The Jets’ Westfield W-League side will begin their 2017/18 campaign on home ground at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The clash presents an interesting prospect for the home side, who have only assembled the majority of their squad in the last seven days as American imports Arin Gilliland, Tori Huster, Katie Stengel and Britt Eckerstrom arrive on Australian shores.
W-League Head Coach, Craig Deans said the unknowns of the opening round don’t discriminate.
“Everyone’s in the same boat, so it’s just about the focus that we place on ourselves and the type of game we want to play,” said Deans.
“With the way the NWSL runs into the (Westfield) W-League, everyone has minimal time to work on combinations, but it’s something the girls come to expect.
“We’re lucky to have a group that has played a lot of football together so I’m looking forward to seeing how they combine on the pitch to start the season.”
For the Jets’ the return of Emily van Egmond has been a major talking point, with the Australian vice-captain also joined by Hannah Brewer and Tara Andrews in Newcastle.
Deans said he was pleased with the squad he has been able to assemble.
“We’ve been able to add some quality experience to the talented group of youngsters we’ve had in Newcastle over the past two or three seasons,” he added.
Sunday, 29 October 2017
Newcastle Jets v Western Sydney Wanderers
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Kick-Off: 2.30pm (AEDT)
Referee: Lara Lee
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 501 from 2:00pm (AEDT) and SBS VICELAND from 2pm (AEDT)
Radio Broadcast: SWR999
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #WLeague
Newcastle Jets squad: 2.Hannah BREWER, 3.Natasha PRIOR, 5.Arin GILLILAND, 6.Cassidy DAVIS, 9.Katie STENGEL, 10.Emily VAN EGMOND, 12.Tara ANDREWS, 14.Tara PENDER, 16.Nikola ORGILL, 17.Jenna KINGSLEY, 19.Ash BRODIGAN, 20.Claire COEHLO (gk), 21.Pana PETRATOS, 23. Tori HUSTER, 28.Britt ECKERSTROM (gk)
Unavailable: 8. Sophie NENADOVIC (Young Matildas), 11. Cortnee VINE (Young Matildas), 18. Clare WHEELER (Young Matildas)
Western Sydney Wanderers FC squad: 2.Maruschka WALDUS, 3.Jennifer BISSET, 4.Chloe O’BRIEN, 5.Kahlia HOGG, 6.Lo’eau LABONTA, 7.Ellie BRUSH, 8.Erica HALLOWAY, 9.Rosie SUTTON, 10.Lee FALKON, 11.Marlous PIEETE, 13.Olivia PRICE, 15.Talitha KRAMER, 16.Alix ROBERTS, 17.Katelyn LEADBEATTER, 18.Alexandra HUYNH, 20.Trudy BURKE, 30.Nicole SIMONSEN
**two to be omitted**
Unavailable: 1.Jada WHYMAN (international duty – 1 week), 12. Rachel LOWE (international duty – 1 week), 19. Susan PHONSONGKHAM (international duty – 1 week)
