A blank page. A fresh start. And the kind of anticipation that only a season opener can deliver.
Eltham Redbacks kick off their 2026 VPLW campaign on Sunday when they travel to Petty’s Reserve to face Manningham United Blues (3pm). It’s Round 1 for both sides, and neither will be short on motivation.
For the Redbacks, the off-season has been nothing short of transformative. Head coach Jonathan Barrientos takes charge of his first competitive match after overseeing a pre-season that has reshaped the squad from top to bottom. New faces, new energy, and a clear ambition that runs through everything the club has done since November.
“I’m still thinking about that Round 1 squad,” Barrientos said during the club’s pre-season media day. “The girls are pushing the best out of each other. It’s making my job really hard because the talent, the amount of talent… it’s just the variety.”
The recruitment tells its own story. English winger Izzy Berks, who scored 12 goals for Bundoora United last season, followed Barrientos to Eltham. “I loved working under JB,” Berks said. “He’s a really good, passionate coach. When he signed here, I came and followed him.” She’s not alone. Taylor Halabi, a key figure in Preston Lions’ 2022 VPLW premiership, also made the move from Bundoora.
American forward Ally Giovino adds an international dimension, reuniting with college teammate and close friend Paige Foa. “Hopefully me and her can combine together and be a dynamic force up top,” Giovino said. Tiana Orfanidis arrives in goal from Brunswick Juventus, hungry for game time after years as a second keeper. Stephanie Katiforis brings NPLW experience from Heidelberg, Bulleen, and Box Hill in her comeback from a knee injury. And Kristina Dimitrovski, in her 11th season at the club since joining at age nine, steps up from the juniors to the senior squad.
It’s a group that blends experience, international quality, and genuine homegrown connection. The depth has Barrientos excited. The style of play he’s building, even more so: “Very possession-based football. A lot of individual flair. Players taking the game on. Not afraid for some one-on-ones. Not afraid to create some triangles.”
Manningham, though, are no soft opener. Newly promoted as State League Two Champions in 2024, they finished third behind South Yarra and FC Noble Hurricanes in their first season in State League One South-East. When South Yarra declined their promotion spot, Manningham stepped up and into the VPLW for 2026. This is a club on a rapid rise.
There’s an added layer of intrigue in this fixture too, with a number of former Eltham players expected to line up in Manningham colours. That kind of familiarity cuts both ways. The opposition will know some of the Redbacks’ tendencies, but Eltham will know exactly what those players bring.
Sunday’s match at Petty’s Reserve is the first sentence of a new story for this group. New coach, new squad, new ambitions. Everything that’s been built over the summer gets tested for real.