A-League Tackle, Women: Jets captain Cassidy Davis hits out at officials after controversial decision

Newcastle Jets captain Cassidy Davis has labelled the refereeing “disappointing” as a controversial call could well have ended her side’s hopes of playing finals football.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 21: Cassidy Davis of the Jets controls the ball during the round 20 A-League Women's match between Melbourne Victory and Newcastle Jets at Home of the Matildas, on March 21, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Referees have come under fire in the ALW this weekend with one captain labelling them “dissappointing” and a goalkeeper caught seemingly flipping the bird behind an official’s back.

Wellington Phoenix keeper Carolina Vilão, moments after being given a yellow card for her involvement in a push and shove in the box after making save with a Mariners player, was caught on camera flipping the bird behind the referee’s back.

While it looks like she’s doing it to the ref, Brooke Nunn, who she had earlier had a tussle with, was walking off the field in the same direction.

If the referee had caught Vilao in the act it would have resulted in her being shown a second yellow and ultimately a red card.

The match review panel could still dish out a punishment to Vilao.

Wellington Phoenix keeper Carolina Vilão is seen flipping the bird behind the referee’s back.

Referees also came under fire in the Friday night match.

Newcastle Jets captain Cassidy Davis has hit out at the referees after a controversial decision let the side to fall 4-3 in a seven goal thriller against Melbourne Victory.

The Jets fell behind quickly – with Emily Gielnik scoring in the first and 11th minute. Alana Janceveski then netted a third in the 22nd.

The Jets staged a comeback, scoring either side of the halftime break. Sheridan Gallagher capitalised on a rare Victory defensive error to score her side’s third and put the Jets ahead in the 92nd minute. In the last play of the night Janceveski lined up for a corner. The call from the team was to belt to the far post. Kayla Morrison got on the end of it and put it in the net. But Jets captain Davis said the ball had been signalled as out and there were also calls for a foul on a Jets player in the box.

Newcastle captain Cassidy Davis took aim at the officiating for a controversial decision. Picture: Getty Images

“The ball went out and everyone stopped, I’m pretty disappointed. The ball was out and a foul I can’t say much more other than I’m really frustrated with that last call because our season is on the line,” Davis said.

‘We dug really deep today and it hurt our season a little bit.

“I thought we really deserved the result tonight.”

Gielnik now sits top of the golden boot race with 12 goals for the season. The win means Victory are now just two points behind competition leaders Melbourne City.

City don’t have an ALW game this weekend due to playing the quarterfinal of the Asian Women’s Champions League against Taiwanese Blue Whale on Sunday afternoon.

Victory players celebrate their win against the Jets. Picture: Getty Images

Wellington Phoenix 0 def by Central Coast Mariners 2

Wellington Phoenix and Lady Luck were not friends on Saturday afternoon. Phoenix had control of the match and several chances to score in the opening half but just struggled to find the net – an issue that has plagued the side all season.

A controversial penalty on half time on Annalise Rasmussen in the box gave the Mariners a chance to score with Rasmussen converting her own penalty.

But had VAR been an option there is a very strong chance the penalty would not have stood. Rasmussen was already falling when the Phoenix player made slight contact with her and wasn’t looking like scoring a goal in that moment – yet the referee saw it differently.

With the competition so close and finals fast approaching decisions like this have the power to really turn a team’s chances upside down.

Central Coast’s Brooke Nunn under pressure from a Lara Wall tackle. Picture: Getty Images

Mariners found a new level in the second half with Isabel Gomez scoring off a volley following a corner – expertly put into the box by Taylor Ray – to put them two ahead.

The win keeps the Mariners in the top six and in finals contention while Phoenix have dropped to eighth.

Sarah Langman also kept a clean sheet in her 100th ALW match.

Young Matildas named

The first Young Matildas side of the Alex Epakis era will feature 23 A-League’s Women’s players. The only two stars named outside of the ALW are Daniela Galic (Twente) and Anastasia Simic (South Australia NTC).

Five of the call-ups come from the struggling Sydney FC, four from Brisbane roar and three from Wanderers.

The camp will start on March 31 – during the upcoming international break.

The Young Matildas next major tournament is the U-20s Asian Cup in 2026.

Geoff Abrahams is no longer Wanderers’ interim coach, signing an extension this week. Picture: Getty Images

Coach locked in

Despite sitting at the bottom of the table and celebrating just four wins Western Sydney Wanderers have locked in Geoff Abrahams as their women’s team coach until the end of the 2025/26 season.

Abrahams was appointed in an interim role but was this week made the permanent coach and his contract extended.

Results aren’t all that matter to the Wanderers club. Abrahams, the technical director

director of the Girls Academy. has strengthened the link between the two levels at the club.

WSW CEO Scott Hudson said Abrahams had done an “outstanding job”.

“His commitment to player development and his vision for women’s football aligns perfectly with our club’s long-term strategy,” he said.

“We are excited to see him continue to build on this foundation in the upcoming season.”

Originally published as A-League Tackle, Women: Jets captain Cassidy Davis hits out at officials after controversial decision