Insert name here 2, Newcastle United Jets 1. That was the story for the majority of the 2019/20 campaign for Newcastle in what proved to be the most competitive W-League season yet.

Anyone taking a glance at the ladder would see the Jets finished last, a position which is usually associated with a horrendous season full of lopsided score-lines, however that wasn’t the case this time around.

Aside from a 7-0 loss at home to Melbourne Victory late in the campaign, Newcastle were up to their eyeballs in just about every game as the team of locals on a shoestring budget played with their heart on their sleeve.

In the opening round, a gritty 1-1 draw at home to eventual Champions Melbourne City signalled they weren’t willing to just make up the numbers.

A run of narrow losses followed over the next three rounds before the Jets notched their first win of the season, however they would fall into a pattern of narrow losses again.

In 2021, Ashley Wilson will take the reins full time after the departure of Craig Deans midway through last season. Her first squad takes on a NSW NPL flavour with a mixture of an experienced core of players – led by stalwarts Gema Simon, Hannah Brewer, Tara Andrews and Cassidy Davis – plus the emerging Tessa Tamplin, as well as new recruits who’ve been around the W-League circuit before with successful teams or who have been leaders at their NPL clubs.

The Jets have undergone an entire overhaul of their midfield after the major departures of Clare Wheeler and Libby Copus-Brown to Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers respectively, while Paige Kingston-Hogg will miss the season with an ACL injury.

Former Young Matildas captain Sunny Franco headlines the recruitment in this department which includes her Manly United teammate Chloe O’Brien, Alisha Bass and Rhianna Pollicina.

Strengths

Just as it was last season, Newcastle’s strength will be their defence with long-time Jets Hannah Brewer and Cassidy Davis key to this. Sydney University captain Taren King could join them in the backline, while Tiana Jaber can play in the heart of defence or at fullback.

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Challenges

While the defence was solid, one issue Newcastle had last season was the ability to score goals during their tight run of losses.

Tara Andrews (the club’s leading goal scorer) was used mostly as a midfielder last campaign due to her strength and passing ability, leaving the Jets a little toothless up top.

Sunny Franco has all those attributes – this would allow Andrews to move back into the number nine role as a target player where she has been most successful in the past.

The additions of Sophie Harding, Evelyn Chronis and local Northern NSW Premier League top scorer Jemma House, combined with the re-signing of Lauren Allan, should give the team more pace and options up top. This will take some pressure off Andrews, allowing her to continue that deeper role if needed.

Key Players

Claire Coelho (Goalkeeper)

After serving as understudy since 2014 to Hannah Southwell, Kelsey Wys, and Britt Eckerstrom, Claire Coelho was enormous between the posts during the 2019-20 campaign, her first full campaign in the number 1 role.

A league leading 68 saves, many of them spectacular, showed the position will be hers for a long while to come. Coelho will be looking to build on that and perhaps catch the attention of higher honours with the 2023 WWC only two years away.

Sunny Franco (midfielder)

A physical midfielder with great pace and technical ability, Sunny Franco will be key to turning defenders inside out while also looking to contribute on the goal scoring front. 

Tara Andrews (striker)

The club’s all time leading scorer with 35 goals, Andrews has been used in various positions for the Jets over the last few seasons. However, she may be restored to her more natural number nine role this time around where her height, strength and goalscoring prowess can be best utilised.

Prediction: 7th

While a finals birth seems somewhat a distance from reality, they do have the ingredients to surprise a few of the bigger teams and perhaps prove to be the shining light for the entire organisation in Newcastle United Jets’ 20th year anniversary.

DANIEL HANNEY
DANIEL HANNEY
Daniel is a writer for Beyond 90 covering the Newcastle Jets and Matildas. Previously at The Women's Game, Daniel has covered five seasons of the W-League as well as the Matildas at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Dan's best skillset is his ability to bring a game to life via his matchday tweets, painting the picture for those who can't watch the action. He also loves telling the story and unpacking the action with his match reports.
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