Newcastle United Jets are attempting to fly back into the top four and end their three year finals drought.
Head coach Ash Wilson has brought in nine new faces, among them Norwegian forward Marie Markussen and American midfielder Elizabeth Eddy. The two exciting imports are joined by a host of young Australian talent, with three players from the Emerging Jets Academy program set to make their debuts on the national stage.
Of course, it just wouldn’t be the Jets without the local legends who have helped make the club what it is today, so the Newcastle faithful will be glad to see the return of Tara Andrews, Cassidy Davis, Hannah Brewer and Gema Simon.
Last Season
It was a tough campaign for the team from the Hunter Valley. Despite being a difficult opponent all season long, Newcastle United Jets could only manage a tally of seven points on their way to an eighth place finish.
There were highlights: a spectacular 4-1 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers and a resounding 4-0 triumph in Perth showed what was possible when the Jets clicked into gear. However, more often than not the team would fall just short in games, despite their endeavour.
Newcastle suffered five single goal losses in 2020-21. If this time around they can convert the closely fought games into wins, they’ll be competitive and could possibly make a run at the finals.
Ins & Outs
INS
Georgia Boric (Sydney University)
Ashlee Brodigan (Broadmeadow Magic)
Elizabeth Eddy (Gotham FC)
Kirsty Fenton (Emerging Jets)
Lara Gooch (Emerging Jets)
Bethany Gordon (Macarthur Rams)
Lucy Johnson (South Melbourne)
Marie Markussen (Vålerenga)
Josie Morley (Emerging Jets)
OUTS
Alisha Bass (not retained)
Chloe O’Brien (not retained)
Evelyn Chronis (not retained)
Panagiota Petratos (not retained)
Rhianna Pollicina (Melbourne City)
Nicole Simonsen (not retained)
Tessa Tamplin (Servette)
Coach
They don’t get much more local than Ash Wilson up Newcastle way. She spent six seasons as a player with Northern NSW in the W-NSL before turning her hand to coaching, and she is now firmly part of the Jets A-League Women setup, entering her second full season as head coach.
Between A-League Women campaigns, Wilson coaches at the Emerging Jets Academy (where she has been since 2015) and if that wasn’t enough to connect her to the local community, she has also been a teacher at Hunter Sports High School for the past ten years.
Unsurprisingly, Wilson has given three Emerging Jets players (Kirsty Fenton, Josie Morley & Lara Gooch) their first national league opportunities. This bodes well for the development pathway offered by the club, and it must be reassuring for the aforementioned players to be working with a familiar face as they start their A-League Women careers.
Key Defender
Hannah Brewer has played in every A-League Women season and so it’s only fitting that the Jets will once again rely on the former Matilda to shore up their defensive line. One of the toughest tacklers in the league (if not *the* toughest), her ability to play all across the backline means we should expect to see Newcastle’s no. 2 on a regular basis. 120 national league appearances speaks not only to her quality, but also her durability, and as an experienced footballer Brewer will be one of those entrusted with guiding the younger players in the team.
Key Midfielder
Bethany Gordon has only made two A-League Women appearances (for Canberra United in the 2017-18 campaign), so why have we chosen her as the key midfielder? There has been a pattern in recent times of players converting strong NPL New South Wales seasons into national league excellence – the likes of Bianca Galic, Charlotte Mclean and Rhianna Pollicina come to mind – and Gordon definitely has the talent to emulate those feats. Gordon is a former Young Matilda and has spent time in the Danish league with Aalborg BK, so she is unlikely to be overawed, while her combination of technique and desire to win is sure to endear her to the Jets fanbase.
Key Attacker
Death, taxes and Tara Andrews leading the line for Newcastle United Jets. Newcastle’s all-time leading scorer is back for her 12th A-League Women campaign, and she is quite the rarity: a player with over 100 national league appearances for the same club. Andrews’ uniqueness extends to her playing talents and she can make an impact in many ways, whether that be winning headers, bringing teammates into the play or her deadly shooting. At times in the past Newcastle may have been over-reliant on Andrews, but if Markussen (and others) can take some of the pressure off her then we may just see Andrews fully flourish in the Jets attack.
One To Watch
Kirsty Fenton is set for her first foray into A-League Women action after consistently impressing in the Emerging Jets backline. Although she is still a teenager, Fenton actually made her NPL New South Wales 1st Grade debut way back in 2017, and she plays with a composure that belies her youth. The former Junior Matilda can play at either centre back or right back and is strong in the tackle, so there’s every chance of her starting games this season, despite her rookie status.
Prediction
There is reason for Newcastle fans to be optimistic. Markussen and Eddy have eye-catching CVs and those two will provide valuable support for the Jets stalwarts in the squad. However, the loss of Pollicina, Alisha Bass and Chloe O’Brien means a complete midfield overhaul – their replacements need time to settle in and as we all know, time is a luxury in this competition. A semi-final place is probably beyond this young side, but they are more than talented enough to spring a few surprises this season, and the fighting spirit in this group will be well received by the Hunter Valley faithful.
