It has been two months since the Wellington Phoenix men’s team ended their season with a semi-final exit against Melbourne Victory. It has been three-and-a-half months since the Wellington Phoenix women’s team wrapped up their campaign with a 2-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers, falling five points short of finals footy. Those were record efforts for both sides in which they set new high-watermarks for wins, points, and placings. The records have continued to tumble into the offseason, with both teams pocketing record transfer fees for star players – in fact, Macey Fraser’s move to the Utah Royals was the biggest transfer fee any player had ever drawn from the A-League Women’s.

Of course, outgoing transfers may look great for the accounts but they do mean that key players now require replacing. This is the challenge that the Welly Nix have set themselves in order to find financial sustainability in an A-League environment that isn’t very helpful in those matters. Central funding for the ALM clubs just got slashed to pieces with only around 20% of the salary cap to be covered by the league next season (compare that to leagues like the NRL where 100% is covered).

Lucky for the Nix, between Alex Paulsen and Ben Old (plus Macey Fraser and soon Finn Surman), they’ve more than made up for the shortfall... and with an academy built to replenish their first teams they’re better suited than most to handle the financial jandal. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t risk. That doesn’t mean there aren’t big holes to fill in the line-up. Last season’s exploits are fuel for next season’s exploits so let’s get up to scratch on how things have been unfolding since we last saw these two teams in action.

WELLINGTON PHOENIX BLOKES

Fellas first because they’ve been busier, despite having had less time to crack on. We’re still waiting for that Giancarlo Italiano contract extension which was touted a wee while back, though he does still have another year on his existing deal so no immediate dramas there. It’s possible that it’s already been sorted and they’re just waiting for the right time to announce it – if you notice they do tend to be pretty selective about those things, usually pairing bitter and sweet news together. When they announced that Rylee Foster and Bri Edwards were leaving the women’s team last week, it was swiftly followed by Alyssa Whinham’s new deal. Same deal with Ben Old out, Marco Rojas in. As soon as Mariana Speckmaier departed, Emma Main and Tiana Jaber were re-signed. You get the picture. Just because it hasn’t been announced yet, doesn’t mean it hasn’t been agreed.

Everything has now been sorted from last year’s ALM squad. They entered the offseason with only six players on expiring deals. That was an unprecedented level of continuity although it has been spoiled somewhat by the fact that five of the six have since gapped it. Youstin Salas returned to his parent club Saprissa at the end of his loan. It had already been said that Oskar Zawada wouldn’t be retained, there just wasn’t the money available for a guy of his calibre, so he’s left us with our happy memories. It was a pleasant surprise to see him join RKC Waalwijk in the Dutch Eredivisie to sneakily add another name to the list of players that the Nix have provided to top-flight European clubs lately. Zawada scored a double in a preseason friendly against OH Leuven just the other day.

The reason they couldn’t afford to keep Zawada is because they prioritised Kosta Barbarouses instead. And you know what? That was absolutely the right thing to do. Zawada is an import and there are lots of those to be discovered. He’s also injury-prone and that’s not really what you want from your top earner (which he’d surely have been with a new deal, supposing he didn’t already hold that honour). In contrast, Kosta’s quality as a local player is much rarer, not to mention his experience and leadership. He’s coming off a resurgent season in which he scored 13 goals. He also played literally four times as many minutes as OZ did last term. If it had to be one or the other then they made what should have been a no-brainer choice. Barbarouses has signed the standard elder statesman 1+1 deal (a one year contract with an option for a second... also known as the LeBron James Special).

But Jack Duncan chose not to have a nudge at replacing Alex Paulsen, instead signing with Melbourne Victory to replace Paul Izzo who has left for Randers in Denmark. Duncan never played a game for the Nix. Nico Pennington has also left for a rival, choosing to follow Oli Sail’s lead by joining Perth Glory – though Nico’s his case it’s because his dad was from that region. And then the last bloke to be sorted was Bozhidar Kraev, who did have an offer on the table but he ummed and ahhed about it until joining Western Sydney Wanderers. It has been reported that the Nix pulled the offer after the Rojas catch was confirmed, which changes the perspective on that move a little.

The Rojas addition is crucial. He had some fitness issues with Brisbane Roar but that was probably down to having taken a long break from the game after his stint in Chile. He’s a Johnny Warren Medallist (signed on the same day that Auckland FC unveiled Jake Brimmer, a JWM of their own) who has consistently bossed it in the A-League. 45 caps for the All Whites too. Rojas said he was enticed not only by the team’s success last term but also the environment that Chiefy has established, and it was he who first reached out to the club (through intermediary Tim Payne). You might have reservations about his fitness and motivation but there is no place where those reservations are better shrugged off than this one. Look at the reclamation job the Nix did with Kosta Barbarouses. Look at the facilities they’ve got at NZIS. The Chief says he believes he can get Rojas back to the best form of his career (which he says was the 2016-17 season) and at this stage we’ve at least got to give him the benefit of the doubt.

How will that look in the Nix’s current formation? It won’t. Italiano came in last season talking about wanting to adapt the system to suit the players that he had at his disposal and the same will be true this time. If you lose Ben Old and add Marco Rojas, you don’t chuck Rojas into that left-sided midfield role of Old’s. You adapt and evolve. In the words of Chief: “I don’t see him as a winger or a number ten, I see him just as a natural attacker so we’re going to play to those strengths. We’re going to evolve the system to fit his profile, which I think is very very important. And, again, we still have one or two other recruitment opportunities for other attackers to complement Marco as well as Kosta and Bally and even a few of the younger players”. They wanted Old to break lines. They want Rojas to operate in between the lines.

Having a different outlook in attack is not the worst thing in the world either... because it’s not like these guys were hitting bullseyes in those areas. Their success was built upon outstanding defence and now they’ve lost their goalkeeper and a centre-back from that cohort. Meanwhile they ranked eleventh (out of twelve teams) for expected goals and tenth for goals per game. They don’t have to emulate that defensive magnificence if they can be a little more potent up the other end of the pitch. Marco Rojas could be the hombre to make that happen, plus they’ve got room to potentially add up to four more imports (if David Ball gets his NZ citizenship in time).

This is the squad as things stand, accounting for Finn Surman’s imminent departure...

• GK – Alby Kelly-Heald (schol)

• DEF – Lukas Kelly-Heald, Scott Wootton (imp), Sam Sutton, Tim Payne, Isaac Hughes, Matt Sheridan (schol)

• MID – Alex Rufer, Mohamed Al-Taay, Fin Conchie

• FWD – Marco Rojas, Kosta Barbarouses, Oskar van Hattum, David Ball (imp), Luke Supyk, Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues (schol)

That gives them 13 players on senior contracts. At the start of the offseason it looked like they’d hardly need to do anything. Now it’s clear they’ll need at least two more imports, another midfielder, a couple of goalkeepers, and probably another central defender. Plenty of time to get all of that done. Expect to see Alby Kelly-Heald (twin bro of Lukas) elevated to a first team deal at some stage. Beyond that, how they use their imports will be fascinating. Do they grab an import goalie? Another goal-scoring striker? Stack the midfield? All of the above?

Lots will depend on how well the next lot of academy grads are able to replicate the last lot of academy grads... but remember that Chiefy is always big on competition for places. Alex Paulsen may have been the ALM’s best gloveman last season but he was never promised anything, with Jack Duncan brought in to challenge him the whole way. This time a year ago they were talking about signing an import centre-back so Finn Surman clearly had to earn his meals too. The same is going to be true of Alby Kelly-Heald, Isaac Hughes, Fin Conchie, Luke Supyk, and Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues. Also, those are multi-year development journeys that they’re on and it might be that this year is too soon for one or two of them.

Word on the street is that Oscar Faulds, a 22yo Swedish-Kiwi who has been scoring goals for fun with Napier City Rovers, and Luke Brooke-Smith, a 16yo who’s been starting most games for Hamilton Wanderers, are going to pop by for preseason trials. Chances are there’ll be more where they came from. Plus the club has already brought in 19yo goalkeeper Dublin Boon after a year spent in the Roda JC system over in the Netherlands. Boon made his debut for the WeeNix last weekend, he’s originally from Christchurch and played senior footy with Nomads United.

We should also expect a few more youngsters pushing through from the U20s squad from beyond those who were identified last time. Fergus Gillion remains in that frame having made his ALM debut last term. He’s been away with the NZ U19s recently, a squad that also includes many other emerging Nix players: Tze-Xuan Loke (fullback), Seth Karunaratne (centre-back), Lachlan Candy (attacking midfielder), Daniel Makowem (winger), Eamonn McCarron (goalkeeper), Lewis Partridge (left-back), Nathan Walker (winger), Ryan Watson (attacking midfielder), as well as AKH, GSR, and Supyk.

That’s a decent list to start with... and we should see a few of those fellas pop up in the Australia Cup soon. The Nix play their round of 32 clash against South Melbourne on 6 August so that’ll be the first glimpse of the next incarnation – especially since they’re likely to be without their Olympians on the quick turnaround (definitely so if the OlyWhites make the knockouts). The Nix were pretty mud in the Aussie Cup last season and then went on to be brilliant in the real stuff so no overreactions, please. Trust in The Chief.

WELLINGTON PHOENIX WAHINE

For the third time in a row, the Welly Nix Women have failed to retain their top goalscorer. Grace Jale, then Milly Clegg, now Mariana Speckmaier. The team’s Golden Boot award is just like Rookie of the Year: nobody’s ever won it twice. However, for the first time they will at least have a returning coach. A pretty good one too. Paul Temple took this side to within five points of the finals after consecutive wooden spoons and if it weren’t for their abysmal road record then they might just have snuck on in there. That’ll be the aim for year four. It should probably be the expectation for year four.

Unlike the lads, the ladies had most of their squad coming off contract and one of the few who wasn’t was Macey Fraser who was then sold to the Utah Royals. It had to be done, that was an incredible opportunity which proves that the Nix are producing top level professionals from both senior teams, but she will arguably be even tougher to replace than Paulsen/Old/Surman. Fraser’s midfield creativity combined with her tenacious workrate made her a lynchpin in that side, especially with a lot of injuries and reshuffles going on around her. But that’s the game. At least they’ve convinced Alyssa Whinham to return for two more years, someone who has the potential to pick up much the creative portion of that slack (and also someone who didn’t really have a clear role last season due to Fraser’s presence – though Whinham did eventually break through to start six of the last seven matches).

Having written about the first crop of WahiNix imports a few months ago, it now looks as though none of them will be back. Mariana Speckmaier chose to move to Melbourne City where she’ll replace Hannah Wilkinson in the line-up. Not sure on Rylee Foster’s destination yet, only that she’s confirmed she won’t be back. Possibly another crack in Europe. Hope Breslin (Brooklyn FC) and Hailey Davidson (Dallas Trinity) have joined the long list of ALW players who’ve linked up with the new USL Super League in America. Grace Wisnewski has also made that move, linking with Lexington Sporting Club after her recovery from an ACL tear that cost her almost all of last season. The USL Super League offers significantly higher salaries as it seeks to bridge the gap between USA college soccer and the NWSL’s professional scene. That gap just happened to be where the Nix targetted all five of their imports from last season.

Isabel Cox might return, we don’t yet know one way or the other. She’s good enough to get a Super League deal but nothing’s happened so far. Probably don’t hold your breath though. It has also been confirmed that Brianna Edwards won’t be back after spending all three seasons with the team. Only three inaugural players still remain: Zoe McMeeken, Mackenzie Barry, and Alyssa Whinham. Edwards missed the end of the season (and as a result missed out on Olympic travelling reserve status) after taking some personal leave but has since gotten back into the swing of it with Illawarra Stingrays in the NPL. You’d hope she gets an ALW starting gig somewhere else even if it won’t be with the Nix. Oh and don’t forget that Kate Taylor has left for “overseas opportunities”. Very exciting, though we may have to wait until after the Olympics to find out where. Taylor’s current ability and remaining potential mean that should be a highly anticipated bit of news whenever it gets announced. Also, Kelli Brown isn’t being re-signed. Her copious NPL goals got her in the door again but she never really got much of a chance from there.

Who does that leave? Well, alongside Isabel Coz, we’re still unsure about the futures of Annalie Longo, Michaela Foster, Michaela Robertson, and Helena Errington. You’d imagine the club would like all four of them back but it’s not always that simple. Errington in particular has already spent some time over in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon and, with an U20 World Cup on the horizon, might want to keep her options open. Longo and Foster are currently away at the Olympics as alternate players. Not sure about Robertson but she has been representing the club at community events as recently as a fortnight ago. Again, it’s very likely that new contracts have already been signed for one or two of that quartet and they’re just waiting for the right time to announce them.

To begin with, Mackenzie Barry, Manaia Elliott, and Zoe McMeeken were the only players on full contracts other than Fraser. Daisy Brazendale and Olivia Ingham also have ongoing scholarship deals. That’s a five-player squad... so it’s a good thing they’ve had more success than the blokes at bringing back their free agents. Rebecca Lake was the first to sign a new deal. She was followed by Marisa van der Meer, Emma Main, Tiana Jaber, and Alyssa Whinham. Unfortunately, MVDM has since revealed that she’s re-torn her ACL along with some meniscus damage. Six months into recovery and she’s got to start over again. Devastating news. MVDM’s aerial presence was a big loss last season in both penalty areas – as you could see from all the set piece goals they conceded and the fact that suddenly Mickey Foster’s corner kicks weren’t nearly as dangerous as they used to be. Fingers-crossed for a more successful recovery second time around.

The Nix aren’t about to tear up her contract because of this, that’d be a dick move, but they will probably bring in an injury replacement at some stage. Or at least they’ll have that ace up their sleeve if need be. That was how they signed Jaber last year and now the Aussie defensive utility has rejoined the club for a full campaign.

Also on board now is Carolina Vilão. A 23 year-old Portuguese goalkeeper who joins from Benfica. This is an absolutely fascinating move, not only for her pedigree but also because it signals a change in direction for the Nix’s import scouting after the North American-orientated quintet of 2023-24. Benfica have won the last four Portuguese league titles and last season they made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. They’re a massive club. Granted, Vilão was a young goalkeeper through all that so her playing time has been limited. She made nine Campeonato appearances overall, plus four more in the Champions League (including against Chelsea and Bayern Munich – both of those were heavy losses, admittedly), but last season she was knocked further down the queue by the addition of German age grade keeper Lena Pauels and therefore didn’t end up playing at all. No shame in that - even their backup goalie, Rute Costa, was part of Portugal’s 2023 World Cup squad.

So now CV’s joined the Wellington Phoenix instead. In her words, she was appreciative of how the Phoenix recognised her value and the chance to live in New Zealand, following that World Cup, was also a drawcard. It’ll be curious to see what she’s like with the ball at feet because that’s one aspect of the team’s build-up play which we’ve never really seen yet which would fit very smoothly within the Small Ball template. Paul Temple straight-up said as much in the press release: “We played a selective style last year with the ‘small ball’ but we didn’t do lot of building out from the keeper. Carolina’s very calm on the ball, good with both feet, picks passes through the lines and breaks pressure. Her ability in possession is really key, as well as obviously being a good all-round goalkeeper”.

Good to know. Here’s how that squad is shaping up...

• GK - Carolina Vilão (imp)

• DEF – Mackenzie Barry, Rebecca Lake, Tiana Jaber, Zoe McMeeken, Marisa van der Meer (inj)

• MID – Daisy Brazendale (schol)

• FWD – Emma Main, Alyssa Whinham, Manaia Elliott, Olivia Ingham (schol)

Once more, there’s a good chance of Mickey Foster and Annalie Longo returning in top of all that, while Aimee Danieli was with the first team on an amateur deal last season as their third-choice keeper and she remains at the club with the Reserves/U20s side. As does reserves captain Ella McMillan who also made an ALW debut late last season. Danieli, McMillan, and Errington were recently part of an NZ U20s squad that had two 1-1 draws against Australia as part of their U20 World Cup preparation. Also in that squad from the wider Phoenix system were: Charlotte Eagle (goalkeeper), Marie Green (defender), Ella McCann (striker), and Rebekah Trewhitt (right-back). Additionally, Ela Jerez has linked up with the Nix Academy this year after scoring the winning goal in the 2023 Kate Sheppard Cup final for Western Springs as a 15-year-old and then carrying that form on in the National League).

That Women’s Reserves team competed in the Boy’s U17 Central Development League last year but lost most games. This year they’ve dropped to the Boy’s U15s and are proving much more competitive. They’ve also entered the Kate Sheppard Cup for the first time and have taken it all the way to the semi-finals. Manaia Elliott and Zoe McMeeken have been playing a lot for them. Foster (Auckland United) and Longo (Cashmere Technical) briefly popped up at other domestic clubs to get some match fitness ahead of the Olympics. Helena Errington (Bentleigh Greens), Alyssa Whinham (Blacktown Spartans), and Kelli Brown (Macarthur Rams) have all been playing NPL same as Brianna Edwards (Illawarra Stingrays). It’s a long offseason in the Women’s A-League... with the 2024-25 edition not scheduled to kickoff until November. If it feels like there’s not been a heap of urgency over here then that’s why. Looong way still to go.

Last time their imports covered: goalkeeper, right-back, winger, attacking midfield, and striker. We’re probably looking at a similar spread next time, with a goalkeeper already on lock. In particular the attack will be highly dependent on the foreigners they’re able to coax along... although there are a few good kiwi free agents that they might want to have a peek at. Hannah Wilkinson and Grace Jale for sure. Maybe Deven Jackson or Ruby Nathan. Liz Anton is another if Temps wants more experience in the backline to free up another import spot for elsewhere. Thing is, all of those players probably have higher ambitions which is why the Nix are better off aiming below the ALW and raising fresh players up. The best Football Ferns are too good for the A-League and it doesn’t serve the Ferns to have them playing at this level. And, to be honest, the Welly Nix haven’t actually had that much success with bringing back fringe Fernies. Like, Emma Main’s Nix career has been better than Paige Satchell’s or Emma Rolston’s, right?

We could sit here and list prospective domestic options for hours (Rose Morton, Hannah Mackay-Wright, Talisha Green, Marissa Porteous, Charlotte Wilford-Carroll, Hope Gilchrist, Charlotte Mortlock, Zoe Benson, etc.) but it’s all too much speculation for a squad that right now is only half-full (or half-empty if that’s your point of view). Let ‘em simmer before they cook. Carolina Vilão is a big enough coup to keep everyone satiated for a few more weeks.

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