Although Gareth Taylor’s side missed out on Champions League qualification on goal difference, there were plenty of positives to take from the campaign, including a 16-match unbeaten run in all competitions and memorable victories over Arsenal and eventual champions Chelsea.
And with Australia co-hosting the 2023 Women’s World Cup with New Zealand this summer, we felt it only right to focus on each of our Matildas as a collective.
Below, we analyse each of Alanna Kennedy, Mary Fowler and Hayley Raso’s individual campaigns at City this season, and the part they’ve played in the growth of this exciting young squad over the past 12 months.
Learn more about the impact they’ve had below…
ALANNA KENNEDY
Kennedy is one of Gareth Taylor’s most experienced players but was limited to just seven appearances across 2022/23 due to a string of unfortunate injuries.
When the 28-year-old was fit, however, she demonstrated her importance to the squad time and again, none more so than a standout performance in our 1-0 win at West Ham United in January.
In her first Barclays Women’s Super League start of the season, her experience shone through in a commanding display from the heart of defence.
She was deservedly named Player of the Match, putting her body on the line to preserve a hard-fought three points in the capital.
Four months later, Kennedy was rewarded with a new contract, committing her future to the Club until 2025.
Speaking at the time, the centre-back described her excitement at the prospect of returning from injury to play a crucial role in Taylor’s team next season.
“I feel like I have unfinished business here,” said Kennedy.
“I have so much more to learn as a player and this is an environment where I can do that, get better every day and be surrounded by great players as well.”
MARY FOWLER
At 20 years old, Fowler has been a vibrant addition to Taylor’s team and has already proven why she is seen to be one of the most exciting young talents in the game.
After scoring her first goals for City in our 6-0 Continental Cup win over Blackburn Rovers in October, the forward has often been the player entrusted by Taylor to lead the line in the absence of Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw.
It was from that position where her stand-out performance came, when she completed the scoring in our 2-0 Conti Cup win over Liverpool in December 2022.
Fowler’s debut season in England saw her make 22 appearances in all competitions, including seven starts, five goals and three assists.
An exciting start to life at City, with the best surely yet to come from the Australian forward.
HAYLEY RASO
In her final season at the Club, Raso’s pace and industry out wide once again provided Gareth Taylor with a new dimension to our forward line.
The 28-year-old made 25 appearances in all competitions, grabbing five goals and providing one assist as she fought for a regular starting berth with Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly and Julie Blakstad.
Of those matches, perhaps her most important contribution came in our 2-1 win over Liverpool at the Academy Stadium in October 2022.
The winger rifled an unstoppable drive into the roof of the net in front of a packed-out Academy Stadium, having seen her initial effort saved.
It would prove to be the final goal of the game, with City signing off for the month with a 100% record as a result of the victory.
A popular player among the supporters, the winger was handed a fitting tribute from the terraces on the announcement of her departure following our final day win over Everton.
