Lily Alfeld - Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa (0 caps/0 goals)
Victoria Esson - SC Sand, Germany (4/0)
Erin Nayler - Umeå IK, Sweden (74/0)
Gonna come out and say this from the start... if Anna Leat isn’t already considered the Ferns’ number one then she should be. The way she performed in her window as a starter for West Ham United (while Aussie Mackenzie Arnold was away at the Asian Cup) was so impressive, not just the shots that she saved but especially her distribution. So calm with the ball at her feet and accurate with her passing. With Klimková trying to bring more of a belief in possession for this team having a ball-friendly keeper is massive and, of the keepers that we have, Leat is easily the best in that regard.
But Anna Leat is missing her for personal reasons, so it goes. Thus Lily Alfeld gets her first international call-up since November 2019 (her only previous call-up). A fine reward for the A-League’s leading save-maker even if it does leave the Welly Nix in a bit of a pickle. Brianna Edwards (a dual Aussie/NZ national) debuted off the bench for a ten minute cameo last game which had the ultimate hype-woman Alfeld celebrating on the sideline after literally just being subbed off... though they’re required by regulations to name a backup yet don’t really have the flexibility to sign one given their squad restrictions. Might have to chuck the gloves on an outfielder or something.
Back to Lily Alfeld though, I reckon she’s a good chance of that first cap on this tour (she’s the only uncapped player in the squad). Would not be surprised whatsoever if the three goalies play one game each at the SB Cup. Also, Alfeld’s the only one playing regularly at the moment. Erin Nayler’s been out of footy for a long time but her new gig with Umeå in Sweden is close to getting underway. She’s got a point to prove having been the no-doubt starter for several years... but she may also be rusty.
As for Vic Esson, she’s just signed with SC Sand in Germany for the second half of their season, a step up from her time with Avaldsnes in Germany however it may not come with automatic starts and will probably only last a few months as SC Sand are looking dead-set for relegation. More on that in
this week’s Flying Kiwis column. Esson has been third choice for a wee while, part of 13 of the last 14 Ferns squads yet with only four total caps. But the fourth of those was in the 2-0 win over South Korea last time out when she was excellent.
This’ll be a funky trilogy of games for the goalkeeping position but yeah keep in mind that Anna Leat isn’t there and she’s the leader of the pack at the mo’.
