W-League: 2018/19 leadership group locked in (original) (raw)

Newcastle Jets Westfield W-League Head Coach, Craig Deans has locked in his leadership team ahead of Thursday night’s season opener away to Melbourne Victory.

The group of three have a combined 242 matches of experience in the Westfield W-League, with almost all of those games played at the Jets.

And rather than place one player above the others, Deans has nominated a trio of players as co-captains: Emily van Egmond, Cassidy Davis, and Gema Simon.

Van Egmond is the current Westfield Matildas vice-captain, and the 78-time Australia representative is the perfect candidate for the role, with a breadth and depth of experience at clubs around the world.

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Currently one of Australia’s top players and one of the best in the Westfield W-League, van Egmond will lead by example in the centre of the park.

Since the beginning of the 2013/14 season, Cassidy Davis has played in every single match for the Newcastle Jets and is one of the most experienced players at the Club.

The defensive midfielder turned centre-back was enormous during last year’s magnificent run to the Semi Finals, and will be an important cog once again this season.

A member of the inaugural Newcastle Jets squad, Gema Simon is free of a knee injury which hampered her 2017/18 campaign and the left-sided defender looks better than ever.

A nine-time Australia representative with more than 100 Westfield W-League games under her belt, the 28-year-old is one of the most experienced players in the squad.

Westfield W-League Head Coach, Craig Deans said that Simon and Davis would provide support to van Egmond throughout the season and beyond.

“These guys picked themselves, we’re lucky to a number of natural leaders in the squad,” Deans said.

“Emily did a wonderful job as captain last year and she’ll again be at the forefront of our new leadership group.

“She has a hectic schedule at the best of times between national team duties and the NWSL, so the addition of Cass and Gema will help lessen her workload this season.

“Em, Cass and Gema take charge both on and off the park, and it’s good to have them around the group.

“What’s better is they are all local girls, have always given their all for the Club, and they’ll help drive the rest of the squad to do the same.”