Western United ALW Team News: Round 5 vs Brisbane Roar

For the third straight week, Mark Torcaso has named an unchanged extended squad as the Western United women head north to take on Brisbane Roar on Sunday.

That opens the door for Melissa Taranto to make her return to the side after she missed last week’s defeat to Wellington Phoenix with an ankle knock that she picked up in the previous game against Melbourne City.

Her return will again fill Western United’s midfield room with options aplenty for Torcaso to choose from in the middle of the pitch.

Chloe Logarzo completed a first full 90-minute performance of the season last week and opened her account with a brilliant long-range goal, continuing to grow in sharpness and fitness with each game.

United’s co-captain will be eager to go again and drive the team forward with her quality and leadership on the pitch.

Hillary Beall was named on the bench against Wellington, marking her return to a matchday squad after she rejoined the Club at the beginning of the month.

The reigning Goalkeeper of the Year has been preparing herself in training and will be eying a first start of the campaign with good memories of last year’s away trip to Brisbane, where her stunning stop from Shea Connors won the Save of the Year award.

There will be competition for places all over the pitch with Keiwa Hieda, Lucy Richards and Avaani Prakash all having impressed in substitute cameos over the opening weeks of the season and angling for a start.

Julia Sardo impressed in her only start of the campaign thus far against City and will be hoping to feature again, while Kiara De Domizio and Natasha Dakic will be aiming to add to their appearance totals.

Silver Bell Morris is not in line for selection on matchday, nor are Catherine Zimmerman and Raquel Deralas who both remain sidelined.

Full Western United extended squad

Western United squad: 1. Alyssa DALL’OSTE (gk), 2. Stacey PAPADOPOULOS, 4. Jaclyn SAWICKI, 6. Chloe LOGARZO, 7. Kiara DE DOMIZIO, 9. Hannah KEANE, 10. Kahli JOHNSON, 11. Emma ROBERS, 12. Lucy RICHARDS, 13. Avaani PRAKASH, 14. Natasha DAKIC, 15. Adriana TARANTO, 16. Melissa TARANTO, 18. Grace MAHER, 19. Tyla Jay VLAJNIC, 20. Keiwa HIEDA, 21. Hillary BEALL (gk), 22. Alana CERNE, 24. Julia SARDO, 26. Natalie PICAK (gk)

Ins: 7. Kiara DE DOMIZIO, 14. Natasha DAKIC, 16. Melissa TARANTO (returns from injury), 26. Natalie PICAK

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 17. Raquel DERALAS (injured), 34. Catherine ZIMMERMAN (injured)