ALW Tackle Round 10: Western Sydney Wanderers split with coach Robbie Hooker
The mystery around the future of Western Sydney Wanderers’ A-League women’s coach can be revealed following a quiet split due to ‘personal reasons’.
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Western Sydney Wanderers ALW coach Robbie Hooker has officially departed the club.
Hooker wasn’t on the bench for the club’s 4-4 draw with Melbourne Victory the weekend.
The club said he would miss one game due to personal reasons.
But on Tuesday released a short statement confirming Hooker was departing.
Just 12 months ago Hooker signed on as head coach until the end of 2025/26 season.
Under Hooker the Wanderers narrowly missed out on playing finals football in 2023/24.
They currently sit 11th on the ALW ladder with just one win from nine games.
“Western Sydney Wanderers FC can today confirm the departure of ALW head coach Robbie Hooker, who leaves the club following the mutual termination of his contract due to personal reasons,” the club statement said.
“Wanderers Women’s Academy Technical Director Geoff Abrahams has been appointed the interim head coach.”
Wanderers are next due to play Wellington on Thursday night.
Heyman’s signature move spoils Roar’s incredible run
Michelle Heyman struck her signature move to spoil Brisbane Roar’s incredible run with coach Alex Smith saying the team “gave it away”.
Heyman, who is known for her uncanny ability to deliver a match-winner for club and country with just minutes left in the game – did exactly that for Canberra in their 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar.
There was calls from Roar for a handball after the ball appeared to make contact with her arm just outside the box, but the referee didn’t agree and there is no VAR to call on in the women’s league.
A huge crowd turned out to Perry Park to watch the three Matildas players – Tameka Yallop and Sharn Freier (Roar) and Heyman do battle.
MATILDAS STAR MICHELLE HEYMAN SCORES AN 88TH MINUTE MATCH WINNER 😱🇦🇺🔥
— Ninja A-League (@aleaguewomen) January 4, 2025
In the heat of the moment, the A-Leagues never gave up. Ice cold finish for league goal number 114. Three points in the bag.
What an absolute legend 👠pic.twitter.com/swj73jeju3
Going into the game Roar having scored 14 goals across two games against a Canberra side with just two wins this season – the home side were the clear favourites.
But despite being well on the back foot and outclassed for most of the match Canberra managed to go against the tide and get their first win since Round 2.
“In the first half we weren’t really in the races,” Roar coach Alex Smith said post match.
“I’m not really sure what happened but I’m disappointed in the way we came out. We managed to get ourselves a goal up and then managed to throw it away.”
Canberra, just one of two teams in the competition so far to get the better of Roar, certainly slowed down the Brisbane side’s attack in the opening half.
But Roar wore them down in the second half – dominating possession and firing off plenty of shots.
Their goal came off the back of some very impressive play from Yallop – who after dancing around the Canberra defenders managed to offload the ball to Laini Freier who scored her seventh goal of the season. The goal puts Freier as the front-runner in the race to the golden boot.
It pushed Roar to the top of the table but they only got to sit there for nine minutes with Canberra’s Emma Roberts stole the ball in the midfield, took a chance on a long range shot and snuck it past the keeper to level the score.
A rare double defensive error from Roar gave Michelle Heyman a golden chance and the Matildas striker, who doesn’t miss those – put Canberra ahead 2-1 in the 88th minute.
Smith said it wasn’t a case of his side getting complacent after a string of strong performances.
“We did everything we could to try and make sure that wasn’t the case, we know we have to show up for every team or you get punished,” Smith said.
“I thought the last goal in my opinion was a pretty clear handball but I’m more disappointed in the way we played and the performance we put out there.
Roar still sit in second place on the ladder, with Melbourne City and Victory still to play this round.
Brisbane have just four days until their next game against Melbourne Victory on Wednesday night.
“There will definitely be some rotation, we’ve got City away after that, so there will be some rotation, it’s a big week,” Smith said.
Western United 2 def Newcastle Jets 0
GOAL SCORERS: Kahli Johnson x 2
Western United’s victory over Newcastle Jets was overshadowed by a controversial red card and on field tussle in the dying minutes of the game. Jets player Natasha Prior, sick of the heckling from the crowd, fired a remark towards the fans – the assistant referee thought the remark was being levelled at her – resulting in Prior being given a straight red card. Tensions boiled over on the pitch moments later with a push and shove turning into an all in tussle. Even Western United captain Chloe Logarzo, who was on the bench, re-entered the field of play to pull players off each other. Somehow Logarzo escaped reprimand for entering the field of play without the referees permission. Kahli Johnson’s brace leaves her with six goals for the season – right at the top of race for the golden boot.
Wellington 2 def Perth Glory 0
GOAL SCORERS: Grace Jale, Olivia Fergusson
A dominant performance from Wellington Phoenix has them back in finals contention. Grace Jale, the first to score for Phoenix, has really found form the last few weeks – proving the move from Glory back to her home side was a smart one. Perth are really struggling to find their footing in the league with just two wins, two draws and now five loses. There was some off pitch drama prior to the game starting with Glory’s American import Gabby Hollar fined for taking an apple with her into New Zealand.
Adelaide United 1 def Central Coast Mariners 0
GOAL SCORERS: Emily Hodgson
It was a tightly contested game – Emily Hodgson’s goal within the opening 10 minutes was all Adelaide needed though to get another win on the board and keep their finals dreams well and truly alive. Hodgson’s goal came on the back of some great team play but ultimately she was in the right place at the right time and had the composure to finish the chance. Central Coast were unlucky not to get on the board firing in 18 shots to United’s 9.
Originally published as ALW Tackle Round 10: Western Sydney Wanderers split with coach Robbie Hooker
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