On the back of the World Cup – women’s football should be booming in this country – not falling apart.
The Newcastle Jets situation is different to that with Canberra, as the APL are not responsible for the sale of the club – its consortium of owners are.
At the same time the APL has to accept some blame.
The men’s competition struggling to attract huge crowds, issues with the broadcast deal and financial strain which lead them to make half of their workforce redundant – doesn’t exactly make it an easy product to sell.
Meanwhile the Canberra expansion has been ‘weeks away’ for months.
The new club is proposed to take on the women’s licence from Capital Football.
But saying a deal is close on repeat is not good enough for players who are just as in the dark as fans.
Clubs are already announcing their signings for next season – how are players stuck in limbo supposed to make plans.
At this rate the proposed new owners could have two whole teams to build from scratch if Canberra United players start jumping ship in order to snap up a contract with a new club and secure their future.
It is an outrageous situation and the APL should be held accountable.
We are not just talking about disgruntled fans.
For the women contracted to Canberra United and Newcastle Jets – football is a source of income, it’s their career – even if it is only part time.
For the competition organisers to not be able to confirm whether or not their club will exist next season is not acceptable.
LIKES
NAT TOBIN BACK IN BLUE
Sydney FC captain Natalie Tobin, the first of nine players to fall to a ruptured ACL this season, has re-signed with the Sky Blues for two more seasons.
With the A-Leagues women’s competition still essentially a part-time competition it is encouraging to see club’s willing to re-sign injured stars on multi-year deals.
It means Tobin, while likely not paid for the off-season, will still have access to Sydney FC’s medical team and facilities for the remainder of her rehab.
Tobin, who was Sydney FC’s player of the season in 2022/23, has been forced to watch this season from the sideline – tearing her ACL in Round 1.
The 27-year-old is expected to be fit for the start of the 2024/25 season.
“We’ve had so much success recently. I’m determined to see that continue and ensure we create a legacy in Australian women’s football which will never be forgotten,” Tobin said.
“I’m on track with my recovery and can’t wait to be back on the field with the girls.
“The start of next season can’t come soon enough.”
SOPHIE HARDING
A stunning brace from Harding in Wanderers 3-1 win over Western United has kept the NSW outfit in the running to play finals this season.
If Harding can keep this form which earned her a call up to her first Matilda’s camp last month the Wanderers will be hard to dethrone come finals.
The striker has scored 12 goals this season- equal with Jets star Sarina Bolden and just two behind front runner Michelle Heyman.
Wanderers have won the last three games in a row.
RECORD BOOKS
Sydney FC keeper Jada Whyman will want a spot in the record books this weekend as just the fourth A-Leagues’ Women’s goalkeeper to play 100 games in the league.
She joins Casey Dumont (145), Lydia Williams (131) and Melissa Barbieri (105).
Originally published as Western United’s injury crisis continues as star stiker ruled out for remainder of season
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