Central Coast Mariners have moved to keep the heart of their Ninja A-League Women squad together, confirming the re-signing of 10 key players ahead of the 2026-27 season, commencing on Saturday 17 October.
It’s a significant statement from the Club’s newly restructured Women’s program, which has made retaining the core of the playing group one of its first and foremost priorities as it builds a dedicated administrative operation for the season ahead. Among those signing on for the upcoming campaign are several of the players who helped deliver the Mariners’ first-ever ALW championship in 2024-25, serving as a reminder that whatever changes off the field, what fans love most about this team isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
The first player to have been confirmed in the build up to the new season following the announcement of Holman Barnes Group as the new women’s program operators was Peta Trimis, who returns for the 2026-27 season on the back of a strong campaign, finishing 2025-26 with five goals and four assists after being named the Club’s Newcomer of the Year in her debut season.
Another season of Peta perfection 🤩
— Central Coast Mariners Women (@ccmarinersw) August 30, 2026
Who's keen for more magic moments in a Mariners shirt from our 20-year-old star? 🙋✨@aleaguewomen | #CCMFC pic.twitter.com/B0i9lyhDIA
Greta Kraszula has too put pen to paper for another season after joining the Mariners midway through 2024-25 following four years of college football in the United States with Virginia Commonwealth University. A former Young Matilda who featured at the 2022 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, the midfielder made 20 appearances in 2025-26.
Lorena Baumann arrived on the Coast in October 2025 following two seasons with Newcastle Jets, bringing full Swiss international experience into the Mariners’ backline. The left-back logged over 1,300 minutes across the 2025-26 season, and will suit up in yellow and navy again in the spring.
Tiana Fuller became the Club’s youngest-ever debutant and goalscorer at 16 years and 125 days old in November 2024, scoring five minutes after coming off the bench in a 2-1 win over Canberra United. She was introduced from the bench again in the 2024-25 Grand Final and stepped up to take the Mariners’ first penalty in the shootout that sealed the Club’s maiden championship, talent and maturity that will once again aid the Mariners in 2026-27.
Eliza Familton, a product of the Mariners Academy since Under 14s, signed her first scholarship contract in 2024 off the back of four goals at the National Youth Championships, including one in the U16 final. She made her senior A-League Women debut in 2025-26, and is keen for more memorable moments at polytec Stadium in yellow and navy.
Taren King has captained the Mariners since the Club’s return to the competition in 2023-24. After a season-ending ACL injury, she returned to start three of the Club’s four matches across the 2024-25 Finals Series including the Grand Final, as the Mariners secured their maiden championship. The Shellharbour product re-signs as one of the most experienced figures in the squad.
Elizabeth Barwick-Grey joined the Mariners for the 2025-26 title defence after captaining Bulls FC Academy to the NPL Women’s NSW premiership and championship double. The defender established herself quickly in her first season on the Coast, making 17 appearances.
Tess Quilligan has been with the Club since signing as a scholarship player in 2023-24, later earning a full contract after a debut season that included minutes in the Mariners’ 2023-24 Elimination Final penalty shootout win over Melbourne Victory. The composed midfielder went on to make 20 appearances during the Club’s 2024-25 championship-winning campaign.
Kaiya Buchanan and Annalee Grove signed with the Mariners in October 2025, the former after impressing for Mount Druitt Town Rangers in the NPL Women’s NSW competition and the latter following four seasons with Adelaide United. Both quickly established themselves in the squad and return for 2026-27 looking to cement key roles as the Mariners take to the nation’s stadiums for the fourth season following its re-entry into the A-League Women.
These signings have all been announced alongside the appointment of the Club’s new ALW Head Coach, Dean Heffernan, who accompanied by returning Assistant Coach and former player Oliver Bozanic are deep in the next phase of squad finalisation for the new season.
In terms of the incoming signings yet to be announced to complete the look of the Mariners’ 2026-27 squad, Heffernan added that “we’ve earmarked some very good players, good young players that are currently in the NPLs or Young Matildas squads that we want to look at to help drive us forward as a football club.”
“[The Central Coast community] want to see a team compete, they want to see a team entertain, and they’re the kinds of things we want to bring to the table.”
Mariners fans can expect announcements of new recruits from as soon as this weekend.
With the coaching appointment finalised and the bulk of last season’s squad locked in, the Mariners now turn their attention to the 2026-27 season opener against Brisbane Roar on 17 October – the first assignment of a new era on the Central Coast.
