Academy product and local Lara Gooch had her best season to date last season, scoring four and assisting two in 20 appearances, as well as working her way into the Young Matildas Squad. This season, she’s aiming for more minutes, more responsibility, and another finals run.
“I’m aiming for consistency, consistent minutes. That’s probably the struggle I’ve had the last four years. Just consistent minutes on the pitch and then obviously to make the grand final.”
Lara, a Warners Bay FC junior and proud Novocastrian, debuted for the Jets in the 21/22 season at 16. Since then, she has gone from strength to strength, making 33 appearances for the club.
“Genuinely, there is no better feeling than playing for Newcastle. It’s my home. I love it here. All my friends and family are here. It means more than just putting on a jersey and playing the game. I’m representing the Newcastle community and the way Newcastle is.”
She’s also made a splash on the international stage, scoring the goal that secured the Young Matildas the bronze medal at the 2024 AFC Under-20 Women’s Asian Cup, as well as playing at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.
“I think it’s still a little bit surreal that I even did that, looking back on it. But I think it’s just a taste of what potentially is out there. If you want to make it that one step further, that’s who you’re competing against. And the experience, like the crowds and the atmosphere, I feel like that’s what I’m training for and playing for, to get that one step further.”
Lara grew up idolising Brazilian phenomenon Marta and Matilda’s star Mary Fowler. However, she also appreciated athletes of other sports who are known for their strong mentalities.
“I didn’t look up to just footballers, I looked up to other athletes too. Marta played a big role. She was very creative and just played the game differently. Then Mary Fowler, even though she’s only a little bit older than me. As a young person, she was doing what the best of the best do. And then I’d say the likes of Cathy Freeman, Michael Jordan, just that mentality part of it definitely played a big role.”
Away from football, Lara spends her free time with her friends and family, as well as studying at university.
“I spend my time hanging out with friends and loved ones, just anything to get my mind away from it as much as I love it. But it’s good to just reset and just take a step back and just do the simple things, even going to the beach with friends, going out to lunch, to dinner.”
“I’m going to uni for Global Indigenous Studies. (If she wasn’t a footballer) I think I’d be doing some form of community work, helping out the young kids, even if it was in a school environment like a SLSO (School Learning Support Officer) or something similar. Just something to do with community and helping.”
Gooch also spends plenty of time with her teammates off the pitch, having known some of them for most of her life.
“Milan (Hammond) and I have known each other for about 10 years now. We’ve known each other for ages, and we always carpool with each other to training, so always with her and Chloe Walandouw. They’re the main ones I’m always spending time with.”
At 19 years old, Lara is entering her fourth season of professional football with the Newcastle Jets. In the previous three seasons, she’s played alongside Newcastle Jets legends such as Cass Davis and Tara Andrews, and Matilda’s great Emily Van Egmond. Despite this, she lists her mum as having the biggest influence on her career.
“If I had to say one, my biggest influence would probably be my mum. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am right now without her. All the sacrifices she made, not just physically but mentally as well. So yeah, definitely my mum.”
