On the eve of the season launch of the 2021/22 Liberty A-League campaign, co-captain Cass Davis is thrilled to see the new signings in action this weekend.
The Jets will be hoping to steady the ship after a disappointing 2020/21 season, when they take on Grand Finalists Sydney tomorrow away from home.
Head Coach Ash Wilson has recruited a host of fresh faces, with internationals Marie Dovrik and Elizabeth Eddy as well as multiple youngsters from interstate such as Bethany Gordon and Lucy Johnson.
27-year-old Davis will be a familiar name with Jets fans, with the midfielder entering her eighth campaign with the side after debuting as a teenager.
Alongside is her a core group of local players like Tara Andrews, Claire Coelho and Gema Simon who are now veterans of the league, and the captain says the new arrivals have created a breath of fresh air at the Club.
“Bringing a few new players in always adds quality to your team,” Davis said.
“It’s great. Not only to add some different football, but just as people as well. It’s good to have good people around us. Ash has done really well with her recruitment.
“All the girls who have come into the squad have fit in really well and things are looking good.”
The born-and-bred Novocastrian has been an integral part of the team for many years and is bordering on a remarkable achievement of 100 consecutive games.
Davis believes that with the squad they have, and after the gruelling pre-season they’ve experienced, there are no more excuses for sub-par performances.
“It’s been tough – a little bit different from last year but I feel like we are fitter,” she said.
“We played a couple of games against the [Academy] boys and Wanderers. Although the result didn’t go our way, I think there is a lot of positive signs.
“Ash [Wilson] has made a no-excuses policy with everyone. For us girls that have been here for a while, there is no time to say that we are ‘building’ or ‘we will get there next year’. It’s time to put it to everyone and show what we can do.”
On the back of a record crowd at the match between the Matilda’s and the USA at McDonald Jones Stadium earlier this week, it’s clear there is a hunger for quality female football here locally and across Australia.
The opening fixture of the Jets Women’s campaign is part of a doubleheader at Netsrata Jubilee Stadium, with the Men’s side also facing the Sky Blue in their Round 3 clash of the season.
While Sydney FC have been a dominant force in the Liberty A-League competition, Davis says the Jets have all the tools to open their season with a victory against the Sky Blue.
“Sydney is Sydney, everyone know’s they are always a quality team,” she said.
“They have played together for years but I guess we have too.
“It has been a long time since we played a competitive game, but that means more motivation to get out there and give everything we can.
“I think it will be a good game and it’s always one that we want to get up on Sydney.”
